The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decisions X/2 and XII/1, and, in particular, paragraph 3 (b) of decision X/2, in which it urged Parties and other Governments to develop national and regional targets, using the Strategic Plan and its Aichi Targets as a flexible framework, in accordance with national priorities and capacities, and taking into account both the global targets and the status and trends of biological diversity in the country, and the resources provided through the strategy for resource mobilization, with a view to contributing to collective global efforts to reach the global targets,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the 184 Parties, listed in annex I, that have submitted their fifth national reports;
2. Congratulates the 142 Parties, listed in annex II, that have submitted national biodiversity strategies and action plans since 2010;
3. Takes note of the analysis of progress towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets based on the information provided in the revised and updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans and the fifth national reports;
4. Also takes note of the updated report on progress towards the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation;
5. Welcomes the contribution by Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora3 and by the Secretariat of that Convention to the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, as reported to the Convention’s Plants Committee;
6. Notes that most of the national biodiversity strategies and action plans developed or revised since 2010 contain targets related to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, also notes, however, that only a minority of Parties have established targets with a level of ambition and scope commensurate with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets;
7. Notes with concern that Aichi Biodiversity Target 17 was not met by the target date of 2015 and, recalling decision XII/1, paragraph 8, and decision XII/23, reiterates its great concern that Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 was not achieved by its 2015 target date, and further urges Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to pursue their efforts to achieve these targets as soon as possible;
8. Also notes with concern the limited progress made towards Aichi Biodiversity Targets 18 and 14 at the national level and in mainstreaming Article 8(j) and related provisions into various areas of work under the Convention, including capacity development and the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the work of the Convention;
9. Further notes with concern that a limited number of national biodiversity strategies and action plans refer to indigenous peoples and local communities, customary sustainable use, or the involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities in the revision of national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
10. Urges those Parties that have not yet done so to update and implement their national or regional biodiversity strategies and action plans as soon as possible, in keeping with decision XI/2;
11. Encourages Parties, in the process of updating their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, to consider, as appropriate, the indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals;
12. Also encourages Parties to review their national biodiversity strategies and action plans periodically, as appropriate and in accordance with national circumstances, priorities and capacities, to consider increasing the level of ambition and/or scope of the national or regional targets to a level that is commensurate with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and to integrate the targets across different sectors, including in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development5 and the Sustainable Development Goals, so as to make a greater contribution to collective global efforts to achieve the global targets;
13. Further encourages Parties to systematically mainstream gender considerations in their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and in associated implementation and reporting mechanisms in line with the 2015–2020 Gender Plan of Action under the Convention on Biological Diversity;
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