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COP 7 Decisions

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COP 7 Decision VII/2

The biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands

The Conference of the Parties

1. Adopts the proposed process for the periodic assessment of the status and trends of biological diversity, in dry and sub‑humid lands, as described in table 1 below, taking into account national laws, policies and programmes and recognizing the urgency for action in those countries severely affected by land degradation, focusing on strengthening the capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to conduct assessments at the national level and build on the knowledge and structures of ongoing global assessments, as well as national assessments;

2. Adopts the proposal prepared by the Executive Secretary for the further refinement of the programme of work and suggesting collaborating partners as indicated in the annex to the present decision;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to ensure that the parts of the programme of work relating to other thematic programmes of work of the Convention are taken into account when developing and reviewing these programmes of work;

4. Requests the Executive Secretary, in consultation with Parties, to develop targets for the implementation of the programme of work, taking into account especially national action programmes to combat desertification, the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, the Global Taxonomy Initiative, the Strategic Plan of the Convention, as well as the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice. Such a process could follow the approach taken in the development of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (decision VI/9, annex) and be in line with decision VII/8, on monitoring and indicators;

5. Requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the secretariats of the other Rio conventions and other biodiversity related conventions, to further develop mechanisms for facilitating the synergistic implementation of these conventions, especially at the national level, as described in sections III and IV of the note by the Executive Secretary on dry and sub-humid lands prepared for the eighth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/8/10). Such mechanisms could include:

(a) Joint work programmes at the national level as appropriate;

(b) The activities of the joint liaison group of the three Rioconventions and potential additional members, and

(i) Integration of activities related to national biodiversity strategies and action plans with national action programmes for the Convention to Combat Desertification, national adaptation programmes of action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ramsar wetland policies and other relevant programmes, including national strategies for sustainable development and poverty reduction;

(ii) Capacity-building, information systems, institutional arrangements and joint planning activities between the coordinating bodies and focal points of the conventions;

(iii) Development of criteria for synergy projects and development and application of "good practice" synergy projects at the national level;

(iv) Sound preparation, formulation of objectives, organization and follow-up of national and regional synergy workshops;

(v) Training courses and awareness-raising among relevant stakeholders;

(vi) Consultation, decision-making and implementation processes with the full participation of relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities, non-Governmental organizations and the private sector.

These mechanisms should take into account existing experience, as documented by, inter alia, the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification (CRIC), and the "Operational Guidelines for Expedited Funding of National Self Assessment of Capacity-building Needs" of the Global Environment Facility, and the role and responsibilities of the Global Environment Facility and the Global Mechanism of the Convention to Combat Desertification in promoting synergy;

6. Further requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the other Rio and other biodiversity related conventions, to facilitate at the national level the review of the national biodiversity strategies and action plans under the Convention on Biological Diversity, in order to harmonize them with the national action programmes under the Convention to Combat Desertification and the national adaptation plans of action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a focus on poverty alleviation and intersectoral integration;

7. Recognizes that the effective implementation of this programme of work is subject to the availability of financial, technological and human resources, and urges Parties, other Governments countries, international organizations, and relevant stakeholders that are in a position to do so to develop partnerships and other means to provide the necessary support;

8. Take note of the reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the land degradation assessment in drylands project (LADA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on how they address the assessment needs of the programme of work on biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands, and especially on ways to strengthen national efforts to conduct assessments;

9. Welcomes the joint work programme between the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNEP/CBD/COP/7/INF/28) and Parties and relevant stakeholders to contribute to the implementation of its components.

Table 1. Proposed process for the periodic assessment of status and trends of biological diversity in dry and sub‑humid lands (Phases II-IV will depend on the recommendations made after completion of phase I).

