Information

Recognizing that conservation of biodiversity is a global service to humankind and is not captured and adequately recognized by current economic relations and patterns,

Recognizing also that conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is essential to the survival of species and also benefits humankind particularly those people who are dependent on biological resources for their livelihoods,

Further recognizing the importance of integrating, as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies, and recognizing the importance of addressing this issue in national biodiversity strategies and action plans, in accordance with Articles 6 and 10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Taking into account the decisions of the Conference of the Parties and the ecosystem approach,

Noting the synergies between the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,

Noting also that the highest levels of biodiversity often occur in the less economically developed regions,

Recognizing the harmful effects of war and poverty on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity especially in regions rich in endemic species, and the need for mobilization of financial and technical resources for the rehabilitation and restoration of affected bio-ecological zones,

Noting the important linkages with the programmes of work on indicators (decision V/7) and incentive measures (decision V/15), and that appropriate indicators and incentive measures are essential elements in developing effective approaches to the sustainable use of biological diversity,

1. Requests the Executive Secretary to invite organizations involved in sustainable-use initiatives, and other relevant organizations, to gather, compile and disseminate through the clearing-house mechanism and other means, case-studies on best practices and lessons learned from the use of biological diversity under the thematic areas of the Convention, drawing on the experience of Parties, Governments, relevant organizations, the private sector and indigenous and local communities;

2. Commends to the Executive Secretary the process being used to develop the ecosystem approach and requests him, together with relevant organizations, to adapt and immediately initiate that process for relevant work on sustainable use;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to assemble, in collaboration with relevant organizations, drawing from an assessment of the case-studies referred to in paragraph 1 above, and the process referred to in paragraph 2 above, practical principles, operational guidelines and associated instruments, and guidance specific to sectors and biomes, which would assist Parties and Governments to develop ways to achieve the sustainable use of biological diversity, within the framework of the ecosystem approach, and to present a progress report for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice prior to the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

4 Invites Parties and Governments to identify indicators and incentive measures for sectors relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity;

5. Invites Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to undertake appropriate actions to assist other Parties, especially developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to increase their capacity to implement sustainable-use practices, programmes and policies at regional, national and local levels, especially in pursuit of poverty alleviation. Appropriate actions may include:

(a) Workshops; (b) Assistance to Parties in the identification of sectors where priority action is required; (c) Assistance to Parties in the development of appropriate action plans; (d) Information dissemination and appropriate technology transfer under mutually agreed terms;

6. Urges Parties, Governments and organizations to develop or explore mechanisms to involve the private sector and indigenous and local communities in initiatives on the sustainable use of biological diversity, and in mechanisms to ensure that indigenous and local communities benefit from such sustainable use;

7. Recognizes that sustainable use can be an effective tool in imbuing value to biodiversity, and invites Parties to identify areas for conservation that would benefit through the sustainable use of biological diversity, and to communicate this information to the Executive Secretary