ENB @ CBD COP-6, 7-19 April 2002, The Hague, The Netherlands

Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
The Hague, The Netherlands
7-19 April 2002

Daily Web Coverage: Images and Real Audio

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ENB Summary
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Highlights for Wednesday 17 April 2002

The Ministerial roundtable discussion met in the morning and afternoon to discuss the CBD's contribution to the WSSD and COP-6's priority issues. Working Group I (WG-I) met briefly in the afternoon to review progress on forests. Working Group II considered Conference Room Papers (CRPs) on: education and public awareness; cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and initiatives; the strategic plan; Article 8(j); and implementation and operations of the Convention. Contact groups on forest biodiversity and financial resources and mechanism also met. Above photo: The dias during the Ministerial Roundatable.

MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE :

Wim Kok, Prime Minister of The Netherlands, hoping that the outcome of COP-6 will help achieve the millennium summit goals.

Two Youth representatives called on Ministers to take urgent action for forests conservation, including primary forests, the protection of indigenous people, and the sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources.

Listen to the speech of the youth from Trinidad and Tobago and Belgium

COP-6 president, Geke Faber (The Netherlands) (Left photo: Seated first to the left), highlighted the unrecorded high level participation in the meeting, evidence of a strong commitment to and the importance of biodiversity conservation.

Hamdallah Zedan, CBD Executive Secretary, stressed that the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are no longer peripheral, but are the foundation of economic growth, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Nigeria, on behalf of the African Countries, stressed the link between the three CBD's objectives and poverty alleviation.

Spain, on behalf of the EU, proposed a year-2010 target for stopping and reversing biodiversity loss.

Malaysia, on behalf of the Asia Pacific Region, stressed the need for collaboration and synergies with other international organisations, and proposed to host COP-7 in 2004.

Colombia suggested development of environmental ethics.

Bulgaria highlighted domestic and cross-border efforts for biodiversity conservation through creation of a green belt, including protected areas.

Canada supported a strong message to the WSSD and participation of and collaboration with indigenous peoples and other groups.

Denmark supported significant replenishment of the GEF.

WORKING GROUP II:

EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS:

NORWAY requested a funding provision for the programme element on capacity building. With this and some other minor amendments, delegates adopted the document.

COOPERATION WITH OTHER CONVENTIONS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES:

TURKEY proposed adding agricultural biodiversity under cooperation with the UNFCCC.

STRATEGIC PLAN:

Contact group Co-Chair David Brackett (Canada) (right photo: far right) highlighted a pending issue regarding the review of implementation, noting two options under the section on review and alternative decision language.

The objective on a public awareness strategy for the Biosafety Protocol was also amended upon AUSTRALIA's suggestion, and the strategic plan was adopted.

ARTICLE 8(j):

COLOMBIA called for the full and effective participation of indigenous communities, who are the owners of the knowledge, as the basis of their prior informed consent.

SWITZERLAND proposed clarification on preambular language regarding IPR and ABS, the Doha Convention and the TRIPS Agreement, explicit reference to Article 71 was supported by CANADA.

CONTACT GROUPS:

FOREST BIODIVERSITY:

A contact group met in the morning, and after reporting back on progress to a brief afternoon session of WG-I, it continued its work in the evening. Left photo: Alfred Oteng Yeboah, Contact Group Chair on Forest Biodiversity.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND MECHANISM:

In the evening, delegates accepted revised preambular text on additional financial resources to implement the strategic plan and on welcoming the outcome of the UN International Conference on Financing for Development.

ENB SNAPSHOTS: