Cooperation with other conventions and international organizations

The Conference of the Parties,

A. - Cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and partnerships to enhance the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020

Noting the report of the Executive Secretary on cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and partnerships to enhance the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011‑2020,¹¹UNEP/CBD/COP/13/16.

1.Welcomes the continued collaboration between the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Tropical Timber Organization, with a view to expedite efforts towards the achievement of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in general and the work on forest biodiversity in particular;

2.Requests the Executive Secretary to include, in future reports on cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and partnerships, information on results and achievements of existing cooperation activities.

B. - Options to enhance synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions

Recalling decision XII/6,

3.Appreciates the work of the governing bodies and their bureaux, standing committees and equivalent bodies of other biodiversity-related conventions in contributing to the Party-led process established under decision XII/6;

4.Recognizes, in the context of the ongoing work on synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions, the importance of the strategic plans of the conventions, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and any follow-up, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development² and the Sustainable Development Goals, and related reporting and indicators;²General Assembly resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015 entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, annex.

5.Acknowledges the work done by the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre and their valuable contribution and inputs provided to the workshop held in Geneva in February 2016 on promoting synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions;³³The results of the United Nations Environment Programme project on “improving the effectiveness of and cooperation among biodiversity-related conventions and exploring opportunities for further synergies”: Sourcebook of opportunities for enhancing cooperation among the Biodiversity-related Conventions at national and regional levels (UNEP, 2015) and Elaboration of options for enhancing synergies among biodiversity-related conventions.

6.Takes note of the resolution 2/17 of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme at its second session and highlights the need to make efficient use of resources;

7.Recalls decision XII/30 on the financial mechanism and stresses the importance of enhancing programmatic synergies among relevant biodiversity-related conventions;

8.Welcomes the options for action to enhance cooperation, coordination and synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions elaborated by the workshop held in Geneva in February 2016;

9.Also welcomes the options for enhancing synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions at the national level contained in annex I of the present decision, andthe road map for enhancing synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions at the international level 2017-2020 contained in annex II of the present decision;

10.Invites the governing bodies of the biodiversity-related conventions to further strengthen cooperation and coordination at the global level within their respective mandates and enhance synergies among themselves, to encourage mutually supportive decisions, pursue their efforts to align their own strategies with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, where appropriate, and to support implementation of the options for action by Parties contained in annex I to the present decision, and the road map contained in annex II of the present decision;

11.Invites Parties and other Governments, as appropriate to their national circumstances, as well as indigenous peoples and local communities, non-governmental organizations and other relevant organizations, to implement options for action at the national level as contained in annex I to the present decision, and further invites Parties and other Governments to establish or strengthen, at the national level, mechanisms to enhance the effective coordination among relevant national and subnational authorities, including biodiversity focal points, and support mainstreaming;

12.Further invites Parties to identify opportunities to enhance synergies at the local and regional levels, including with respect to sites with multiple international designations;

13.Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, and in consultation with the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, to enter the information missing from the table contained in annex II to the present decision, specify a timeline for the various actions identified, and, where possible, undertake the actions described in the table;

14.Also requests the Executive Secretary to transmit the road map to the relevant bodies of the other conventions through the members of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions with a view to facilitating the implementation of the actions, and to report thereon to the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its second meeting;

15.Further requests the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the bureau, and subject to availability of resources, to establish an informal advisory group on synergies consisting of Party representatives with balanced representation, including regionally, to provide advice to the Executive Secretary, the bureau and the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, as relevant, on (a) further prioritization of actions in the table contained in annex II to the present decision, and (b) implementing the prioritized actions, advice for which the group should identify, involve and consult, as appropriate, relevant experts, including those from other biodiversity-related conventions and other organizations, and report to the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its second meeting;

16.Requests the Secretariat and the bureau to liaise regularly with the informal advisory group on synergies refered to in paragraph 15 above;

17.Invites the secretariats of the biodiversity-related conventions, the governing bodies of the conventions, and the international organizations that provide the secretariats for these conventions, as well as representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, global non-governmental organizations and other relevant international organizations, to undertake, where appropriate and subject to the availability of resources, the actions foreseen in annex II, and further invites the secretariats of the biodiversity-related conventions to facilitate the involvement of relevant experts in the work of the informal advisory group on synergies;

18.Calls on the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, in close collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as well as United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, to continue to strengthen its work to enhance coherence and cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions, including in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and any follow-up to this strategic plan, and requests the Executive Secretary to provide information on progress made to the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its second meeting and the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth meeting, including any proposals to further advance this work;

19.Invites the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions to provide input and lessons learned on their synergies process to the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, as appropriate.

