SBSTTA Recommendation
. Arctic biodiversity
XV/7.Arctic biodiversity
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
1.
Welcomes the report on Arctic biodiversity prepared by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group of the Arctic Council for the consideration of the fifteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/15/14);
2.
Requests the Executive Secretary to include in documentation on ecologically or biologically significant areas in marine areas being prepared for the sixteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical and Technological Advice reference to the work carried out under the OSPAR Convention and by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission on this subject;
3.
Recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting adopts a decision along the following lines:
The Conference of the Parties
Recalling the Resolution of Cooperation between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group of the Arctic Council, encourages the continued collaboration between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Working Group, including with regard to monitoring and assessments of status and trends as well as stressors to biodiversity;
1.
Welcomes the report on Arctic biodiversity prepared by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group of the Arctic Council for the fifteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/15/14) and notes in particular its key findings;
2.Notes that:
(a)
The Arctic plays host to a vast array of biodiversity, including many globally significant populations of fauna and flora;
(b)
A significant proportion of Arctic species are migratory; such populations are thus shared by numerous non-Arctic Parties and other Governments whose cooperation is needed for their conservation;
(c)
Arctic ecosystems provide essential services including for the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities;
(d)
Climate change is emerging as the most far-reaching and significant stressor on Arctic biodiversity;
(e)
Changes in Arctic biodiversity have global repercussions, since Arctic ecosystem processes play a key role in the physical, chemical and biological balance of the planet;
(f)
The conservation and sustainable use of Arctic biodiversity contributes to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;
3.
Invites relevant non-Arctic Parties, other Governments, international organizations and multilateral environmental agreements and processes, which either play host to migratory Arctic species for part of their life history and/or which collate information about the status of such species, to collaborate with the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group of the Arctic Council by, inter alia contributing to the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme within its available capacity, and with relevant multilateral environmental agreements concerned with the conservation of migratory Arctic species, and to share their data on monitoring and/or assessment of such species;
4.
Welcomes progress in the implementation of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group of the Arctic Council Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme, including on the more rapid detection and communication of significant biodiversity-related trends and pressures affecting the Arctic environment;
5.
Encourages the development of further Arctic ecosystem resilience assessments and reports;
6.
Welcomes the work carried out by the working groups of the Arctic Council on the identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Arctic, and
encourages them to continue this work in cooperation with adjacent regional conventions and commissions including the OSPAR Convention and the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission;
7.
Encourages the Arctic Council working groups to progress in the work of identifying Arctic areas of high ecological and cultural significance;
8.
Urges Parties and invites other Governments and relevant organizations, as appropriate, to promote the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and relevant programmes of work of the Convention in relation to the Arctic environment;
9.
Invites Parties and other Governments to make available through their national clearing-house mechanisms, as appropriate, data and information generated through research and monitoring activities in the Arctic, including those contributing to the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme, the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment and other relevant Arctic Council assessments, and to make full use of it in their reports under the Convention on Biological Diversity and other conventions, where relevant;
10.
Requests the Executive Secretary to make Parties aware of biodiversity- related information and reports generated by the Arctic Council, including from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme, the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment and the other relevant Arctic Council assessments;
11.
Requests the Executive Secretary to make use of data and information generated by the Arctic Council as appropriate, inter alia, in the preparation of future editions of Global Biodiversity Outlook;
12.
Appreciating the collaboration of the Arctic Council with indigenous peoples of the Arctic,
encourages Parties and invites other Governments and relevant organizations to have full and effective participation with indigenous and local communities in research projects and programmes regarding Arctic biodiversity.