PROGRAMME ELEMENT 3: SUPPORTING ACTIONS FOR CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABLE USE AND BENEFIT-SHARING
Goal 3.1. To develop work on identification, monitoring and assessment of mountain biological diversity
Actions
3.1.1. Promote the monitoring of susceptible areas subject to climate change.
3.1.2. Conduct mountain surveys in priority areas, for conservation and sustainable use of mountain biological diversity. These surveys should consider inventories at genetic, species and ecosystem levels.
3.1.3. Apply, whenever appropriate, the programmes of work of the global initiatives such as the Global Taxonomy Initiative, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Global Invasive Species Programme.
3.1.4. Support the work of the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment.
3.1.5. Use national biodiversity strategies and action plans and other national reports to the Convention, for monitoring and assessment of mountain biodiversity.
Supporting activity of the Executive Secretary
3.1.6. Promote collaboration among the secretariats and national focal points of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and other relevant organizations to develop adaptive strategies for mountain ecosystems and for the monitoring of changes due to the impact of global processes, where appropriate.
Goal 3.2. To improve knowledge on and methods for the assessment and monitoring of the status and trends of mountain biological diversity, based on available information.
Actions
3.2.1. Develop key abiotic, biotic and socio-economic indicators of status and change of mountain ecosystems.
3.2.2. Develop and select international, regional and national criteria and, where appropriate, quantifiable indicators for mountain biological diversity, taking into account the work of the Convention on monitoring and indicators and the knowledge held by indigenous and local communities, together with other experience of sustainable mountain management.
3.2.3. Develop methodologies for assigning value to the ecological services provided by land management systems in order to develop economic-incentive mechanisms for compensating the poor and vulnerable mountain communities.
3.2.4. Assess and address the changing status of both local and long-range pollution and global climate change issues with special relevance to mountain ecosystems.
3.2.5. Assess and address fragmentation and impacts on biodiversity, by changing land-use management practices, e.g., land abandonment, mining.
3.2.6. Assess and address the positive and the negative impacts of tourism and outdoor activities in mountain ecosystems.
3.2.7. Assess and address natural dynamic processes in mountain ecosystems and the need to preserve areas for natural dynamic processes.
3.2.8. Develop monitoring systems based on key national and subnational indicators of changes in mountain ecosystem structure and function taking into account existing monitoring expert knowledge and systems as well as relevant work and processes on indicators.
Goal 3.3. To improve the infrastructure for data and information management for accurate assessment and monitoring of mountain biological diversity and develop associated databases
Actions
3.3.1. Enhance and improve the technical capacity at a national level to monitor mountain biological diversity, benefiting from the opportunities offered by the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the development of associated databases as required at the global scale to facilitate exchange.
3.3.2. Promote open access as Parties consider appropriate, to existing information on biodiversity and related databases and sharing through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other appropriate means.
3.3.3. Encourage mapping and inventory of biodiversity and of land-use changes, using analogue and digital databases (remote-sensing, geographic information system) for scientific purposes and for supporting decision-making.
Supporting activity of the Executive Secretary
3.3.4. Enhance the capacity of the clearing-house mechanism to facilitate the implementation of goal 3.3.
Goal 3.4. To improve research, technical and scientific cooperation, and other forms of capacity-building related to mountain biological diversity
Actions
3.4.1. Conduct long-term research on species adaptability to changing environmental conditions under climatic or human-induced global change, in relation to mountain biological diversity.
3.4.2. Conduct key research on the role and importance of mountain biological diversity and ecosystem functioning, considering ecosystem components, structure, function, processes and services.
3.4.3. Develop and support research to assess the role of soil biological diversity and the diversity of protective vegetation cover for the stability and safety of mountain areas and watershed protection, e.g., avoidance of human-induced erosion, landslides and avalanches.
3.4.4. Initiate mechanisms and develop collaborative research/scientific programmes of mutual interest among countries with mountains, especially those having common problems and comparable socio-cultural conditions.
3.4.5. Foster exchange of experiences and knowledge of sustainable development and ecosystem vulnerability among countries with mountains, taking into account the vulnerability of social-cultural systems and communities.
3.4.6. Conduct interdisciplinary, key research programmes on mountain biological diversity, and its relationship to ecosystem structure and functions, including communities-based management, with special reference to transitional zones linking upland-lowland ecosystems such as ecotones, hotspots, buffer areas and corridors.
3.4.7. Develop capacity and enhance opportunities for community-based research and monitoring to conserve mountain biodiversity and provide greater benefits to mountain communities.
3.4.8. Develop scientific and technical coordination mechanisms at national level for identification of research priorities and for optimising the efficient utilization of research results.
Supporting activity of the Executive Secretary
3.4.9. Explore and quantify the benefits of a diverse, intact vegetation cover in catchments for water quantity and quality, hydroelectric yield and geological and hydrological hazard prevention and control.
Goal 3.5. To increase public education, participation and awareness in relation to mountain biological diversity
Actions
3.5.1. Promote educational and capacity-building systems tailored to the specific conditions of mountain ecosystems, such as workshops, courses, study tours, community exchanges, communications from the Convention on Biological Diversity, education and publications efforts, in line with the Global Initiative on Communication, Education and Public Awareness (decision VI/19 of the Conference of the Parties).
3.5.2. Increase awareness of the actual and potential contribution of knowledge, practices and innovations of indigenous and local communities to conserve and sustainably use mountain biological diversity, i.e., biodiversity documentation, inventories by community and other appropriate levels.
3.5.3. Encourage the implementation of sustainable tourism activities aimed at increasing awareness, respect and knowledge for mountain biological diversity, including knowledge of the local, natural and cultural landscapes.
3.5.4. Increase dissemination of knowledge on upland-lowland interactions and on components of interdependence.
3.5.5. Further promote the education of women and their role in the conservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge.
3.5.6. Enhance awareness among policy makers and planners on the importance and contribution of mountain ecosystems in poverty eradication programmes;
3.5.7. Increase broad-based awareness of the values of mountain biological diversity through, inter alia, national and local public awareness campaign.
Goal 3.6. To promote the development, validation, and transfer of appropriate technologies for mountain ecosystems, including indigenous technologies in accordance with Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity and related provisions
Action
3.6.1. Implement the programme of work on technology transfer giving particular attention to matters relating to the conservation and sustainable use of mountain biodiversity.
Supporting activities of the Executive Secretary
3.6.2. Document and disseminate, through the Clearing House-Mechanism and other means, best practices and appropriate technologies and innovative approaches to managing biodiversity.
3.6.3. In collaboration with relevant organizations, provide Parties with access to appropriate and latest technologies and innovations relating to mountain biodiversity with the approval and involvement of indigenous and local communities as appropriate.