Annex IOptions for enhancing synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions at the national level

A. - Introduction

1. - Background

1.The present annex focuses on options for action by Parties of the various biodiversity-related conventions to enhance synergies at the national level. These are derived from the outcomes of the workshop on synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions and actions as presented in the note by the Executive Secretary on possible recommendations arising from the options for action identified by the workshop,⁴ which themselves had been built on a range of earlier work, including that conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme through its project on cooperation and synergies among biodiversity-related conventions,⁵ and each of which collectively respond to the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, “The future we want”.⁶⁴UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/9/Add.1.⁵“Improving the effectiveness of and cooperation among biodiversity-related conventions and exploring opportunities for further synergies”. See UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/INF/36 and UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/INF/37.⁶General Assembly resolution 66/288, annex.

2. - Purpose and scope

2.The options for action are voluntary and intended to serve as suggestions and guidance, where needed, for Parties to enhance synergies and cooperation in the implementation of the biodiversity‑related conventions, their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs), and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

3.They are intended to provide options for actions that Parties could take in support of effective and coherent implementation of the conventions at the national level.

4.The implementation of these options should be to the mutual benefit of the conventions concerned and be compatible with their provisions, obligations, mandates and objectives, respecting their independent nature.

5.Options that Parties choose to pursue should be adapted to suit national circumstances. Not all options for action would be applicable to all countries and additional options not included in the present note could also be taken up by countries.⁷⁷For example, the UNEP “Sourcebook of opportunities for enhancing cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions at national and regional levels” provides a broad spectrum of options based on best practices and lessons learned from national experience.

6.Some options for action may be relevant to enhancing synergies between just two of the conventions or among a subset of them, rather than among all conventions. Some options may have particular relevance to the Protocols of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

7.Parties could be encouraged to select among the various options for enhancing synergies as appropriate to national circumstance, taking into account their NBSAPs, and to report on any actions taken to enhance synergies at the national level in their national reports, where possible.

B. - Options for action by Parties of the various biodiversity-related conventions to enhance synergies at the national level

1 - Planning frameworks and coordination mechanisms

8.Common planning frameworks and coordination mechanisms can serve as useful tools for promoting synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions at the national level.

(a) - The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and national biodiversity strategies and action plans

(i) - Rationale

9.The NBSAP aligned to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets could serve as a unifying framework to promote synergies among the biodiversity‑related conventions. National plans aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals⁸ could also contribute in this regard.⁸General Assembly resolution 70/1, annex.

(ii) - Options for action

10.Parties are encouraged:

(a)To include in their NBSAP, relevant actions to implement commitments and recommendations under each of the biodiversity-related conventions to which they are a Party, in line with the commitments and recommendations agreed to under the conventions concerned. In doing so, Parties may wish to take account of existing guidance of the Conference of the Parties related to updating or revising and implementing NBSAPs, including decisions IX/8, X/2, X/5 and XI/6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as resolutions 8.18, 10.18 of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, resolution 6/2013 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, decision 37 COM 5A of the World Heritage Committee, resolution XI.6 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, and resources prepared by the Secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals;⁹⁹NBSAP capacity building modules (CBD 2015), online at: https://www.cbd.int/nbsap/training/default.shtml; Contributing to the development, review, updating and revision of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) - A Draft Guide for CITES Parties (CITES 2011), online at: http://www.cites.org/eng/notif/2011/E026A.pdf; Guidelines on the integration on migratory species into National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans (NBSAPs) (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.27), CMS Secretariat and Prip, C (2011), online at: http://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/document/doc_27_guidelines_nbsap_e_0.pdf.

(b)To conduct a mapping and gap analysis of relevant implementation actions, including those described in subparagraph (a) above and those related to contributions under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to identify potential needs;

(c)In revising or updating other related strategies and action plans, consider alignment with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in national implementation of biodiversity-related conventions;

(d)Make use of relevant indicators of other conventions in implementing measures towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and, as appropriate, prepare relevant national indicators for other biodiversity-related conventions to track effective implementation and monitoring of actions and also to feed into national actions related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals;

(e)Ensure the appropriate participation of all relevant stakeholders, including women, youth, and indigenous peoples and local communities in the finalization and implementation of the NBSAP for better articulation and planning to achieve synergies;

(f)Link the NBSAP and other relevant national implementation plans and strategies to the national clearing-house mechanism and/or other information-sharing hubs.

