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Highlights from Monday, 12 March 2001
Opening Plenary:
 Delegates
to the sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and
Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
met in Plenary to hear opening statements and address organizational
matters. Keynote presentations were delivered addressing linkages between
biodiversity and climate change, and invasive alien species. Delegates
also discussed progress reports on ad hoc technical expert groups,
assessment processes, marine and coastal biodiversity and biodiversity of
inland water ecosystems.
Above photo: The dias during the opening plenary of SBSTTA-6. (L-R) Paul Chabeda (UNEP), Hamdallah Zedan (CBD Executive
Secretary), Cristián Samper
(SBSTTA-6 Chair), Jo Mulongoy (SBSTTA
Secretary)
 Chair
Cristián Samper (Colombia) opened the meeting and called for
a moment of silence in memory of Ebbe Neilson (Australia). Chair
Samper then welcomed participants, thanked the Secretariat and the
government of Canada for hosting the meeting, and noted changes in
the modus operandi of SBSTTA to streamline the agenda.
Left photo: Chair Cristian Samper (Colombia) in
consultation with Jo Mulongoy (CBD).
|
 Paul Chabeda, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), on behalf of
UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer, highlighted the work of
UNEP's Division of Environmental Conventions in identifying
areas of synergy among multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs),
contributing to the work programmes of these agreements and
strengthening sub-regional and regional cooperation.
Listen
to the Paul Chabeda's opening statement in RealAudio.
Left
photo: Paul Chabeda (UNEP), delivering a
message on behalf of UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer. |
 Hamdallah Zedan, CBD Executive Secretary
(Left),
outlined recent developments on: invasive alien species; coral
reefs; agricultural biodiversity; the GTI; the Clearing-house
Mechanism; the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation; and the
revision of the Global Biodiversity Outlook. On the ad hoc
technical expert groups, he noted progress in groups on forest and
marine and coastal protected areas, and delays in groups on
mariculture and dry and sub-humid lands due to lack of funding.
Opening
statement of Hamdallah Zedan in RealAudio
|
Keynote
Presentations:
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY:
Robert Watson (Left), Chair of the IPCC, discussed an IPCC summary report
of key climate and biodiversity interactions (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/6/11)
and presented scientific data relevant to climate change. He
highlighted: inter-linkages among food production and global
environmental issues; synergies between environmental science and
policy; and underlying causes of climate change, including
population increase, inefficient resource use, inappropriate
technologies and lack of economic incentives.
Listen
to the presentation of Robert Watson on the impact of Climate
Change on Biodiversity. |
A.H.
Zakri delivered a statement concerning the current status of
the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA).
|
INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES:
 Harold Mooney, Stanford
University (USA) (Left), noted that society depends on
the movement of biological material, and highlighted the need to
concentrate on those invasives that threaten ecosystems, habitats
and species.
Listen
to Harold Mooney's plenary presentation on Invasive Alien Species
 Jeff Waage, Chair
of the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) (Right),
said GISP is coordinated by the Scientific Committee on Problems
of the Environment in collaboration with IUCN and CAB
International. It focuses on assembling and disseminating best
management practices and stimulating new tools' development in
science, information management, education and policy.
Listen
to Jeff Waage's presentation on the Global Invasive Species
Programme |
Signing of the
Entente with the Quebec Government:
Hamdallah Zedan
(CBD Executive Secretary) and Hon. Minister for International
Relations Louise Beaudoin (Quebec)
signing the Entente for the
Convention on Biological Diversity.
|
Photos
from the Reception hosted by the Government of Canada: |
Hamdallah Zedan (CBD Executive
Secretary) with reception host David Brackett (Canada) |
|
|
After a full day at the plenary,
delegates mingle
at the reception.
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The Chairmen of the Board:
(L-R) Jameson
Seyani (SBSTTA-1 Chair), Peter Johann Schei (SBSTTA-2 Chair), A.H.
Zakri (SBSTTA 3-4 Chair), Cristián Samper (SBSTTA 5-6 Chair), and
Jan Plesnik (incoming Chair) |
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Canada provided winter parkas for SBSTTA-6 delegates and now they
are all set for Montreal winterrrrrrrrr......
|
 ENB Coverage of SBSTTA-5
CBD
Secretariat web site with official documents and
information
for participants
SBSTTA
Issues on: Invasive
Alien Species | Climate
Change and Biodiversity | GTI
SBSTTA-5
Recommendations
ENB's Introduction to CBD
German
CHM COP Decisions Database
|
Delegates
to the sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and
Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
met in Plenary to hear opening statements and address organizational
matters. Keynote presentations were delivered addressing linkages between
biodiversity and climate change, and invasive alien species. Delegates
also discussed progress reports on ad hoc technical expert groups,
assessment processes, marine and coastal biodiversity and biodiversity of
inland water ecosystems.
