ENB @ COP-7; 9-20 February 2004; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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7th CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (COP-7)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 9-20 February 2004

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Highlights for Friday 20 February 2004

The closing Plenary met on Friday, 20 February, at 11 pm. Delegates adopted decisions and heard closing statements. Discussions arose over Article 8(j), incentive measures, invasive alien species and the budget. President Dato' Seri Law gaveled the meeting to a close at 3:38 am.

Above photo L-R: Hamdallah Zedan (CBD Executive Secretary), COP-7 President Dato' Seri Law and Dan Ogolla (CBD)

Closing Plenary:

Ines Verleye (Belgium) (above left) reported on the status of credentials submitted by Parties.

WG-I Chair Hoogeveen (above center) and WG-II Chair Verma (above right) reported on progress and outcomes of their WGs. President Law submitted the WGs' reports for adoption. The WG-I report was adopted with minor amendments, and the WG-II report without amendment.

Spain reiterated its offer to host the next meeting of the AHTEG on small island biodiversity, in the Canary Islands. Germany announced its offer to fund and host the second meeting of the AHTEG on reviewing the implementation of the forest biodiversity work programme. Finland offered hosting a meeting of the AHTEG on biodiversity and climate change before COP-8. Thailand and Spain expressed their willingness to host meetings of the AHTEG on ABS. Italy and Guatemala said they would host the first two meetings of the AHTEG on PAs. Guatemala again offered to host SBSTTA-10.

Above photos L-R: Delegates from Guatemala; Miguel Agmerich (Spain); Aldo Cosentino (Italy)

In the closing Plenary, the Secretariat announced a correction to the decision (UNEP/CBD/COP/7/L.19/Rev.1), namely the deletion of a reference to the lands and waters traditionally used or occupied by indigenous and local communities in the context of sui generis systems. Many delegates opposed the deletion, noting consensus reached in WG-II. New Zealand expressed procedural concerns regarding the tabling of a revised version of the draft decision, whereas the initial draft decision (UNEP/CBD/COP/7/L.19) had not contained the contested reference. Following informal consultations, New Zealand accepted to retain the reference, expressing regret at the impropriety of process and stressing that decisions of subsidiary bodies and working groups have to remain open for change. She stressed that work done in the Article 8(j) Working Group was subject to national jurisdiction and could supplement neither national legislation nor work undertaken in other international forums, such as WIPO. The decision was then adopted without amendments.
New Zealand recorded a reservation regarding the Akwé: Kon Guidelines, stating that they are to be reviewed for consistency with national standards and reserving its right to further comment on them. Above photo: Jane Coombs (New Zealand)

Australia expressed regret of the withdrawal of Decision VI/23 on AIS, reiterating its commitment to solving the issue, and recalling its substantive and procedural reasons not to accept Decision VI/23 and references made to this Decision in COP-7 decisions. Right photo: Max Kitchell (Australia)

Left photo: IIFB expressed concern over New Zealand's proposal to delete reference to the lands and waters traditionally used or occupied by indigenous and local communities in the context of sui generis systems.

COP-7 President Dato' Seri Law welcomed the mandate to develop an international regime on ABS and work programmes on PAs and technology transfer. He called on Parties to translate the decisions into concrete actions and to ensure meeting the 2010 target.

Above photo L-R: Hamdallah Zedan (CBD Executive Secretary), Ahmed Djoghlaf (UNEP), President Dato' Seri Law, Dan Ogolla (CBD) and Olivier Jalbert (CBD)

President Dato' Seri Law declared the meeting adjourned at 3:38 am, to be reconvened, and officially closed, on Friday, 27 February.

COP-7 Update as of 7:00 pm (KL time)

Delegates to COP-7 continued to meet in two Working Groups. Working Group I finalized consideration of invasive alien species. On a paragraph inviting Parties, as well as national, regional, and international organizations to take various actions, Parties agreed to add a footnote that states that the paragraph's implementation should not promote incentives that negatively affect biodiversity of other countries. The Working Group just finished discussing marine and coastal biodiversity. Working Group II finalized agreement on incentive measures, Article 8(j) and access and benefit-sharing.

Right photo: John Hough (UNDP) and John Michael Matuszak (US)

Following consultations on the intersessional meetings, the Friends of the President group proposed holding: two SBSTTA meetings, one of which in conjunction with a meeting on the Strategic Plan and the 2010 target, two meetings of the Working Group on access and benefit-sharing, one of which in conjunction with a meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j), and at least one meeting of a newly established Working Group on protected areas. Plenary is scheduled to start at 9:00pm

Left photo below: The EU in intently looking at the changes to the text on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity while Asghar Mohammadi Fazel (iran) (bottom right corner) waits for the EU to come up with text.

Working Group I:

On mountain biodiversity, delegates decided to delete reference to other international obligations and mutually supportive of international environment and trade agreements, but to include a footnote stating that the implementation of the work programme should not promote incentives that negatively affect biodiversity of other countries.

Above photos: Working Group I in a huddle frenzy morning involving the mostly the EU, Brazil and Argentina. Right photo: Greenpeace Kid's for Forest posing for a group photo.

On inland water ecosystems, delegates decided to insert the same footnote that was agreed upon regarding mountain biodiversity, stating that the implementation of the work programme should not promote incentives that negatively affect biodiversity of other countries. References to obligations under other international agreements, including trade agreements, were deleted.

Left photo: Matilde Conceiçao Gomes Lopes (Guinea Bissau)

On a goal regarding incentives measures, delegates agreed to retain text on removing, or reforming appropriately, any perverse incentives opposing conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems, but to delete reference to subsidies of local production or consumption that distort international trade.

Right photo L-R: Chee Yoke Ling, Khoo Swee Lee, Beth Burrows, and Xiong Lei, delegates from Third World Network (TWN) and the Edmonds Institute.

WG-I Chair Hans Hoogeveen (the Netherlands) announced that the Friends of the President's group reached agreement on the sequence and number of meetings related to the CBD.

	Delegates discussed a draft work plan on coral bleaching, annexed to the work programme on marine and coastal ecosystems. They debated whether to include ongoing activities in the plan, and decided to do so. Left photo L-R: Enrique Alonso (Spain) (center) discussing text with Seychelle's John Nevill and Selby Remy

Working Group II:

Working Group II finalized agreement on incentive measures, Article 8(j) and access and benefit-sharing. Regarding incentives delegates agreed to amend the decision, especially the part on positive incentives, specifying that they are to be non-monetary and agreed to keep the annex containing proposals on ways and means bracketed for detailed consideration at SBSTTA-10.

Right photo: WG II Chair Desh Deepak Verma (India)

Side Event: Darwin Initiative

UK ENVIRONMENT MINISTER PROMOTES TO DELEGATES OF THE 7TH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ABOUT DARWIN INITIATIVE EXPANSION

Projects aimed at protecting vulnerable biodiversity can get help from the UK – and that help is growing in value, UK Environment Minister Elliot Morley (left) told delegates to the an international conference on 17 February.

Mr. Morley, who with ministers from about 200 countries is attending the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said the Darwin Initiative would rise to £7m (approx RM 49m) a year in 2005.

Among projects presenting at the meeting include Horticulture Research International-Chiang Mai University's project of education and training to restore tropical rainforest in Thailand in partnership with The Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU), Fauna and Flora International (FFI) "Community based conservation of Hoang Lien Mountain Ecosystems in Vietnam" and FFI's Research, survey and biodiversity planning on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau in China.

Left photo: Dr. Yingyi Zhang speaking on the FFI project on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau.

Above photos L-R: Dr. David Blakesley (HRI), Suttanthorn Suwannaratana (FORRU), Steve Elliot (FORRU) and Sheelagh M.G. O'Reillly (Fauna and Flora International)
As well as funding projects, usually for three years, Darwin Initiative funding is available for scholarships and pre-project work. For some very successful projects funding can be available to continue work after three
years. Projects are evaluated by an independent panel of academics and are judged against CBD articles.

More information on the Darwin Initiative, including a current list of projects, is available at www.darwin.gov.uk. or email Carrie Haloun carrie.haloun@defra.gsi.gov.uk . Links

ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of CBD COP-6

ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of ICCP-3

ENB archives of CBD meetings

CBD web site

CBD COP-7 official meeting documents

ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of SBSTTA-9

ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of ABS-WG2

ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of Article 8(j)-WG3

Global Biodiversity Forum web site

CBD PRESS Room