(b) - Institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms

(i) - Rationale

11.Coordination mechanisms and coordinated actions serve as the foundation for enhancing coherence and synergies in the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions across all issue areas.

12.Institutional and coordinative arrangements are made at the discretion of the Party so any consideration of coordination mechanisms needs to take account of: (a) the great variation in national circumstances, including the conventions to which a country is a Party, which has a bearing on the need; and (b) differences between the conventions in their requirements of national authorities.

13.Consideration could be given to building or enhancing coordination mechanisms around national focal points and equivalent authorities of the conventions at the individual and the institutional levels. Advantage should be taken of relevant existing institutions to work on common issues under biodiversity‑related conventions.

(ii) - Options for action

14.Parties are encouraged to undertake an assessment of national needs for coordination and synergy of commitments and recommendations under the biodiversity-related conventions.

15.Parties are encouraged to establish or strengthen a formal coordination mechanism for efficient coordination among national focal points and relevant authorities of biodiversity‑related conventions and to consider further strengthening such coordination mechanisms by providing for meaningful engagement of other stakeholders, including women, young people and indigenous peoples and local communities, in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations and practice.

16.Such national coordination mechanisms could, inter alia:

(a)Facilitate collaboration and coordination between national focal points or equivalent authorities of biodiversity-related conventions, including the exchange of information on priorities with regard to actions for implementation and resource needs so that there is a common understanding;

(b)Foster provision of coordinated input into national priority-setting, including funding options, for action on areas of common interest and to achieve synergies;

(c)Facilitate coordinated needs assessments, for example on joint actions for implementation of biodiversity-related conventions in the framework of NBSAPs, and for targeted capacity-building;

(d)Facilitate a national coordination process related to national reporting to the various biodiversity-related conventions to, inter alia:

(i)Align data collection and reporting, inter alia, through modular reporting;

(ii)Link focal points and institutions to assist each other in meeting reporting requirements;

(iii)Foster quality control and consistency of reporting of similar information across conventions where appropriate;

(e)Facilitate enhanced coordination among the conventions at national level with respect to communications, information-sharing and awareness-raising, that would:

(i)Enable the national entities responsible for the various biodiversity-related conventions to collaborate in the development of communications and awareness‑raising, including through the international observances that relate to the conventions, in conducting joint information and awareness campaigns; and to integrate and coordinate messages related to the various biodiversity-related conventions to which they are a Party;

(ii)Enable preparation of a national biodiversity-related communication and awareness strategy and implementation plan;

(f)Facilitate coordination among the conventions at the national level with regard to resource mobilization and utilization in the framework of NBSAPs that could:

(i)Enable development of a joint resource mobilization strategy, taking into account the strategic plans of individual biodiversity-related conventions and mainstreaming of biodiversity into different sectors;

(ii)Strengthen coordination and collaboration between the national focal points of biodiversity-related conventions and the operational focal point of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as well as the focal points for other conventions for which GEF serves as a financial mechanism, as appropriate;

(iii)Enable the consideration of conducting pilot projects for promoting synergies on thematic areas, such as plant and animal health to support food security, food safety and environmental protection, including designing innovative projects for funding by GEF to contribute to collaborative action;

(iv)Enable, where relevant, the national focal points of biodiversity-related conventions to coordinate their funding efforts to leverage synergies among the conventions by engaging with donor country representatives in their countries.

(g)Facilitate coordination among the conventions at the national level with regard to capacity-building, for example the training of national focal points, the conducting of joint workshops on common areas of responsibility among the conventions, such as national reporting and resource mobilization, the identification of common areas of capacity-building needs and the delivery of coordinated capacity‑building for implementation of the conventions (see subsection 6 below);

(h)Help to facilitate the holding of national preparatory meetings before the meetings of the governing bodies of biodiversity-related conventions, involving officials and stakeholders associated with the other biodiversity-related conventions.

(i)Enable the national focal points, or equivalent authorities, of biodiversity-related conventions to collaborate with other sectors, as appropriate (e.g. climate change, inter-ministerial dialogue).

2. - Actions in specific issue areas

17.In addition to the options for actions that would be facilitated by enhanced coordination mechanisms, described in paragraphs 14 to 16 above, the following sections outline specific options for action in the areas of: the management of information and knowledge, national reporting, monitoring and indicators; communication and awareness-raising; the science-policy interface; capacity-building; and resource mobilization and utilization.

