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Biodiversity for poverty eradication and development

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Table of Contents

  1. Preamble
  2. Paragraph 1.
  3. Paragraph 2.
  4. Paragraph 3.
  5. Paragraph 4.
  6. Paragraph 5.
  7. Paragraph 6.
  8. Paragraph 7.
  9. Paragraph 8.
  10. Paragraph 9.
  11. Paragraph 10.

Biodiversity for poverty eradication and development

The Conference of the Parties, Recognizing, in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the importance of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), “The Future We Want”,1 particularly in relation to the need to further mainstream sustainable development at all levels, integrating economic, social and environmental aspects and recognizing the linkages between them, so as to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions,1General Assembly resolution 66/288, annex.Recognizing also, in line with paragraph 4 of the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference, that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production, and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development,Recalling in particular the importance of the Declaration of the United Nations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference,Recognizing further that Parties integrate and mainstream biodiversity concerns into national planning processes in accordance with their own national priorities, situations and capacities, and also in accordance with their national laws and policies,Noting the intergovernmental process on sustainable development goals, which is open to all stakeholders, established in the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference in the context of the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015, and stressing the importance of integrating biodiversity into these processes, noting the relevance of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets,Taking note that for some Parties, biodiversity and development processes can be achieved taking into account non-market‑based approaches and respect for “Mother Earth” and the concept of the rights of nature, and that the valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services is one, among other, tools available,Taking note of the information document on the development of poverty-biodiversity indicators and their eventual application (UNEP/CBD/COP/11/INF/40),Emphasizing the links, under the Convention, between biodiversity for poverty eradication and development issues, gender mainstreaming, the considerations of Article 8(j) and related provisions, and the resource mobilization strategy,
1.Invites Parties, all partners and stakeholders to integrate the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity into sustainable development and poverty eradication programmes, plans, policies and priority actions, taking into account the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference;
2.Further invites Parties, all partners and stakeholders involved in biodiversity and development processes and programmes to take into account the executive summary on the root causes of and interlinkages between biodiversity loss and poverty (UNEP/CBD/WG-RI/4/5, annex II) and the proceedings of the Expert Group on Biodiversity for Poverty Eradication and Development and its analysis of the root causes of and interlinkages between biodiversity loss and poverty (UNEP/CBD/WG‑RI/4/INF/11), in accordance with national circumstances and priorities;
3.Takes note of the “Dehradun Recommendations” (contained in UNEP/CBD/COP/11/33/Rev.1), taking into account submissions by Parties, discussions by the Working Group on Review of Implementation at its fourth meeting, and the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference;
4.Decides that the Expert Group on Biodiversity for Poverty Eradication and Development will continue its work, in accordance with the terms of reference annexed to this decision and subject to the availability of funding, and submit a report, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention, to the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation at its fifth meeting for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its twelfth meeting, including a review of experiences in integrating biodiversity and poverty eradication, reflections on the root causes and drivers of biodiversity loss and poverty eradication, and linkages to other relevant policies, with a view to moving towards a road map for integrating biodiversity into the social and economic dimensions of sustainable development, taking into account the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference, in the context of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets;
5.Encourages all partners and stakeholders involved in biodiversity-related programmes to consider different perspectives and priorities in all processes for the valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services;
6.Encourages Parties, other governments, all partners and stakeholders, including indigenous and local communities, in the context of poverty eradication and sustainable development, to protect and encourage the customary use of biological resources, in accordance with Articles 8(j) and 10(c) of the Convention;
7.Encourages Parties and all partners, institutions, organizations and processes concerned to consider the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in developing the post-2015 United Nations development agenda and in the process of establishing sustainable development goals under the United Nations General Assembly;
8.Encourages Parties and all partners to promote biodiversity and development projects that empower poor and vulnerable people, particularly women and indigenous and local communities, for sustainable development and poverty eradication;
9.Invites Parties, the United Nations Development Programme and other relevant organizations to make available, through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention, as appropriate, best practices and lessons learned on integrating biodiversity into poverty eradication and sustainable development;
10.Decides that issues relating to the links between biodiversity and human well-being, livelihoods, poverty eradication and sustainable development shall be discussed as appropriate at future meetings of the Conference of the Parties for the purpose of recommending specific actions to implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;
11.Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to:
(a)Transmit a report on the progress of the Expert Group on Biodiversity for Poverty Eradication and Development for consideration by the Working Group on Review of Implementation at its fifth meeting;
(b)Ensure effective mainstreaming of poverty eradication and sustainable development concerns into all of the Convention’s programmes of work, including on communication, education and public awareness, taking into account, inter alia, the results of the assessment conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre2 on behalf of the Convention’s Biodiversity for Development Initiative, in accordance with national circumstances, priorities, capacities and policy approaches;2www.cbd.int/development/doc/cbd-pow-poverty-en.pdf
(c)Collaborate, taking into account the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference, in the process of developing sustainable development goals, as appropriate, with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the secretariats of the two other Rio conventions and multilateral environment agreements, and international organizations and specialized agencies involved in poverty eradication, human health, food security and gender issues;33Such as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
(d)Provide information on ways and means for Convention national focal points to engage in processes to develop sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda at national, subregional, regional and global level; monitor the integration of biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets into this process; and report on progress to the Working Group on Review of Implementation at its fifth meeting;
(e)Ensure that the Convention’s work on the relationship between poverty and biodiversity is integrated, to the extent possible, with the work of other international forums, particularly the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference, so as to avoid overlap and duplication;
(f)Ensure that the issue of biodiversity for poverty eradication and development is regarded as a cross-cutting theme in all relevant programmes of work under the Convention, is integrated into national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and is linked to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, resource mobilization, South-South cooperation and the work of the Global Environment Facility;
(g)Incorporate requests for information on mainstreaming biodiversity for poverty eradication and development into the national reporting process under the Convention;
(h)Collaborate with the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme (including the World Conservation Monitoring Centre), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the Poverty-Environment Initiative, the International Institute for Environment and Development and other relevant organizations to ensure that appropriate capacity-development packages for mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem services into poverty eradication and development processes are developed and implemented;
(i)Explore, with the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the Poverty-Environment Initiative, the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other relevant agencies and organizations, how to promote sustainable development guidance designed for national and local governments, as well as international partners, on integrating poverty eradication and sustainable development concerns into local, national, subregional and regional biodiversity strategies and action plans and facilitate the involvement of all Government agencies and sectors in the preparation and implementation thereof, in accordance with national circumstances, priorities, capacities and policy.

