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Fourth Conference of the Parties 
to the Convention to 
Combat Desertification
Bonn, Germany; 11-22 December 2000

 

Highlights from Wednesday, 13 December
 
Delegates met in morning and afternoon sessions of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) to consider the roster of experts, survey of networks, traditional knowledge and early warning systems. The Committee of the Whole (COW) met briefly in the morning and nominated the Co-Chairs of the Bureau of the ad-hoc working group, after which it adjourned to facilitate regional group consultations. It convened again in the afternoon to consider programme and budget issues and decided to establish open-ended informal groups on these issues.


Above photo(R-L): COW Chair Kabelo Mafura (Lesotho) with Executive Secretary, Hama Arba Diallo during a morning session of The Committee of the Whole

 

The Committee of the Whole:

CANADA indicated it had proposals to address the reser­vations placed on the document on Implementation of the Conven­tion (ICCD/COP(4)/2/Add.7), which lacks a detailed methodology for the working group, and supported the EU proposal made Tuesday to establish a contact group to discuss the nature and timing of the intercessional meetings.

Right photo: Philip Baker (Canada) making an intervention at the morning session of The COW


The G-77/CHINA: proposed allocating new resources to the ad-hoc working group on early warning systems; noted the clean audit report but disagreed with a recommendation to do away with the small assessed contributions from UN member states; and sought clarification from the GM about a carry-over in the 1999 budget without COP approval, and a US$2 million donation from the Islamic Bank that is not reflected in the report.

Left photo: Nigeria's Osita Anaedu speaking on behalf of G77/China 




In response to JAPAN's question on the relation between the RCUs and CCD, ARGENTINA pointed to the regional coordination activities mentioned in the CCD's four regional implementa­tion annexes. CANADA said the effort duplicated existing regional initiatives.

Right photo: Octavio Perez Pardo (Argentina) making an intervention at the COW afternoon session

 

Committee of Science and Technology:





Left photo: Rafael Obregon (Mexico) highlighted the need for synergies with similar efforts in other regions.

 






MOROCCO's Diab Abderrahim questioned how using copyrights would work in practice, noting that individuals do not own such knowledge. 



France's Antoine Cornet speaking for the EU applauded the work of the on the ad hoc panel on Traditional Knowledge and the Italian Initiative 



The WMO's  M.V.K. Sivakumar (Left) called for, inter alia, development of vulnerability profiles, assessment of social and economic impacts of drought and establishment of coordinated and multidisciplinary institutions focusing on drought management and national drought policies

Side Events:



Right photo: Walter Reid of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment gave a lunch time powerpoint presentation on the Ecosystem Approach 





The GEF gave a lunchtime presentation on the operation, mechanics and history of the Global Environment Facility. The  presentation also tackled on how the GEF can support projects that can protect the environment from land degradation.



The GTZ made a presentation on "Process Monitoring, Impact Indicators and Monitoring - Evaluation Action Programmes to Combat Desertification", the event was moderated by Christoph Beier

 
ENB Summary of COP-3
ENB Coverage of COP-3
UNCCD Secretariat web site with COP-4 official documents and information for participants
Introduction to the CCD
Linkages desertification page
Other Internet Resources on Desertification
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