(a) - Management of information and knowledge, national reporting, monitoring and indicators

(i) - Rationale

18.Collaboration in information-sharing and knowledge-management can provide mutual benefits in the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions, particularly with regard to reporting and monitoring. Opportunities to reduce reporting burdens may lie in overlapping data requirements and accessing relevant data from shared sources. The development and refinement of indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals will have implications for biodiversity-related conventions and agencies that act as custodians for indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals.

(ii) - Options for action

19.Parties are encouraged:

(a)To develop and/or promote where possible thematic databases, or strengthen existing databases that are open and interoperable between conventions;

(b)To exchange information and experience across conventions on tools, mechanisms and best practices for data collection and reporting as well as information and knowledge management;

(c)To undertake an inventory of their datasets, where feasible, to better understand the availability of information and approaches across conventions and identify commonalities of data across some or all of the conventions;

(d)To optimize monitoring and data gathering to meet information needs shared across some or all of the conventions, and to review the extent to which national databases and indicators being used to support coherent implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions to which the country is Party are already providing inputs to national statistical database;

(e)To update clearing-house mechanisms to streamline reporting under the different biodiversity‑related conventions;

(f)To consider how reporting under each biodiversity-related convention could benefit from the collection of information from other biodiversity-related conventions;

(g)To contribute mutually to discussions regarding biodiversity-related indicators under each of the conventions and to discussions on the development and refinement of indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals;

(h)To establish linkages of the national focal points with the agency designated for reporting on achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (national statistical agency in many countries) to harmonize information on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Indicators;

(i)To explore the possibility of linkages of the national databases of biodiversity-related conventions to the national statistical database;

(j)To make use of global tools, including UNEP Live and InforMEA.

(b) - Communication and awareness-raising

(i) - Rationale

20.Understanding of the social and economic importance of the objectives of the biodiversity-related conventions and their mutually supportive relationship is essential to enhance synergies in their implementation.

(ii) - Options for action

21.Parties are encouraged:

(a)To take measures to improve understanding of the specific and related objectives of each of the biodiversity-related conventions;

(b)To take measures to ensure that the national entities responsible collaborate on the various international observances relevant to and promoted by the biodiversity-related conventions to which they are a Party in order to increase awareness of the conventions, the issues they address and their interrelationship;

(c)To utilize information from all the biodiversity-related conventions;

(d)to develop web-based communication tools for national audiences relevant to all the biodiversity-related conventions, their objectives and synergies between them, which could include a single entry point to channel users to the information sought and other related information and interactive features including for sharing success stories.

(c) - Science-policy interface

(i) - Rationale

22.The conventions have a common objective to base the advancement of policy and assessment of progress on the best available science and, in areas of overlap, draw from shared bodies of information and knowledge. The work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services can contribute to each of the conventions.

(ii) - Options for action

23.Parties are encouraged:

(a)To consider establishing and making use of a national roster of experts across all biodiversity-related conventions for cross-cutting subjects;

(b)To facilitate the collaboration and involvement of national scientists engaged in the processes of the biodiversity-related conventions in the science-policy interface, for example that related to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services;

(c)To establish a science-policy platform or coordination mechanism at national level, involving all relevant institutions, to promote use of the best available knowledge and strengthen implementation of the conventions; including to facilitate discussions between the national focal points of the biodiversity-related conventions and the focal point of the Platform concerning national priorities for work to be undertaken by the Platform;

(d)To establish institutional arrangements to enable interface between scientists and the national officials responsible for the development and implementation of policy related to the biodiversity-related conventions.

(d) - Capacity-building

(i) - Rationale

24.Strengthening national capacity for implementation is of common concern to each of the biodiversity-related conventions. This includes, as appropriate, the need to strengthen knowledge and skills, including on synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions; increase coordinated capacity‑building and awareness-raising efforts among the biodiversity-related conventions; increase human and financial resources dedicated to the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions and towards greater cohesion in their implementation, and; strengthen the sustainability of capacity‑building.

(ii) - Options for action

25.Parties are encouraged:

(a)To prioritize skills and capacities of human resources, including national focal points of biodiversity-related conventions, and assign or delegate roles and responsibilities appropriately;

(b)To provide common training and other learning opportunities to the national focal points of the biodiversity-related conventions and other relevant staff to build capacity and mutual understanding of:

(i)Each of the biodiversity-related conventions, including their specific objectives, with a view to promoting synergies, pooled resources, and the retention of skills and knowledge;

(ii)The role of indigenous and local knowledge for coordinated integration in the implementation of biodiversity-related conventions;

(iii)Communication methods to raise awareness on the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services with their respective high-level policy decision-makers;

(iv)Technical knowledge on synergy and coordination.

