Fifth meeting of the Working Group on the Review of Implementation (WGRI 5) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and
Eighteenth meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 18)

16-20 & 23-28 June 2014
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Headquarters,
Montreal, Canada

WGRI 5 resumed its discussions on Tuesday with an informal dialogue session in the morning, during which two panels discussed ways of: mainstreaming biodiversity in the sustainable development goals; and mobilizing resources for achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Panelists addressed questions on: the adequacy of the zero draft in addressing biodiversity and ecosystems; the role of the Secretariat, CBD parties, and the CBD community in mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystems in the post-2015 development agenda; integration of the NBSAPs at the national level with development, disaster prevention and other relevant planning processes; examples of biodiversity-related activities that were successfully prioritized in national budgeting processes; the human and financial capacity required to mobilize resources to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; and identification of the positive impacts of biodiversity and ecosystem services on national income.

In the afternoon, delegates provided statements on: the potential of biodiversity for poverty eradication and sustainable development; and improving the efficiency of structures and processes under the Convention.

In the evening, a contact group met under the guidance of Jeremy Eppel, UK, and Francis Ogwal, Uganda, to discuss resource mobilization and the financial mechanism. A Friends of the Chair group on biodiversity for poverty eradication and sustainable development was also established with Maria Schultz, Sweden, as chair.

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WGRI 5 reconvened on Wednesday, with delegates addressing agenda items on cooperation, including: cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and initiatives; engagement with sub-national and local governments; and engagement of stakeholders and major groups, including business.

In the afternoon and evening, the contact group on resource mobilization and the financial mechanism, co-chaired by Jeremy Eppel, UK, and Francis Ogwal, Uganda, met and considered a second reading of a non-paper. A contact group on improving the efficiency of structures and processes under the Convention, chaired by Tone Solhaug, Norway, and Spencer Thomas, Grenada, was established and considered a first reading of a Chair’s text.

In the evening, a Friends of the Chair group met on biodiversity for poverty eradication and sustainable development with Maria Schultz, Sweden, as Chair.

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Throughout the day, delegates reviewed draft recommendations on: progress in providing support in implementing the objectives of the Convention and its Strategic Plan; progress in updating and implementing NBSAPs; progress in providing support in implementing the objectives of the Convention and its Strategic Plan; the financial mechanism; improving the efficiency of structures and processes under the Convention; progress related to business engagement; engagement with subnational and local governments; cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and initiatives; and stakeholder engagement.

In the morning, Jeremy Eppel, UK, Co-Chair of the contact group on resource mobilization and the financial mechanism reported back to WGRI 5, noting progress made, and proposed continued informal consultations to iron out issues on the final targets for resource mobilization. WGRI 5 considered items on mainstreaming gender and retirement of decisions.

Two contact groups met in the afternoon and evening on resource mobilization, and improving the efficiency of structures and processes under the Convention. The Friends of the Chair group met on biodiversity for poverty eradication and sustainable development.

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WGRI 5 reconvened in plenary on Friday morning and considered draft recommendations on: biodiversity for poverty eradication and sustainable development; review of progress in providing support in implementing the objectives of the Convention and its Strategic Plan; resource mobilization; an updated Gender Plan of Action to 2020 and progress in gender mainstreaming; and retirement of decisions. WGRI 5 adopted final recommendations, to be forwarded to COP 12.

In the closing plenary, CBD Executive Secretary Braulio Dias, lauded delegates for the positive spirit of cooperation demonstrated throughout the week. He informed delegates that South Sudan is the newest party to the Convention, bringing the number to 194, and announced Guatemala’s ratification of the Nagoya Protocol, bringing the number of ratifications to 38. Chair Pande closed the meeting at 4:59 pm.

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The eighteenth meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 18) opened on Monday, 23 June 2014, in Montreal, Canada. Delegates met in plenary throughout the day to: review the draft of the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-4); review the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) 2011-2020; consider recommendations on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES); and review incentive measures, including obstacles encountered in implementing options identified for eliminating, phasing out or reforming incentives that are harmful for biodiversity.

