The Conference of the Parties,
A. Cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and partnerships to enhance the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020
Noting the report of the Executive Secretary on cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and partnerships to enhance the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020,
1. Welcomes the continued collaboration between the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Tropical Timber Organization, with a view to expedite efforts towards the achievement of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in general and the work on forest biodiversity in particular;
2. Requests the Executive Secretary to include, in future reports on cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and partnerships, information on results and achievements of existing cooperation activities.
B. Options to enhance synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions Recalling decision XII/6,
3. Appreciates the work of the governing bodies and their bureaux, standing committees and equivalent bodies of other biodiversity-related conventions in contributing to the Party-led process established under decision XII/6;
4. Recognizes, in the context of the ongoing work on synergies among the biodiversityrelated conventions, the importance of the strategic plans of the conventions, the Strategic Plan for 1 UNEP/CBD/COP/13/16. Biodiversity 2011-2020 and any follow-up, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and related reporting and indicators;
5. Acknowledges the work done by the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre and their valuable contribution and inputs provided to the workshop held in Geneva in February 2016 on promoting synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions;
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Annex I
OPTIONS FOR ENHANCING SYNERGIES AMONG THE BIODIVERSITY-RELATED CONVENTIONS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
A. Introduction
1. Background
1. The present annex focuses on options for action by Parties of the various biodiversity-related conventions to enhance synergies at the national level. These are derived from the outcomes of the workshop on synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions and actions as presented in the note by the Executive Secretary on possible recommendations arising from the options for action identified by the workshop,4 which themselves had been built on a range of earlier work, including that conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme through its project on cooperation and synergies among 4 UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/9/Add.1. biodiversity-related conventions,5 and each of which collectively respond to the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, “The future we want”.
2. Purpose and scope
2. The options for action are voluntary and intended to serve as suggestions and guidance, where needed, for Parties to enhance synergies and cooperation in the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions, their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs), and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. 3. They are intended to provide options for actions that Parties could take in support of effective and coherent implementation of the conventions at the national level.
4. The implementation of these options should be to the mutual benefit of the conventions concerned and be compatible with their provisions, obligations, mandates and objectives, respecting their independent nature.
5. Options that Parties choose to pursue should be adapted to suit national circumstances. Not all options for action would be applicable to all countries and additional options not included in the present note could also be taken up by countries.
6. Some options for action may be relevant to enhancing synergies between just two of the conventions or among a subset of them, rather than among all conventions. Some options may have particular relevance to the Protocols of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
7. Parties could be encouraged to select among the various options for enhancing synergies as appropriate to national circumstance, taking into account their NBSAPs, and to report on any actions taken to enhance synergies at the national level in their national reports, where possible.
B. Options for action by Parties of the various biodiversity-related conventions to enhance synergies at the national level 1 Planning frameworks and coordination mechanisms
8. Common planning frameworks and coordination mechanisms can serve as useful tools for promoting synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions at the national level.
(a) The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and national biodiversity strategies and action plans
(i) Rationale
9. The NBSAP aligned to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets could serve as a unifying framework to promote synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions. National plans aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals could also contribute in this regard.
(ii) Options for action
10. Parties are encouraged:
(a) To include in their NBSAP, relevant actions to implement commitments and recommendations under each of the biodiversity-related conventions to which they are a Party, in line with the commitments and recommendations agreed to under the conventions concerned. In doing so, Parties may wish to take account of existing guidance of the Conference of the Parties related to updating or revising and implementing NBSAPs, including decisions IX/8, X/2, X/5 and XI/6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as resolutions 8.18, 10.18 of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, resolution 6/2013 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, decision 37 COM 5A of the World Heritage Committee, resolution XI.6 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, and resources prepared by the Secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals;
(b) To conduct a mapping and gap analysis of relevant implementation actions, including those described in subparagraph (a) above and those related to contributions under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to identify potential needs;
(c) In revising or updating other related strategies and action plans, consider alignment with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in national implementation of biodiversity-related conventions;
(d) Make use of relevant indicators of other conventions in implementing measures towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and, as appropriate, prepare relevant national indicators for other biodiversity-related conventions to track effective implementation and monitoring of actions and also to feed into national actions related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals;
(e) Ensure the appropriate participation of all relevant stakeholders, including women, youth, and indigenous peoples and local communities in the finalization and implementation of the NBSAP for better articulation and planning to achieve synergies;
(f) Link the NBSAP and other relevant national implementation plans and strategies to the national clearing-house mechanism and/or other information-sharing hubs.
(b) Institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms
(i) Rationale
11. Coordination mechanisms and coordinated actions serve as the foundation for enhancing coherence and synergies in the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions across all issue areas.
12. Institutional and coordinative arrangements are made at the discretion of the Party so any consideration of coordination mechanisms needs to take account of:
(a) the great variation in national circumstances, including the conventions to which a country is a Party, which has a bearing on the need; and
(b) differences between the conventions in their requirements of national authorities.
13. Consideration could be given to building or enhancing coordination mechanisms around national focal points and equivalent authorities of the conventions at the individual and the institutional levels. Advantage should be taken of relevant existing institutions to work on common issues under biodiversity-related conventions.
(ii) Options for action
14. Parties are encouraged to undertake an assessment of national needs for coordination and synergy of commitments and recommendations under the biodiversity-related conventions.
15. Parties are encouraged to establish or strengthen a formal coordination mechanism for efficient coordination among national focal points and relevant authorities of biodiversity-related conventions and to consider further strengthening such coordination mechanisms by providing for meaningful engagement of other stakeholders, including women, young people and indigenous peoples and local communities, in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations and practice.
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