(c)To conduct joint capacity-building workshops for entities with responsibilities for the biodiversity-related conventions on common areas of responsibility among the conventions, such as national reporting and resource mobilization;

(d)To identify common areas of capacity-building needs through a coordinated and collaborative approach;

(e)To conduct coordinated capacity-building for implementation of biodiversity-related conventions;

(f)To undertake measures designed to ensure the sustainability of national capacity‑building that could include, where applicable:

(i)Providing training on the biodiversity-related conventions to trainers, including scientists and policymakers;

(ii)Creating, updating and/or improving databases and platforms for information‑sharing to ensure institutional memory and consolidation of human resources available for implementation of biodiversity-related conventions;

(iii)Developing a curriculum on biodiversity and advocating its inclusion in relevant university faculties to support and ensure sustainability in capacity-building and synergistic implementation of biodiversity-related conventions;

(iv)Conducting targeted community capacity-building for effective assimilation and coordinated implementation of biodiversity-related conventions at site and national level.

26.Parties should take advantage of existing networking opportunities for capacity-building to help synergistic implementation of biodiversity-related conventions.

(e) - Resource mobilization and utilization

(i) - Rationale

27.The common recognition among the biodiversity-related conventions of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and NBSAPs as common frameworks provide opportunities to strengthen synergies among the conventions in the areas of resource mobilization and utilization, including through relevant international financial mechanisms and instruments.

(ii) - Options for action

28.Parties are encouraged:

(a)To ensure adequate staffing dedicated to the biodiversity-related conventions for their effective implementation and leverage appropriate financial support for effective implementation of the conventions through advocacy and by demonstrating benefits;

(b)To build into funding proposals, where appropriate, provision to utilize some of the national GEF funding allocation to implement aspects of the NBSAP that serve common objectives of biodiversity-related conventions, mindful of the specific needs and mandates of each of the conventions;

(c)To collaborate regionally to explore regional opportunities for fundraising to foster synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions and to share, at regional and subregional levels, best practices and lessons learned from successful access to the GEF biodiversity focal area.

Annex IIRoad map for Enhancing synergies among the biodiversity‑related conventions at the International level 2017-2020

A. - Introduction

1. - Background

1.The measures outlined in the present annex are aimed at enhancing synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions, in a manner consistent with the mandates of the conventions and their secretariats, and those of the international organizations concerned that have a mandate in addressing biodiversity-related matters. In accordance with the consultative work requested of the Executive Secretary by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation in its recommendation 1/8, these measures refine, consolidate and streamline the outcomes of the workshop on synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions and actions as presented in the note by the Executive Secretary on possible recommendations arising from the options for action identified by the workshop,¹⁰ which themselves had been built on a range of earlier work, including that conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme through its project on cooperation and synergies among biodiversity-related conventions,¹¹ and each of which collectively respond to relevant needs and actions identified by the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development “The Future We Want”.¹⁰UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/9/Add.1.¹¹“Improving the effectiveness of and cooperation among biodiversity-related conventions and exploring opportunities for further synergies”. See UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/INF/36 and UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/INF/37.

2. - Scope

2.The implementation of these measures should be to the mutual benefit of the conventions concerned and be compatible with their provisions, obligations, mandates and objectives, respecting their independent nature. They should also respect ongoing efforts to enhance synergies, take into account the need to make an efficient use of resources and result in improved implementation of the relevant conventions and more efficient and streamlined processes.

3.The present annex streamlines these measures into three areas:

(a)Enhancing cooperation and coordination mechanisms;

(b)Enhancing management of and avoiding duplication related to information and knowledge, national reporting, monitoring and indicators;

(c)Enhancing the provision of capacity-building and guidance;

4.The annex further provides an outline for actions that would be undertaken in these three areas between 2017 and 2020.

B. - Enhancing cooperation and coordination mechanisms

5.Many options for action to enhance synergies would be based on or require cooperation and coordination mechanisms. Efforts would therefore be taken to enhance cooperation and coordination mechanisms at the international level.

