XII/2. In-depth review of the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
1. The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice in its consideration of the in depth review of the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, based on background documentation, expert inputs and scientific dialogue, brings the following key messages to the attention of the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting:
(a) In general, the Global Strategy has provided a useful framework to harmonize and bring together various initiatives and programmes in plant conservation at both the national and regional levels;
(b) The Global Strategy has been notably successful in stimulating the engagement of the botanical and plant conservation communities in the work of the Convention, through, inter alia, the establishment of national, regional and global networks, including in particular the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation, launched at the seventh meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention;
(c) The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment provide a further rationale for implementing the Strategy, including at the national level, with a view to securing plant resources and their provisioning services and allowing communities to continue to derive benefits from plant diversity, especially for food, medicines, fuel, fibre, wood and other uses;
(d) The national implementation of the Strategy provides opportunities for addressing the Millennium Development Goals especially poverty reduction (goal 1), the health crisis (goal 6) and environmental sustainability (goal 7);
(e) There has been progress in achieving targets 5 (Protection of 50 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity assured;), 8 (60 per cent of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10 per cent of them included in recovery and restoration programmes), 9 (70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops and other major socio-economically valuable plant species conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained), 11 (No species of wild flora endangered by international trade), 14 (The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, educational and public-awareness programmes);
(f) However, limited progress was made with respect to the targets 1 (A widely accessible working list of known plant species, as a step towards a complete world flora), 2 (A preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and international levels), 4 (At least 10 per cent of each of the world's ecological regions effectively conserved), 6 (At least 30 per cent of production lands managed consistent with the conservation of plant diversity), 10 (Management plans in place for at least 100 major alien species that threaten plants, plant communities and associated habitats and ecosystems), and 12 (30 per cent of plant-based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed) and 15 (The number of trained people working with appropriate facilities in plant conservation increased, according to national needs, to achieve the targets of this Strategy);
(g) There are some gaps in achieving target 3 (Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience) especially in relation to the development of tools and protocols for the targets of the Strategy whose progress is limited;
(h) Efforts to achieve target 7 (60 per cent of the worlds threatened species conserved in situ) have been constrained by limited progress in achieving target 2, as target 7 is dependent on the base line data generated under target 2;
(i) Constraints to the national implementation of the Global Strategy include limited institutional integration, lack of mainstreaming, and inadequate policies and legal frameworks at the planning stage; and at the operational level, lack of taxonomic capacity, lack of data (taxonomy, biology and conservation), tools and technologies, limited sectoral collaboration and coordination, and limited financial and human resources;
(j) The emerging issues of the global environmental change, namely, the impact of climate change and nutrient loading can be addressed through the achievement of the existing targets.
2. The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting:
(a) Urges Parties that have not yet done so, to:
(i) Nominate focal points for the Strategy;
(ii) Develop national and/or regional strategies for plant conservation with targets as appropriate, within the context of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and other relevant national and regional policies and action plans, as part of broader plans to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target and the relevant Millennium Development Goals;
(b) Recommends Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to consider:
(i) Activities for achieving enhanced implementation of the Strategy, in particular its targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12 and 15;
(ii) Providing as appropriate additional information on the progress made towards achieving the targets of the Strategy, including quantitative data and information from other sectors and processes such as in forestry and agriculture, in order to strengthen future reviews of the implementation of the Strategy;
(c) Considers the further development of the Strategy beyond 2010 including a review of the current targets. Such consideration should be carried out in the broader context of the Strategic Plan, within the further development of the Convention beyond 2010, taking into account national priorities, capacities and differences in plant diversity between countries;
(d) Requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation and other relevant organizations:
(i) To develop a toolkit, in pursuance of paragraph 7 of decision VII/10 of the Conference of the Parties, that describes inter alia tools and experiences that can help enhance national, subregional and regional implementation of the Strategy. The toolkit should be made available in all the United Nations languages in both electronic and printed form, with the option of making the electronic version interactive in the long term;
(ii) To facilitate the development of capacity-building, technology transfer, and financial support programmes to assist developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and countries with economies in transition to effectively implement or to achieve enhanced implementation of the Strategy;
(iii) To identify regional tools for the exchange of information and capacity building;
(e) Expresses appreciation to Botanic Gardens Conservation International for the secondment of a Programme Officer to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological to support the implementation of the Strategy.
3. The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice requests the Executive Secretary to develop by the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre and relevant organizations, and taking into account contributions from Parties, other Governments and relevant stakeholders, a "Plant Conservation Report" that could provide inputs to the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and serve as a communication and awareness-raising tool on the implementation of the Strategy.
