Information

Recalling decisions II/13 and II/14 adopted at its second meeting,

Reaffirming the need to make mutually supportive activities under the Convention on Biological Diversity and activities under other conventions, processes and institutions relevant to the achievement of the objectives of the Convention, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of activities and costs on the part of Parties and of the organs of the Convention,

Welcoming the progress made to date in the development of cooperative arrangements with relevant conventions, institutions and processes, as described in document UNEP/CBD/COP/3/29,

1. Expresses its appreciation to those conventions and institutions which have provided documentation and information to assist the deliberations of the Conference of the Parties at its third meeting;

2. Endorses the memoranda of cooperation entered into by the Executive Secretary with the secretariats of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and encourages the development of further such arrangements with relevant international biological diversity-related bodies, including regional conventions;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue to coordinate with the secretariats of relevant biological diversity-related conventions, institutions, and processes, with a view to: facilitating the exchange of information and experience; exploring the possibility of recommending procedures for harmonizing, to the extent desirable and practicable, the reporting requirements of Parties under those instruments and conventions; exploring the possibility of coordinating their respective programmes of work; and consulting on how such conventions and other international legal instruments can contribute to the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

4. Also requests the Executive Secretary to develop closer relationships with, in particular, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, with a view to making implementation activities and institutional arrangements mutually supportive;

5. Encourages the further development of cooperative arrangements at the scientific and technical level with appropriate biological diversity-related conventions and institutions, such as the Scientific Council of the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species and the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, through the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice;

6. Takes note of document UNEP/CBD/COP/3/35 and the comments made by participants at its third meeting, and invites the Executive Secretary to continue to investigate, in collaboration with relevant global and regional conventions, institutions and processes, modalities for cooperation, and to report back to the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting in the light of the longer-term review of work;

7. Decides:

(a) In relation to cooperation with the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance:

(i) to note the Strategic Plan for 1997-2002 adopted by the Conference of Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, in March 1996, which includes actions aimed at creating synergy between that Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity;

(ii) to invite the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance to cooperate as a lead partner in the implementation of activities under the Convention related to wetlands, and, in particular, requests the Executive Secretary to seek inputs from the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, in the preparation of documentation concerning the status and trends of inland water ecosystems for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting;

(b) In relation to cooperation with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, to request the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the Secretariat of that Convention, to evaluate how the implementation of that Convention can complement the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity through its transboundary coordinated and concerted action on a regional, continental and global scale;

8. Urges the Parties to ensure that the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, and of migratory species and their habitats, are fully incorporated into national strategies, plan and programmes to preserve biological diversity;

9. Invites the governing bodies of biological diversity-related conventions to consider the possible contributions of those conventions to the implementation of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and to share experience with the Conference of the Parties on, inter alia, successful management and conservation practices;

10. Calls on the national focal points of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the competent authorities of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to cooperate on the implementation of these conventions at the national level to avoid duplication of effort;

11. Urges the United Nations Environment Programme to undertake early implementation of decision II/14 of the Conference of the Parties;

12. Invites contracting parties to relevant biological diversity-related conventions to explore opportunities for accessing funding through the Global Environment Facility for relevant projects, including projects involving a number of countries, which fulfil the eligibility criteria and guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to the Global Environment Facility.