1. - Enhancing the work of the Liaison Group of the Biodiversity-related Conventions

6.The Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, comprising the convention secretariats, serves an important function in facilitating cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions. One area for enhanced synergies is to further enhance the work of the liaison group, including among counterpart staff of the respective secretariats to address specific areas as needed, such as resource mobilization, capacity-building and Internet technology. Areas for additional common work could include communications,¹² reporting and indicators, including those related to the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the preparation of guidance materials for Parties outlined in the relevant section below.¹²The work of the communications group, already established, aims to enhance coordination between secretariats in their communications efforts in support of their Parties, including collaboration on international observances.

2. - Involving other relevant organisations in the work of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions

7.Relevant international and regional organizations have an important role to support Parties in the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions and to enhance synergies in their implementation. In order to enhance efficiencies, these organisations should be invited to contribute to the preparation of discussions in the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions and participate in its meetings where relevant. Such involvement would be complementary to other relevant mechanisms such as the United Nations Environment Management Group and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets Task Force. This would concern, in particular, international organizations that have a mandate in addressing biodiversity-related matters. These include the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. They also include the Secretariats of the Global Environment Facility and of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

8.One of the areas where such enhanced preparation and dialogue within the liaison group would be useful is for cooperating on and coordinating system-wide action on capacity-building to facilitate the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions. Another would be to help clarify roles and responsibilities in mutually-supportive activities. It would also be able to provide links with appropriate processes related to the Sustainable Development Goals.

9.In addition, such enhanced cooperation and coordination mechanism would benefit also the strengthening of collaboration and support provided by regional organizations and mechanisms to Parties, including in the areas of communications and awareness-raising, resource mobilization and utilization, capacity-building and synergies at the science-policy interface. In addition, relevant regional organizations play an important role in regional strategies and initiatives and could also contribute to ensuring that discussions and options for enhancing effective implementation and cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions extend also to relevant regional agreements and conventions.

3. - Developing and strengthening joint work programmes between conventions

10.Bilateral work programmes between the secretariats of the biodiversity-related conventions provide a means to foster cooperation in areas of common interest and within the mandates of the conventions concerned. Several of the secretariats have established memoranda of cooperation which provide a framework for ongoing joint work plans.¹³Such mechanisms between two or more instruments should continue to be developed and strengthened.¹³Among those involving the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols are bilateral work plans with the secretariats of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the International Plant Protection Convention.

4. - Enhancing the work of the Chairs of the Scientific Advisory Bodies of Biodiversity‑related Conventions

11.The Chairs of the Scientific Advisory Bodies of Biodiversity-related Conventions (CSAB) involves representatives of Parties to the conventions – the Chairs of the scientific advisory bodies – together with the secretariats. Typically, other organizations have joined its meetings. It has convened in the margins of meetings of the scientific bodies on an opportunistic and irregular basis, being without a formal mandate or budget. Renewed consideration and incentive could be given for the CSAB to serve as a mechanism between the conventions, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and their respective secretariats to enable the biodiversity-related conventions to contribute in a coordinated manner to the development of assessments, scenarios and models, and other tools catalysed by the Platform, their assessment of needs for input to the next work programme of the Platform, and to avoid duplication.

C. - Enhancing management of and avoiding duplication related to information and knowledge, national reporting, monitoring and indicators

12.Collaboration in the management of information and knowledge and alignment in national data gathering, reporting, monitoring and indicators, where relevant, would serve as an important foundation to enhancing synergies and efficiencies among the biodiversity-related conventions. Actions aimed to support capacity-building in this regard are outlined in this section rather than in section C below on capacity‑building and guidance. Actions would be required of the secretariats of the biodiversity-related conventions, including in the framework of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions and by relevant organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme through the Multilateral Environmental Agreement Information and Knowledge Management (MEA-IKM) Initiative and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC). The important role of the MEA-IKM and InforMEA¹⁴ to the Convention and to enhancing synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions would be emphasized and supported by Parties and other Governments. Such actions would respect the legal autonomy and mandates of the conventions, and could include the measures contained in section B.1 in the table presented in section E below.¹⁴InforMEA is the Internet platform of the Multilateral Environmental Agreement Information and Knowledge Management (MEA-IKM) Initiative.

13.Relevant organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme, could also provide countries with capacity-building support at the national level in the area of information and knowledge management, including the activities presented in section B.2. of the table presented in section E below.

D. - Enhancing the provision of capacity-building and guidance

14.Many options for action by international organizations, including the convention secretariats, focus on capacity-building, or the provision of guidance, to support synergies in the implementation of the conventions. These include a number of basic guidance materials that could be prepared or made more readily available through immediate action as well as capacity-building initiatives/mechanisms that may involve preparatory actions and process. Taking account of the short-term action plan (2017-2020) to enhance and support capacity-building for the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols (Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity decision XIII/23), such actions could include the measures set out in section C of the table presented in section E below.

