The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention,
Recalling that, in its
decision VIII/13, the Conference of the Parties decided to conduct an in-depth review of the availability of financial resources at its ninth meeting, and requested the Executive Secretary to prepare a draft strategy for resource mobilization,
Recalling also that, in
decision VIII/13, the Conference of the Parties recommended to Parties, Governments and funding institutions, as appropriate, the promotion, and fostering of new national and regional environmental funds and strengthening/expanding such existing funds, and further to encourage knowledge transfer and exchange about these mechanisms, through the creation and/or strengthening of national and international learning networks or communities,
Noting the information contained in the note by the Executive Secretary on options for resource mobilization in support of the achievement of the objectives of the Convention (UNEP/CBD/WG RI/2/4), in particular in its section V, which provides a basis for considering options for resource mobilization and the need for further elaboration of those options,
Noting also the report of the Expert Group Meeting on Management of Environmental Funds for the Financial Sustainability of Biodiversity Conservation, held in Lima from 9 to 11 May 2007 (UNEP/CBD/WG-RI/2/INF/5),
Noting further the recent and upcoming international meetings and initiatives regarding resource mobilization, including: the Conference “Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation” held in September 2006 in Paris; the “Potsdam Initiative – Biological Diversity 2010”, launched during the meeting of G8+5 environment ministers, acknowledged at the G-8 Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007; the meeting on business and biodiversity, hosted by the Government of Portugal in November 2007, in cooperation with of the European Commission and IUCN,
Highlighting the need for a full integration of biodiversity financing at the International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Doha in the second half of 2008,
1.Recommends that the Conference of the Parties adopt a strategy for resource mobilization to support implementation of the Convention at its ninth meeting;
2.Requests the Executive Secretary in preparation for the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to:
(a)Seek views and further suggestions from Parties, other Governments, regional economic integration groups, partner organizations, donors and observers on a strategy for resource mobilization, and compile the information received;
(b)Undertake informal consultations on the development of the strategy for resource mobilization in conjunction with the Convention’s inter-sessional meetings;
(c)Submit a draft strategy for consideration of the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting;
3.Recommends that, at its ninth meeting, the Conference of the Parties mandate its President to transmit a message on biodiversity and financing for development to the International Conference on Financing for Development, and requests the Executive Secretary to undertake informal consultations with Parties to prepare a draft of the message for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties;
4.Invites the Global Environment Facility to provide inputs to the development of the strategy for resource mobilization.
