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13th Feburary 2010
Convention on Biological diversity - an expert workshop!

An informal expert workshop chaired by the United Kingdom and Brazil governments took place in London from the 18th-20th January 2010 at the Hotel Russell in Russell Square. Participants from 54 countries from all regions including Saint Lucia attended, as well as representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations. Saint Lucia was represented by Ms. Anita James, Biodiversity Coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries & Forestry. The aim of the workshop was to provide an informal setting for participants to freely discuss ideas, expectations, proposals and suggestions associated with the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
In 2002, the Countries of the CBD decided to target 2010 as the year when achievement could be claimed that the rate of loss of species were reduced. Unfortunately, 2010 has come around and for some species, the target has not been reached. The CBD is endeavouring to strategically map out a plan post 2010 that will better achieve any new target arrived at and is discussing the plan with as many stakeholders as possible to enable the goals to be met.
A.General themes that emerged from the workshop
• Urgent action is needed to avoid irreversible loss of biodiversity. Coral reefs are in crisis, for example.
• The underlying causes and drivers (both direct and indirect) of biodiversity loss and sustainable use must be addressed. Mainstreaming of biodiversity into all sectors must take place.
• Biodiversity must be integrated as part of natural capital and its value included in all levels of accounting systems.
• Biodiversity is needed to maintain resilience and provide multiple services for a range of beneficiaries as endorsed by the science. Hence the science –policy interface needs to be strengthened through the establishment of an international science policy platform.
• The nexus between biodiversity and climate change must always be recognized and promoted.
• Implementation of the Convention at all levels is key and should be the focus of the CBD.
• NBSAPS must be current and implemented and resources provided for so doing.
• The Global Environment Facility (GEF) must assist in achieving the aims of the strategic plan.
• Access and benefit sharing objectives must be realized.
• The strategic plan must be well communicated to all audiences for it to be achieved.
 
 

B. Key points that emerged from discussions of the Strategic Plan
• The strategic plan must be strategic.
• The Strategic plan must be global but flexible enough for national action

Vision
It must be convincing to political leaders, citizens and relate to everyone and cover the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Mission
Timescale to 2020. Focusing on some of the same elements of the vision.

Targets
• Based on science and experience
• Must be Strategic, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic and Timebound (SMART) and no more than 20 in all
Implementation Needs and Mechanisms
• Innovative financing and resource mobilization
• More efficient sharing of tools, best practices, methods, experience and technology transfer
• Strengthen monitoring, auditing and review at all levels and use Clearing House Mechanisms and Biodiversity Centres to share information
• Better mainstreaming especially national accounting and planning systems
• Better engage regional and international organizations whose mandates cover sectors that impact on biodiversity to address the drivers of biodiversity loss
• Better measures to communicate trends and values in biodiversity

Improving the function of the CBD Bodies and Mechanisms
• COP needs to focus on the review and improvement of implementation of the convention using the Strategic Plan to set the agenda to be followed in implementation
• Enhance the role of the Ministerial segment to support implementation of the Convention
• Realign the bodies of the CBD as necessary in the new dispensation
• Increase support for national implementation of the convention and that can be enhanced by greater regional cooperation and collaboration
• Strengthen synergies among the various biodiversity conventions
• Communicate more simply within the convention

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