1. - Guidance materials

15.Aimed at a target audience of the national focal points and authorities and other relevant national actors involved in the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions, existing materials should be made more widely known and readily available or new materials be prepared to address any gaps, as set out in section C.1. of the table presented in section E below.

2. - Capacity-building

16.The secretariats of the conventions and international organizations have an important role in supporting national capacity-building across the various relevant areas. Benefiting from the enhanced coordination mechanism outlined in section B above, this could include actions by the secretariats of the conventions and relevant organizations, as set out in section C.2 of the table presented in section E below.

E. - Actions for the period 2017-2020

17.The table at the end of this section briefly outlines the desirable key actions for enhancing synergies at the international level from 2017 to 2020. Some actions may require a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and, in some cases, by the governing bodies of other biodiversity-related conventions and international organizations. There will also be financial and human resource implications related to some of the actions. Consideration could be given to these matters by the governing bodies of each of the biodiversity-related conventions between 2017 and 2020, taking into account the cycle of their meetings as follows:

(a)The General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage meets every two years (twenty-first session, November 2017) during the sessions of the General Conference of UNESCO; and the World Heritage Committee meets once a year (forty-first session, 2-17 July 2017);

(b)The Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat meets every three years (thirteenth meeting, 2018) and its Standing Committee meets once a year (fifty-third session, 29 May-2 June 2017);

(c)The Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture holds its regular sessions at least once every two years (seventh session, 2017);

(d)The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures¹⁵ meets once a year (twelfth session, 5‑11 April 2017);¹⁵Established under article XI of the New Revised Text (NRT) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) approved by the FAO Conference in November 1997 to serve as the global agreement’s new governing body.

(e)The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals meets every three years (twelfth meeting, 22-28 October 2017); and during the intersessional period its Standing Committee usually meets once a year, as well as immediately before and after each meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

(f)The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora meets every three years (eighteenth meeting, 2019); and during the intersessional period its Standing Committee meets twice, as well as immediately before and after each meeting of the Conference of the Parties (sixty-ninth meeting, 27 November-1 December 2017);

(g)The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity meets every two years (fourteenth meeting, 2018).

Table of desirable key actions for enhancing synergies at the international level from 2017 to 2020(This table should be read in conjunction with the full text in annex II)

