Progress reports on implementation
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,
Having considered the progress reports on the implementation of the thematic and cross-cutting programmes of work under the Convention prepared for its ninth meeting,
Recalling recommendation VI/5, in which it agreed to consider progress reports from relevant assessments, as a standing item at its meetings, and to review methodologies in the light of experience,
1. Welcomes:
(a) The progress reports prepared by the Executive Secretary on the implementation of the thematic programmes of work and work on cross-cutting issues (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/2 and 3);
(b) The progress reports on proposals for the integration of non-timber forest resources in the forest inventory and management (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/INF/14) and on development of elements for a possible joint work programme on fire prevention and management with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Tropical Timber Organization, the Global Fire Monitoring Center and other relevant organizations (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/INF/15), and encourages the Executive Secretary to continue strengthening cooperation with these organizations to carry out these collaborative activities in time for a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice prior to the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties; and
(c) The reports on the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/INF/16, INF/17 and INF/30);
2. Also welcomes the progress reports on assessments contributed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/INF/37) and by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment on Ecosystems and Human Well-being: A Framework for Assessment (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/INF/20), and invites these organizations to report on new developments to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its future meetings;
3. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties urges Parties and other Governments to participate actively in the relevant review processes under these assessments, as required;
4. Takes note of the proposals for further development and refinement of the guidelines for incorporating biodiversity-related issues into environmental impact assessment legislation or procedures and in strategic environmental assessment (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/INF/18); and decides to follow up on decision VI/7 A at one of its future meetings in line with the multi-year programme of work of the Conference of the Parties up to 2010;
5. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties urges Parties and other Governments that have not done so to contribute case-studies on current experiences in environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment procedures that incorporate biodiversity-related issues as well as experiences in applying the guidelines contained in the annex to decision VI/7 A;
6. Welcomes the preliminary assessment undertaken by the Executive Secretary on the relationship between the IPF/IFF proposals for action and the activities of the expanded programme of work on forest biological diversity (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/INF/31);
7. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties invites the Coordinator and Head of the Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests members and other relevant partners and organizations as specified in paragraph 19 (b) of decision VI/22 to provide further views on the assessment mentioned in paragraph 6 above;
8. Welcomes the report of the London meeting on "2010 - The Biodiversity Challenge" organized by the Executive Secretary in collaboration with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and other partners; and stresses the need to establish a process for identifying priority measures required for achieving, and assessing progress towards the achievement of, the 2010 target as contained in decision VI/26 and endorsed by the World Summit of Sustainable Development and therefore urges Parties to the Convention to address these issues at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