Phase I: 2002‑2004 (COP7)	1. Invite LADA and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment to investigate how the needs of the dry and sub‑humid lands could be integrated into the ongoing assessments, emphasizing proposals and ways to strengthen national efforts to conduct assessments. 2. Develop proposals for mechanisms(s) linking national assessment to regional/global assessment/report processes. 3. Participatory development of draft guidelines for national assessments, including indicators initiated.
Phase II: 2004‑2006 (COP8)	4. Agree to final guidelines for national assessments and adoption for implementation. 5. Implementation mechanism agreed upon and functional.
Phase III: 2006‑2012	6. Data collection, processing and communication according to agreed guidelines and mechanisms. 7. In 2010, Parties report on WSSD biodiversity‑related targets, as appropriate. 8. Global assessment report on status and trends of biological diversity, including information from national assessments.
Phase IV: 10-year periodic assessment reports	9. Periodic ten‑year report based on continuous assessments at national level and up‑scaling.

Annex

SYNTHESIS TABLE OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND TIMEFRAMES, POTENTIAL ACTORS, AND INDICATORS OF PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF WORK ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERISTY OF DRY AND SUB-HUMID LANDS

Activity	Expected outcomes	Time-frame	Key actors	Status	Progress indicators		Date
PART A: ASSESSMENTS
Activity 1. Assessment of status and trends	- Comprehensive review and assessment report on status and trends of biological diversity in dry and sub-humid lands	2012	FAO, LADA, MA, Parties, SCBD, UNCCD, TPNs, CGIAR agencies	Planned	Preliminary assessment Draft full assessment		2006 2010
Activity 2. Areas of particular value and/or under threat	- Review and assessment of areas of value/under threat	2012	World Heritage Centre, MAB Secretariat, WCPA, IUCN, UNEP-WCMC, Parties	Planned	Draft map and assessment report		2008
Activity 3. Indicators	- Indicators for assessment of status and trends fully operational	2012	FAO, LADA, MA, Parties, SCBD.	In progress	Draft set of indicators		2004
Activity 4. Knowledge on processes that affect biodiversity	- Reports and publications on the structure and functioning of dry and sub-humid lands ecosystems, including the potential impact of climate change and poverty on dry and sub-humid lands	Ongoing	Various research and development institutes, including local knowledge systems, Parties	Ongoing	Draft summary publication AHTEG on biodiversity and climate change		2006 2003
Activity 5. Benefits derived from biological diversity	- Compilation of information on local and global benefits - Economic valuation of priority specific sites	2012	Various research and development institutes, including local knowledge systems, Parties.	In progress	AHTEG on dry and sub-humid lands Draft publication		2002 2006
	- Assessment of the socio-economic impact of biodiversity loss and linkage to poverty	2006	Parties, various research and development institutes, including local knowledge systems	In progress	AHTEG on dry and sub-humid lands Draft report		2002 2005
	- Case-studies on inter-linkages between biodiversity loss and poverty	2006	Parties, collaborating partners including WIPO, SCBD	Planned	Submission of case-studies from Parties		2005
Activity 6. Best management practices	- Case-studies including consideration of traditional knowledge - Guidelines for assessment of good practices - Case-studies of applied Ecosystem Management Approach	2006 2004	Parties, collaborating partners including WIPO, SCBD SCBD, Parties, TWNSO, GEF	Planned Planned	Submission of case-studies from Parties Draft guidelines		2005 2003
PART B: TARGETED ACTIONS
Activity 7. Measures for conservation and sustainable use
(a) Protected areas	- Guidelines on establishment of "adequate and effective protected areas networks"	2008	WCPA, Environmental conventions, IUCN, World Heritage, MAB Sec.	In process		Protected areas report		2012
(a) Protected areas	- Additional protected area established	Ongoing	Parties	Ongoing
(b) Rehabilitation and/or restoration	- Report and database on appropriate technologies and transfer mechanisms	2002 Ongoing	Norway, SCBD, Parties and various collaborating partner	Ongoing		Workshop on transfer of technologies		2003

