The Conference of the Parties
1. Adopts the revised delineation of dry and sub-humid lands as contained in annex I to the progress report on the thematic programmes of work and requests the Executive Secretary to convey this delineation to the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) so as to inform the ongoing process on the revision of the 10-year Strategic Plan under that Convention;
2. Urges Parties and other Governments, where appropriate, to:
(a) Develop and implement, or revise existing, drought-management plans and early-warning systems at all levels, including regional and subregional and basin-level management plans, taking into account the impact of drought and desertification on biodiversity and the role of biodiversity and actions to combat desertification in increasing the resilience of dry and sub-humid lands, seeking:
(i) The inclusion of risk evaluation, impact assessments and impact management; and
(ii) To direct biodiversity management for the prevention of desertification, including through the involvement of all stakeholders, particularly women and pastoralists and other indigenous and local communities and, as appropriate, in accordance with traditional community-based strategies, particularly through customary use systems;
(b) Integrate issues related to dry and sub-humid lands into relevant national strategies, plans and programmes, in particular, revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans, national action programmes to combat desertification, and national adaptation programmes of action with a view to improving and harmonizing implementation where possible, with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities;
(c) Recalling decision IX/17, continue to implement those activities contained in paragraphs 29 and 30 of the progress report and consideration of proposals for future action prepared by the Executive Secretary for the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties,2 as well as the activities identified in decision IX/16 on possible joint activities regarding the three Rio conventions, including through regional programmes, for more effective coordination between the Rio conventions, recognizing that implementation has, thus far, been limited;
(d) Increase the extent of temperate grasslands contained in protected areas in order to address the under-representation of such protected areas;
(e) Consult with neighbouring countries and other countries in their respective subregions and regions to develop and execute collaborative drought management strategies and action plans to reduce the impact of drought and desertification on biodiversity at regional, subregional and/or basin levels;
(f) Develop and implement best-practice guides for integrated planning between dry and sub-humid lands and wetlands with a view to contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of the biodiversity of dry and sub-humid lands;
(g) Create demonstration and pilot activities in sustainable land management in dry and subhumid lands with special attention given to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in protected areas in accordance with their management objectives;
3. Takes into consideration the Hua Hin Declaration,3 which addresses climate-change adaptation and risks to biodiversity as common challenges of countries in the Mekong River Basin;
4. Urges Parties and other Governments to establish specific national and regional targets, in accordance with national circumstances and in line with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 to assess the implementation of the programme of work on the biodiversity of dry and sub-humid lands under the Convention on Biological Diversity in order to better reflect the particular challenges faced by such ecosystems and the people living in them, particularly indigenous and local communities;
5. Also urges Parties and other Governments and relevant organizations to support activities identified in national capacity self-assessments (NCSAs) that promote synergies among the three Rio conventions at the subnational, national and regional level, within dry and sub-humid lands;
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