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Fifth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity
Nairobi, Kenya; 15 - 26 May 2000
 

The fifth Conference of the Parties (COP-5) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) took place from 15-26 May 2000, at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, drawing together approximately 1500 participants representing 156 governments, as well as NGOs, IGOs and indigenous and local community organizations. Delegates to COP-5 considered and adopted decisions on a number of topics, including: a new thematic work programme on conservation of dry and sub-humid land biodiversity; the ecosystem approach; access to genetic resources; alien species; sustainable use as a cross-cutting issue; biodiversity and tourism; incentive measures; the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation; progress in implementing the work programmes on agricultural, inland water ecosystem, marine and coastal and forest biodiversity; operations of the Convention; the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI); financial resources and mechanism; scientific and technical cooperation and the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM); identification, monitoring and assessment, and indicators; and impact assessment, liability and redress. A High-Level segment on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, including a Ministerial Roundtable and a special signing ceremony, was convened during the second week of the meeting. Many delegates characterized COP-5 as a success and attributed this to the positive working atmosphere and delegates' efficiency. Participants noted the maturation of the process and discussions, while highlighting the need to move from policy generation to implementation. Continued in the ENB's COP-5 Summary (see links above on the right).


Closing Plenary
Amb. Hama Arba Diallo, CCD Executive Secretary, said that biodiversity loss and land degradation are linked with rural poverty. He highlighted collaboration between the CBD and CCD for the development and implementation of the work programme on dry and sub-humid lands and referred to implementation through national and sub-regional action programmes and regional thematic programme networks established under the CCD.
RealAudio: PART ONE  PART TWO
Peter Schei (Norway), Chair of Working Group I  [photo at bottom of page, in the interviews section], introduced and delegates adopted the report of WG-I (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/L.20). He introduced the draft decisions prepared by WG-I. Regarding the technical expert panel on forests, he expressed WG-I's concern that no core funding had been allocated for this group or other technical groups to be established on drylands, and marine and coastal ecosystems. He stressed the importance of adequately preparing for consideration of forests at COP-6 and the need for better cooperation between Working Groups and the budget contact group in the future.
Elaine Fisher (Jamaica), Chair of Working Group II, introduced the report of WG-II (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/L.19) and it was adopted with minor amendments
Seychelles, on behalf of several Africa Region countries, said that the ad hoc working group on access and benefit sharing could consider other international arrangements beyond guidelines.
 

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CBD COP-5
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Canada, regretting that it could make no further financial commitment at COP-5, said it would take the concerns expressed about the lack of a finalized host country agreement to the highest levels of its government
On expert technical groups, Colombia expressed concern that the core CBD budget does not include resources for technical working groups on dryland, forest marine and coastal. He also inserted language on scientific, technical and technological matters related to marine and coastal genetic resources.
Germany announced that it would host the open ended ad hoc working group on access and benefit sharing in Bonn in late 2001.
New Zealand supported Colombia's call to coordinate budget and working group decisions. She also called for the COP and SBSTTA Bureaus to tackle the marine biodiversity issue without delay and to give adequate time for consideration of a CBD Strategic Plan during the intersessional period.
The Netherlands extended an offer to host COP-6 in the Hague in the second quarter of 2002 and delegates adopted a decision agreeing to this (UNEP/CBD/COP/L.10). The Netherlands thanked Kenya for hosting COP-5 and looked forward to meeting everyone again at COP-6.
Esther Camac, Associacion Ixacavaa, spoke on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples' Biodiversity Forum, emphasized the unfinished business and true healing needed by recognizing the right of indigenous peoples to be indigenous, repatriation of pre-CBD ex situ collections, full control of their own resources, participation and recognition at every level of CBD decision-making, prior informed consent and the deny access to bioprospectors and those using traditional knowledge. She also thanked African countries for their support of Article 8j and called on their recognition of Africa's indigenous peoples.
Sweden, on behalf of Western Europe and others (WEOG)
noted the smoothness of COP-5 and said the CBD was "coming into maturity"
 
Ethiopia, on behalf of the African Group, highlighted, inter alia, the issue of repatriation of Africa's genetic resources, the need for capacity development and poverty alleviation, public awareness, participation of local communities in decision making, protection of farmers' rights and opposition to the patenting of life forms.
Brazil, on behalf of GRULAC, said that funds are needed for regional meetings before the next COP.
Panama, on behalf of the Central American Countries urged strengthening regional and sub-regional links.
Gudrun Henne of Greenpeace International noted its support for work on the ecosystem approach and Article 8(j), the high level of attention to biosafety and the CBD's responsibility to adequately address the issue of forest biodiversity.