	- Evaluation of effectiveness of measures at test sites		Parties	Proposed	Sites established; exchange visits between affected countries	2008
	- Measures implemented through NBSAPs and NAPs		Parties	Proposed	Explicit rehabilitation Project implemented worldwide	2008
(c) Invasive alien species	- Increased information and information exchange on invasive alien species	Ongoing	Parties, supported by GISP	In progress	Workshops, CHM includes explicit information	2008
(c) Invasive alien species	- Guidelines and mechanisms for best management; integration through NBSAPs	2008	Parties, GISP	In progress	Draft guidelines	2006
(d) Production systems	- Operational guidelines on sustainable use, good farming practices, integrated production system and drought preparedness	2004	Parties, FAO, CGIAR centres, WB, various research institutes	In progress	Draft guidelines	2003
(d) Production systems	- Progress report on development of incentives, including "fair and equitable" markets	2004	Parties	Proposed	Draft resource paper; 3^rd National Reports	2006
(e) Water resources	- Guidelines on management and sustainable use of water resources implemented		Parties, Ramsar and other environmental conventions, GIWA, research institutes	Proposed	Guidelines drafted	2008
(e) Water resources	- Case-studies on best practices available		Parties	Proposed	Submission of case-studies by Parties	2007
(f) In situ and ex situ conservation	- Guidelines for in situ and ex situ conservation and management needs based on best practices implemented		WCPA, IUCN, WWF, CGIAR centres, Parties	Proposed	Draft guidelines	2006
(f) In situ and ex situ conservation	- Capacities of zoos and seedbanks and other institutions for ex situ conservation strengthened		Parties, regional centres	Proposed	Integration into NBSAP and NAP	2008
(g) Economic valuation and adaptive technologies	- Study on economic valuation of goods and services in areas of specific value for biodiversity		Parties, WB, various research and development institutes	Proposed	Draft report by AHTEG	2002
	- Guidelines for the use of economic instruments implemented through NBSAP		Parties, various research and development institutes	Proposed	Draft guidelines	2006
(h) Plant and animal biomass	- Case studies on best practices		Parties, various collaborating partners	Proposed
(h) Plant and animal biomass	- Incorporation of lessons learnt in NBSAPs and NAPs		Parties	Proposed
(i) Training, education and public awareness	- Training programmes nationally and regionally in place		Parties, regional centres of excellence, TPN of UNCCD, GM	Proposed	Training workshops per year per region	2006
(i) Training, education and public awareness	- Public awareness campaigns on the importance of dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity		Parties, CBD, UNCCD	Proposed	Year of biodiversity in dry and sub-humid lands
(j) Information on sustainable use	- Development of information exchange mechanisms		Parties, sub-regional organizations, TPNs	Planned, ongoing	TPNs discuss 2 themes relevant to PoW per year	2008
(k) Promotion of research and development programmes	- Research priorities established		Parties, research and development institutes	Planned, ongoing	Partnerships for collaborative research
	- Pilot projects developed and implemented on local level		Parties	Planned, ongoing	Demonstration sites per region per year	2006
(l) Integrated catchment management and endangered species	- Case-studies on (i) integrated catchment management, (ii) migratory species corridors, (iii) conservation of rare and endangered species		Parties	Proposed	Case-studies per region documented	2006
(m) Cooperation with relevant conventions	- Memoranda of Cooperation (MoC) with relevant conventions		Various conventions	In progress
(m) Cooperation with relevant conventions	- Joint work programme with relevant conventions		Various conventions	In progress	Synergy workshops Pilot synergy projects
Activity 8. Promotion of responsible resource management
(a) Local institutional structures; and indigenous and local techniques	- Case-studies in place and success stories documented and shared		Parties	Proposed	Regional level exchange Visit programmes in place	2006
	- Broad implementation through NBSAPs and NAPs		Parties, GM	Proposed
(b) Decentralization of management	- Case-studies and success stories of community-based management of resources - Case studies on the effect of users' access to land and water resources		Parties	Proposed	Publication of case-study; exchange visits to sites	2006
(c) Institutions for land tenure and conflict resolution	- Case-studies and success stories of strengthened national organization structures		Parties	Proposed	Workshops demonstrating case examples	2008
(d) Transboundary issues	Guidelines on transboundary collaboration implemented through NBSAPs and NAPs		Parties, WCPA, IGOs	Proposed	Draft guidelines	2008
	Increased number of bilateral and subregional collaborative arrangements in place		Parties	Ongoing
(e) Policies and instruments	Mechanisms for collaboration between respective national focal points developed		Parties, SCBD, UNCCD, GM	In process	Synergy workshops held per annum	2004
(e) Policies and instruments	Case-studies, guidelines for cross-sectoral integration, integration of NBSAPs and NAPs		Parties	In process	Presentation of first case-studies (UNCCD CRIC 1)	2002
Activity 9. Support for sustainable livelihoods
(a) Income diversification	- Case-studies on income diversification		Parties	Proposed	Initial case-studies reported on	2006
(a) Income diversification	- Guidelines for income diversification opportunities implemented through NBSAP and NAPs		Parties	Proposed	Draft guidelines	2008
(b) Sustainable harvesting	- Guidelines on best practices incorporated in NBSAPs, NAPs and other relevant policies		Parties	Proposed	Draft guidelines	2004
(c) Innovations for local income generation	- Relevant case-studies made available		Parties	Proposed	Workshops and exchange visits	2006
(d) Market development	- Products derived from sustainable use increasingly marketed		Parties, WTO	Proposed	Initial case-studies reported on	2006
(d) Market development	- Conducive market relationships developed		Parties, WTO	Proposed
(e) Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits	- Guidelines produced and integrated in NBSAPs, NAPs and other relevant policies		Parties, SCBD	Proposed	Draft guidelines	2006