A contact group, chaired by Brigitte Baptiste (Colombia), on the GBO-4 and the Pyeongchang Road Map was established, and will meet on Tuesday evening.

In the evening, delegates attended a reception hosted by the CBD Secretariat.

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On Tuesday, delegates convened in plenary throughout the day and considered: marine and coastal biodiversity, including: reports on ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs); addressing impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity of underwater noise, marine debris, ocean acidification and coral bleaching; and developing tools and capacity, including marine spatial planning and training initiatives. In the afternoon, delegates considered synthetic biology under new and emerging issues. In the evening, a contact group, chaired by Brigitte Baptiste (Colombia), met to discuss GBO-4. A Friends of the Chair group, chaired by Alexander Shestakov (Russian Federation), was formed to continue discussions on meeting the criteria for EBSAs that will meet on Wednesday.

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On Wednesday morning, delegates reconvened in plenary to consider invasive alien species (IAS), including: management of risks associated with introduction of alien species introduced as pets, aquarium and terrarium species, and as live bait and live food; and review of work on IAS and considerations for future work.

In the afternoon, delegates resumed consideration of synthetic biology, and afterwards discussed issues in progress, including: integration of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into climate change mitigation and adaptation activities; promoting the contribution of REDD+ activities towards achieving the objectives of the Convention; climate-related geo-engineering; and ecosystem conservation and restoration.

Two contact groups met in the evening. A contact group on synthetic biology was chaired by Andrew Bignell (New Zealand), and the other on marine and coastal biodiversity was chaired by Renée Sauvé (Canada).

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On Thursday morning, delegates resumed plenary discussions on: issues in progress, including integration of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into climate change mitigation and adaptation activities; application of relevant safeguards for biodiversity with regard to policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to REDD+; climate-related geo-engineering; ecosystem conservation and restoration; definitions of key terms on biofuels; and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Three contact groups met in the afternoon on synthetic biology, marine and coastal biodiversity, and IAS. In the evening, SBSTTA reconvened in plenary to consider issues on health and biodiversity, and recommendations to COP 12 on: GBO-4 progress in achieving the targets of the GSPC; obstacles encountered in implementing options identified for eliminating, phasing out, or reforming incentives; and IPBES.

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On Friday, SBSTTA reconvened in plenary and considered revised text throughout the day on: review of GBO-4; marine and coastal biodiversity, including EBSAs and other matters; IAS, including management of risks associated with IAS introduced as pets, aquarium and terrarium species, and as live bait and live food, and review of work on IAS and considerations for future work; synthetic biology; IPBES; and consideration of issues in progress, including biodiversity and climate change, and ecosystem conservation and restoration.

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On Saturday morning, SBSTTA 18 delegates met in plenary to consider draft recommendations on, inter alia: obstacles encountered in implementing options identified for eliminating, phasing out or reforming incentives that are harmful for biodiversity; IAS; GBO-4; EBSAs and other marine and coastal biodiversity issues; biodiversity and climate change; ecosystem and restoration; sustainable use of biodiversity; and a revised recommendation on scientific and technical needs for implementing the Strategic Plan.

Plenary adopted 14 recommendations and the meeting report. In closing, Braulio Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, lauded delegates for priority actions adopted to help accelerate achievement of Aichi Target 10 (coral reefs and closely associated ecosystems), as well as the guidance adopted on devising and implementing measures towards achieving Aichi Target 9 (IAS). He announced that 41 countries have ratified the Nagoya Protocol, and called on others to consider ratifying the Protocol, noting that the UN Treaty Division accepts signed, scanned versions of instruments of ratification via email. SBSTTA Chair Dalle Tussie (Ethiopia) gaveled the meeting to a close at 1:12 pm.

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