UN Conference on Biological Diversity 2008 in Bonn - 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

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1 UN Conference on Biological Diversity 2008 in Bonn - 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity From 19 to 30 May 2008 Germany will host the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. During these two weeks the international community under German chairmanship will discuss measures against the ongoing destruction of nature. Time is short, since at the World Summit in Johannesburg heads of state and government from all over the world jointly decided to at least significantly reduce the rapid loss of biological diversity by the year 2010 (2010 biodiversity target). The implementation status of this target will be a key topic at the meeting, since this is the last meeting of the parties before 2010, and the international community will then have just two years to implement the target. Thus, pressure is growing to use this COP to decisively advance the international efforts for the conservation of biological diversity. Environmental destruction and climate change are the two greatest challenges which we have to solve in the next decades. It is becoming more and more evident that the deterioration of the natural foundations of life poses a severe threat to global economic development, social cohesion and ultimately to a peaceful coexistence on Earth. Biodiversity loss The global deforestation rate is 13 million hectares per year mainly due to conversion to agricultural land (FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005) 36% of all forests are virgin forests 6 million hectares are destroyed or converted each year (FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005) 80% of coral reefs in the Caribbean have already been destroyed (IUCN). 35% of all mangroves worldwide were destroyed within just 20 years. 25% of all marine fish stocks are threatened, more than 50% are exploited to their limit, species such as cod, haddock and halibut are already critically endangered (FAO, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2006).

2 The meeting for all life on Earth The key international instrument for the conservation of biodiversity is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) one of the three international agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in The CBD is not a traditional species protection convention, it covers all aspects related to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity at three levels: habitats, species, and genes. The political focus is placed on the conservation and sustainable use of forests and marine ecosystems. However, a multitude of less popular habitats are treated as well, which are equally important for the global natural balance, such as drylands and inland waters. Moreover, the CBD has become a major platform for the discussion on the relationship between the world trade regime and multilateral environmental agreements and an important instrument for protecting the rights of indigenous communities. Equitable sharing of the benefits resulting from the use of genetic resources is another important goal of the Convention. Participants Every two years, the CBD, with about 190 Parties, holds meetings of the Conference of the Parties, which is the highest decision-making organ of the Convention. These UN meetings are not only attended by government delegations, but also by a broad range of environmental and development organisations. A total of around 4000 delegates and observers participated in the last meetings. About 5000 participants are expected for the upcoming meeting in Germany. Contents The contents and the key topics of the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Germany in 2008 are determined by the multi-year programme of work and the decisions of previous meetings of COPs. For non-experts, many of the topics on the agenda may seem rather dry and of little political relevance (e.g. Ecosystem Approach, Invasive Alien Species, Clearing-House Mechanism, Global Taxonomy Initiative). Nevertheless, they are important parts of this comprehensive Convention. Some issues, on the other hand, are of great political significance and receive a lot of public attention. For the Bonn meeting, these include the key topic of the conservation of forests, the establishment of a global network of terrestrial and marine protected areas and its financing, the closer interconnection of the international climate protection process with the CBD and progress in the field of access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS). Financing: Lack of financing is seen as one of the main reasons for insufficient implementation of the CBD. This applies in particular to the developing countries, which are home to a large share of global biodiversity, but do not have adequate means to ensure biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Non-government organisations also call for progress in financing matters.

3 Negotiations in Germany will be based on the decisions made at the 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Curitiba (Brazil) in Options for innovative international financing mechanisms for international nature conservation will be reviewed. Possible solutions include the introduction of fees for the use of global environmental goods (e.g. shipping and fisheries on the high seas), international compensation payments, crediting of biological carbon sinks and tradable declarations of non-use. Germany is already financing a large number of projects that are relevant for the conservation of biological diversity in the framework of its development cooperation. Protected areas: At the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in 2004 Germany achieved the adoption of an ambitious programme of work on protected areas. At the core of this programme of work is the establishment of a global network of protected areas on land and at sea, which covers all habitat types on Earth and which is capable of effectively conserving biological diversity worldwide. The programme of work has already facilitated the designation of new protected areas or the improvement of existing areas in many countries, although this is far from being sufficient. In numerous regional workshops around the globe in 2007, countries will review their progress with regard to the establishment of a global network and identify the greatest obstacles. These regional analyses will form the basis for the further development of the programme of work at the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Particular emphasis will be placed on achieving progress in the financing of the global network of protected areas. Moreover, it is planned to improve notification procedures for protected areas and their depiction in global maps. There is still a huge lack of protected areas on the high seas. So far not a single protected area has been designated outside of national territories. The Conference of the Parties aims to adopt criteria for the selection of high seas areas eligible for protection. Access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS): Not only plants, animals and their products are usable resources, but also the genetic components of each individual. These are especially significant inter alia for scientific research, agriculture, biotechnology and medicine. While the richest biological diversity and thus also the majority of genetic resources are found in developing countries, it is primarily industrialised countries which have the relevant technologies to use these resources. One aim of the CBD is therefore to facilitate access to genetic resources and enable the countries of origin to participate fairly in the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties decided to strive for timely progress with regard to the establishment of internationally binding rules on this issue and to conclude the negotiations by 2010 at the latest. However, it is still not clear how far such a regime will be binding under international law and which specific questions will be regulated. Currently, for example, there are discussions about a certification system on the origin of genetic resources.