Closing statements:

Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director [right], Töpfer expressed his gratitude to all involved, called for the Cartagena Protocol's entry into force prior to 2002 and remarked that of the 31 decisions adopted, UNEP is directly referred to in 14.

Hamdallah Zedan, CBD Executive Secretary [center], noted that more than 1500 participants attended, the highest number ever for a CBD COP, and highlighted the meeting's business-like nature.

COP-5 President Francis Nyenze [left] expressed his honor in presiding over the meeting, highlighted the signing of the Protocol as a signal of the international community's commitment to the CBD and introduced a short video capturing scenes of the meeting's past two weeks. Nyenze officially closed the meeting at 2:10 pm.



Post-COP interview: Schei on COP-5, Forests, Ecosystems and Invasive Species
Peter Schei, Chair of COP-5 Working Group1, shares his impressions of COP-5's positive atmosphere, the 12 principles of the ecosystem approach, and the status of progress on forest biodiversity and invasive species. He also discusses priorities for CBD implementation in Norway.
RealAudio of the interview

Post-COP interview: Koester on Panel 4, Biosafety and CITES

Veit Koester (Denmark), former Chair of the Biosafety Working Group, speaks of the origins of the Biosafety Protocol in "the famous and infamous Panel 4." Koester also gives his perspective on the practical challenges of Protocol implementation at the national and regional levels. Finally, he discusses public perceptions of biosafety and compares the Biosafety Protocol with the CITES problematic of transboundary movements of life forms.

RealAudio of the interview


Post-COP interview: Shikango on Article 8(j), Drylands and Southern Africa

Sem Shikango (Namibia), Chair of the COP-5 Contact Group on drylands, notes progress made on Article 8(j) and on the collective rights of indigenous peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity. He also discusses priorities for linking drylands and biodiversity concerns in Namibia and Southern Africa.

RealAudio of the interview: PART ONE  PART TWO


Interview: Dorsey on Collective Knowledge Rights and Access to Genetic Resources in the Andes

Michael Dorsey, Edmond's Institute, critiques the imposition of property rights regimes on biodiversity and describes challenges ahead in addressing the collective knowledge rights of indigenous peoples. He also reports on the status of implementation of Andean Pact legislation #391 on access and benefit-sharing in Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru.

For related information on model African draft legislation being developed through the Science and Technology Commission of the Organization of African Unity on access to genetic resources and collective farmers' rights, contact Dr. Tewolde Berhan G. Egziabher, General Manager of Ethiopia's Environmental Protectio Agency [sustain@telecom.net.et or enypa@telecom.net.et] or Ms. Meaza Demissie, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute [bio_et@padis.gn.apc.org].


Interview: The CBD and Sustainable Use in Madagascar (in French)

Claudine Ramiarison, Cellule de Valorisation de la Biodiversité, Office National de l'Environnement (ONE) [ramiarisonc@dts.mg], gives her sense of where the CBD is going, described sustainable use with respect to local communities and the resource itself. She discusses francophone collaboration on medicinal plants and community-based sustainable use of raffia and chameleons in Madagascar. She is shown here, standing on the left, with ENB team member Nabiha Z. Z. Megateli.


Interview: Edwards and Jenkins on Sustainable Use, the CBD and CITES

Steve Edwards, Head of the IUCN Sustainable Use Initiative [pictured here on the right] and Hank Jenkins, Creative Conservation Solutions, share their impressions of the CBD's development as a convention, and COP-5 progress on the sustainable use of biodiversity. They reflect upon the complementarities and differences between the CBD and CITES.

RealAudio of the interview: PART ONE  PART TWO



ENB coverage of SBSTTA-5, Resumed Ex-COP on Biosafety, SBSTTA-4 and ISOC-1 and CBD COP-4
Linkages Biodiversity page and "Introduction to Biodiversity"
CBD Secretariat COP-5 web site with official documents

Other: Global Biodiversity Forum

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