Indicative list of potential collaborators [2]/ and abbreviations

CBD=Convention on Biological Diversity; CCD=Convention to Combat Desertification; CGIAR=Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research; CIAT=International Centre for Tropical Agriculture; CIFOR=Centre for International Forestry Research; CILSS=Permanent Inter‑State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel; CITES=Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; CMS = Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals; CPF=Collaborative Partnership on Forests; FAO=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; GEF=Global Environment Facility; GISP=Global Invasive Species Project; GIWA=Global International Waters Assessment, GM=Global Mechanisms of the UNCCD, ICARDA=International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas; ICRAF=International Centre for Research in Agroforestry; ICRISAT=International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‑arid Tropics; IFAD=International Fund for Agricultural Development; IGBP=International Geosphere and Biosphere Programme; IITA=International Institute for Tropical Agriculture; ILRI=International Livestock Research Institute; ILTER=International Long‑term Ecological Research Network, IPGRI=International Plant Genetic Resources Institute; IPPC=Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control; IGO=InterGovernmental organization; IUCN=World Conservation Union; IUFRO=International Union of Forestry Research Organizations; LUCC=Land Use and Cover Change Programme (of IGBP); MA=Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; OIE=World Organization for Animal Health; OSS=Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel; SADC=Southern African Development Community; TPN=Thematic Programme Networks of the CCD; TWNSO=Third World Network of Scientific organizations; UNDP=United Nations Development Programme; UNEP=United Nations Environment Programme; UNEP‑WCMC=World Conservation Monitoring Centre; UNESCO=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; UNESCO-MAB=Man and Biosphere Project; UNFCCC=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; UNFF=United Nations Forum on Forests; UNITAR=United Nations Institute for Training and Research; WB=World Bank; WCPA=World Commission on Protected Areas; WHC=World Heritage Centre (UNESCO); WIPO=World Intellectual Property Organization; WMO=World Meteorological Organization; WRI=World Resource Institute; WTO=World Trade Organization; WWF=World Wide Fund for Nature

[2]/ As listed in the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on the Biodiversity of Dry and Sub-Humid Lands (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/8/INF/2) and updated based on a questionnaire sent out in August 2002.