4 The German Environment Ministry is advocating that the next Meeting of the Conference of the Parties gives a clear mandate for negotiations on concrete elements of the ABS regime and sets the course for decisions on some fundamental issues. Forests: A demanding programme of work for the conservation and sustainable use of forests worldwide was adopted at the 6th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in The Hague in Virgin forests and other ecologically valuable forests still require stricter protection. To this end it is necessary to specify the CBD programme of work on forests. Moreover, biodiversity of forests must be secured by enhancing the connection between climate protection and biodiversity policies and by establishing protected areas for forests. Many forest ecosystems are also key components of the global network of protected areas. The long-lasting discussion about international forest conservation shows that, again, financing issues will at least partly determine the chances of success. An important financial contribution could result from the integration of forests into international climate protection. Difficult technical questions have to be resolved before this can be realised. In particular, the specific contribution of the CBD e.g. the development of biodiversity criteria for the integration into the climate protection regime will have to be determined. Due to the existing allocation of responsibilities, the necessary decisions against illegal logging cannot be taken within the framework of the CBD. It is therefore only possible to make political statements on this issue, independent of legislative activities. In this context, it is also important to note that Germany calls for binding EU import restrictions if the implementation of the EU strategy to conclude partnership agreements with wood exporting countries does not produce the desired effects. Especially with regard to illegal logging, it would make sense to integrate industry, for example through voluntary commitments. There are plans, especially with regard to the topic of forests, to provide space for activities with industry during the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Bonn, since international wood trading flows and the complexity of the supply chain make it very unlikely that any activities undertaken without the involvement of industry could be successful. Structure of the meeting As the organiser of the meeting, the United Nations i.e. the CBD Secretariat and Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf determines both the organisational and technical details and the general structure of the negotiations. The CBD Secretariat is supported by the COP Bureau, which is currently chaired by Brazil as host of the last meeting. Germany as the next host and chair for the period from 2008 to 2010 is represented in the COP Bureau as an ex officio member. Germany will take over the CBD chairmanship at the beginning of the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties and will then preside the meeting. During the two weeks of the meeting, negotiations will take place in the plenary and in two parallel working groups. Since all decisions have to be taken unanimously, the working groups are accompanied by a variety of contact groups and informal consultations. Decision-making on each individual item can be a time-consuming exercise, progress is often only achieved in very small steps.

5 This is why the High-Level Segment is so important particularly against the background of the rather protracted character of the official consultations. The host country is relatively free to shape this part in coordination with the CBD Secretariat. Whereas the High-Level Segment was more or less separated from the actual negotiation process at previous COPs and did not make a great impact, the High- Level Segment in Bonn will play a decisive role in the final stage of the meeting. A limited number of politically significant issues that were not resolved during the meeting will be decided with the help of this Segment. In addition, the High-Level Segment will serve as a forum for concrete voluntary contributions of individual Parties or groups of Parties that are aimed at drastically reducing or even halting the loss of biological diversity by The numerous side events have become an important part of meetings of the Conference of the Parties. Countries, associations, companies and scientific institutions organise small and large events on specific issues. The side events reflect the whole diversity of the CBD, they paint a colourful picture of an international community which, despite all the difficulties in the official negotiations, cares very much about our common natural heritage. It is also planned to hold a parallel fair to the meeting. This will give the various actors an opportunity to exhibit their contributions to the conservation of biological diversity. An event platform for Business and Biodiversity could be integrated into the fair. The aim is to have industry present its activities for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The one-week Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Cartagena Protocol will take place immediately before the Meeting of the COP. The Cartagena Protocol contains provisions for the transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms. The MOP in Germany will still be chaired by Brazil, since the chair of the whole CBD (and thus also of the associated Cartagena Protocol) will only be elected at the beginning of the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD. Preparatory process Germany is currently using its Presidencies the German EU Presidency (1 January to 30 June 2007), the G8 Presidency (until the end of 2007) and the triple presidency in the EU together with Portugal and Slovenia (until 30 June 2008) to prepare the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties with regard to content and strategies. On 28 June 2007 the EU Environment Council under the German Presidency adopted Council conclusions on biodiversity, which outline key issues for the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD and lay the groundwork for a common European position in the negotiations. With a view to some controversial topics (ABS, financing) an early coordination process within the EU is important to be able to engage in a dialogue with other Parties in due time about goals to be pursued at the meeting. This procedure has been agreed with Portugal and Slovenia and will be continued beyond the term of the German EU Presidency.

6 The Potsdam Initiative - Biological Diversity 2010 was adopted at the meeting of environment ministers from the G8 countries and the five major newly industrialising countries. It describes specific joint activities for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and was also incorporated into the G8 summit document. First steps towards implementation of the Potsdam Initiative have already been taken. A follow-up meeting at working level took place in July Moreover, the meeting was the first forum for a dialogue with the newly industrialising countries in the G8 framework and for discussing issues such as the necessary balancing of economic and ecological interests and the elimination of obstacles in the international negotiation process. The 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD will also be prepared in a number of meetings of the different subsidiary bodies to the CBD. Particularly important events are the two meetings of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), the meetings of the Working Group on the Review of Implementation and the meeting of the Working Groups on ABS, Protected Areas and the Rights of Indigenous Communities. The 12th meeting of the SBSTTA and the 2nd meeting of the Working Group on the Review of Implementation took place in Paris in July The reports of these meetings can be downloaded here In the lead-up to COP9 to the CBD the German Environment Ministry launched a broad-based public relations campaign in May 2007 which aims to raise awareness of the global loss, but at the same time of the value of biological diversity. The campaign is supported by the so-called Nature Alliance, a group of well-known personalities from politics, non-government organisations, industry, the media, science and culture. The motto of the campaign which is also the motto of the UN meeting is One world one nature our future. As at: September 2007 Division N I 4 - International Nature Conservation