WORKING GROUP I: Invasive Alien Species
OPTIONS FOR FUTURE
WORK:
 Chair Anastasios Legakis (Greece)
(Right) introduced a conference room paper,
incorporating delegates' previous comments on options for future
work. Delegates debated whether to delete a recommendation on
identifying and exploring legal gaps in the international legal
framework. After informal consultations, delegates agreed that
SBSTTA identify and explore such gaps in light of inter-sessional
work.
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Regarding the
importance of IAS strategies and action plans, PORTUGAL
proposed
addition of regional strategies and plans.
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GUIDING
PRINCIPLES:
Delegates
based their deliberations on a Chair's revised text. Delegates
agreed to rename the document "Alien Species that Threaten
Ecosystems, Habitats or Species," while referring a decision on
whether the points would be Guiding Principles or Guidelines to
COP-6.
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GP-2
Three-stage Hierarchical Approach: The GP was accepted with AUSTRALIA's proposal to remove
specification of costs to be evaluated.
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GP-15 Control: Following a
suggestion by the SEYCHELLES, delegates debated the necessity of
detailed provisions on control measures and eventually accepted
the text with minor revisions.
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WORKING GROUP
II: SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENTS
On reference to a technical paper on
interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change to be
prepared by the IPCC, CHINA suggested that the expert group also
prepare a paper. Right photo: Cai Lijie (China) making an
intervention during the
session on scientific assessment. |
MIGRATORY SPECIES:
As proposed by BELGIUM, the EC, GERMANY and the
CMS, reference to possible elements for the joint work programme
in UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/6/12/Add.1 was included. Left photo: Jackie
van Goethem (Belgium)
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GLOBAL TAXONOMY INITIATIVE:
On public awareness and education, UNESCO emphasized its
Global Initiative on Biodiversity Education. Right photo: Salvatore
Arico representing UNESCO
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On global and regional capacity building to
support access to taxonomic information, MEXICO stressed the need
for infrastructure to collate and curate the biological
specimens, and generation of taxonomic information.
Left photo: Hesiquio Benitez representing Mexico
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BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
 BRAZIL proposed, and delegates accepted, new
language recognizing reliable scientific data demonstrating that
climate change is already impacting coral reefs and recommending
immediate actions within the CBD and the UNFCCC to reduce and
mitigate effects on coral reef biodiversity and associated
socio-economic impacts.
Left photo: Braulio Ferreira De Souza Diaz representing
Brazil
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ANTIGUA
AND BARBUDA, with JAPAN, noted that although many have ratified
the Kyoto Protocol, it would be difficult to analyze "any"
measures under it before it comes into force. Left photo: John
Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) making an intervention during the
session on Climate Change and Biodiversity.
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Photos
from the Reception hosted by the CBD Secretariat:
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After a full day of work, delegates
are treated to a reception by the Secretariat.
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Delegates from the Asia are
enjoying the time away from the plenary (L-R) Rose Kambou (Papua
New Guinea), Mundita Lim (Philippines) and Ann Kitalong (Palau)
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SIDE EVENTS: |
Presentation
on Prevention, Capacity Building and Accountability --- Strategies
for the International Aspects of IAS
 More text to
follow....
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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 two working groups.
Working Group I (WG-I) on invasive alien species (IAS) met during the day
and in a long night session to review recommendations on options for
future work and a revision of the Guiding Principles (GPs). Working Group
II (WG-II) reviewed recommendations on scientific assessments, migratory
species, the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) and biodiversity and climate
change.
ENB Coverage of SBSTTA-5