Annex

Elements for terms of reference for the Expert Group on Biodiversity for Poverty Eradication and Development

1.The Expert Group’s work shall focus on decision X/6 and decisions from the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties dealing with biodiversity for poverty eradication and development, taking into account the ongoing process following the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).
2.The Expert Group shall build upon the capacity development framework for mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem services for sustainable development and poverty eradication generated at the first Expert Group meeting in Dehradun, India (UNEP/CBD/WG-RI/4/INF/11), the decision of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the Dehradun Recommendations, and the outcomes of Rio+20.
3.The Expert Group shall provide inputs as appropriate to the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention to enhance the implementation of the Convention and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, to support the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and its contribution to sustainable development and human well-being, in accordance with the following terms of reference. The Expert Group shall provide guidance towards a conceptual framework, a road map for the integration of biodiversity into poverty eradication and development in the context of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
4.The Expert Group will:
(a)Prepare for discussions of the recommendations by the Conference of the Parties at its twelfth meeting by preparing a report in due time for the Ad Hoc Open‑ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention including:
(i)A thematically restructured an streamlined draft of the Dehradun Recommendations; and
(ii)Guidance for implementation drawn from a review on experiences with implementation of the integration of biodiversity and poverty eradication, reflection on root causes and drivers of biodiversity loss and poverty eradication as well as linkages to other relevant policies;
(b)Promote a comprehensive revision of the Dehradun Recommendations considering Rio+20 outcome and submissions of Parties at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties taking into account that there are different approaches, visions, models and tools available to each country, in accordance with its national circumstances and priorities, to achieve the three objectives of the Convention, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets;
(c)Provide guidance through the Secretariat of the Convention to Parties on how poverty eradication and development processes should be integrated into the national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs), to ensure their successful implementation at a national, subnational, and local level to address poverty, strengthen livelihoods, human well-being and sustainable development;
(d)Develop a conceptual framework and guidance on how to assess the role of collective action and the efforts of indigenous and local communities in conserving biodiversity, considering the critical role of indigenous and local communities in the stewardship and sustainable management of natural renewable resources, including exploring the role of non-market-based approaches in this endeavour;
(e)Make recommendations on how relevant biodiversity aspects, including conservation and the sustainable use of its components, provision of ecosystem services, and utilization of genetic resources should be considered within poverty reduction strategies and national development planning;
(f)Provide guidance to Parties on how to integrate biodiversity policy with other development policies to scale up opportunities for the strengthening of sustainable livelihoods of local populations, including job creation and prosperity through development in the management and maintenance of ecological infrastructure;
(g)Collaborate with ongoing efforts at the Secretariat of the Convention to integrate biodiversity and ecosystems goods and services concerns into the processes of developing national development plans and national accounting systems;
(h)Facilitate through the Convention’s National Focal Points and the Secretariat of the Convention the collection and dissemination of best practices on integrating biodiversity into poverty eradication and development, as appropriate;
(i)Contribute through the Secretariat of the Convention to the development, piloting and review of differentiated tools to help implement the guidance provided to all relevant stakeholders in sustainable development processes;
(j)Provide guidance on integration of biodiversity for poverty eradication and development for ongoing capacity-building networks and regional centres of excellence on development planning, poverty eradication strategies, biodiversity and ecosystem services, triangular cooperation initiatives, and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) revisions or other relevant processes;
(k)Assess the barriers to the implementation of the decisions of the Convention related to poverty eradication and sustainable development;
(l)The composition and organization of the work of the Expert Group will follow the terms of reference annexed to decision X/6.