Area/expected outcome	Activity(Description of activity)	Key action(Description of key action. Priority actions will be highlighted)	Timeline 2017-2020(Indication of the start and the period)	Potential lead organization(s)(Lead organization, partner organizations, Parties)	Mandate from CBD(Mandate exists (e.g. Decision XII/6) or additional mandate would be required)	Mandate from other conventions(Mandate exists or additional mandate would be required)	Origin(Source document of intended action, for example: Annex II of UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15; decisions of the Conference of the Parties; decisions or resolutions of other conventions)
A. Enhanced cooperation and coordination mechanisms	Enhancement of the efficiency of the work and processes of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions (Biodiversity Liaison Group, BLG)	Counterpart staff working on specific areas	2017-2020	Convention secretariats			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
	2. Involving other relevant organizations in the work of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions to, among others: facilitate coordinated system-wide action on capacity-building; clarify roles and responsibilities in mutually-supportive activities; provide links with appropriate processes related to the SDGs, and; facilitate strengthened support to Parties at the regional level	Invitation to contribute to discussions of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions and their preparation	2017-2020	Convention secretariats* and relevant organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		Participation at meetings of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions	2017-2020	Convention secretariats* and relevant organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
	3. Fostering cooperation in areas of common interest and within the mandates of two or more conventions	Continued development and strengthening of joint work programmes and memoranda of understanding.		Convention secretariats*			UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/9/Add.1 (para.23 a))
	4. Enhancing the work of the Chairs of the Scientific Advisory Bodies of Biodiversity related Conventions (CSAB)	Coordination of the CSAB including to enable the CSAB to serve as a mechanism between the conventions, IPBES and their secretariats	2017-2020	Convention secretariats,* IPBES Secretariat			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
B. Enhancing management of and avoiding duplication related to information and knowledge, national reporting, monitoring and indicators	1.Collaboration in the management of information and knowledge and alignment in national data gathering, reporting, monitoring and indicators
		(a) Undertake an analysis of gaps and duplications of existing tools and approaches in information management and knowledge management and an assessment of their effectiveness		UNEP MEA-IKM/InforMEA and the UNEP WCMC, in collaboration with the secretariats of the biodiversity related conventions*			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(b)Provide support in designing data collection and monitoring systems		UNEP-WCMC, Convention secretariats*			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(c) Advance and make use of relevant case studies on information management, such as those described in the UNEP Sourcebook of opportunities for enhancing cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions at national and regional levels (the UNEP Sourcebook)		UNEP-WCMC, Convention secretariats*			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(d) Provide guidance on national databases, data access and use, and share experience in national database development and use, taking into account and utilizing relevant initiatives including those under the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, MEA IKM/InforMEA and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)		UNEP MEA-IKM/InforMEA and the UNEP WCMC, in collaboration with the secretariats of the biodiversity related conventions*			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(e) Support national efforts in national data gathering, reporting, monitoring and indicators, building on the work of InforMEA and the mapping exercises identified in the UNEP Sourcebook		Convention secretariats,* BLG** in collaboration with UNEP			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(f) Maximize data compatibility and enhance links between the data systems of the conventions and relevant global knowledge products; improve harmonization, links and interoperability of all relevant biodiversity-related data initiatives		Convention secretariats,* BLG** and relevant reciprocal organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(g) Contribute to the ongoing processes on indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals, including their refinement, and to the discussion of biodiversity-related indicators under each of the other conventions		Convention secretariats,* BLG**			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(h) Provide, at the regional and subregional levels, capacity-building related to data management and national reporting, including training on database systems		Convention secretariats,* UNEP and other international organizations that have a mandate in addressing biodiversity-related matters			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(i) Keep under review opportunities for cooperation in reporting under the conventions, in line with CBD COP decision XIII/27 on national reporting, and for ensuring interoperability between reporting systems or platforms (BLG), making use of and continuing the development of approaches and possible tools¹⁷¹⁷Such as the modular approach to reporting in FOEN, UNEP-WCMC, NatureConsult (2016). Elements for a modular reporting against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge (UNEP/CBD/COP/13/INF/24).		CBD Secretariat, convention secretariats,* UNEP and other relevant international organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
	2.Provide countries with capacity-building at the national level in the area of information and knowledge management	(a) Provision of appropriate tools and technology for database development		UNEP, UNDP and other relevant international organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(b) Pilot studies on database planning and management, for example in two countries per region		UNEP, UNDP and other relevant international organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
C. Enhanced provision of capacity-building and guidance	1. Make existing guidance material more widely known and readily available or prepare new materials to address any gaps	(a) List of existing guidance materials on synergies		UNEP-WCMC			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(b) A guide and other communications material about the biodiversity-related conventions, their relationships and synergies among them		BLG,** convention secretariats,* UNEP			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(c) Guidance on synergies in implementing the national biodiversity strategy and action plan and similar strategies and action plans of other biodiversity-related conventions		BLG,** CBD Secretariat, convention secretariats,* UNEP			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(d) Guidance document on possible opportunities for a coordinated approach to funding from the GEF and other multilateral systems including the Green Climate Fund where appropriate and/or possible		CBD Secretariat in collaboration with GEF secretariat and consultation with the Secretariats of other biodiversity-related conventions			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(e) Success stories of synergies in the implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions are compiled and made available, including through the Clearing-house Mechanism and the NBSAP Forum		CBD Secretariat, BLG,^** convention secretariats* and GEF			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(f) Provide information on synergies, such as the UNEP Sourcebook, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, common issues for biodiversity-related conventions and sources of funding for biodiversity, on the websites of each of the biodiversity-related convention, for example through a dedicated “synergies” page		Convention secretariats,* BLG^**			UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/9/Add.1 (para. 37(d))
	2. Capacity-building	(a) Identify common areas of national capacity-building needs, across the conventions		Convention secretariats,* other relevant organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(b) Share information on ongoing, planned and upcoming capacity-building programmes, projects and initiatives relevant to the biodiversity-related conventions in order to facilitate a coordinated approach, avoid duplication, ensure coherence of their delivery, maximize their utilization and enable cooperation in implementation where relevant		Convention secretariats* other relevant organizations			UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(c) Deliver coordinated capacity-building, including through regional and subregional mechanisms and online mechanisms, taking advantage of existing networking opportunities for capacity-building and addressing common needs and areas of two or more conventions and including building capacity for synergistic implementation of the conventions		Convention secretariats,* other relevant organizations	Decision XIII/23		UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(d) Conduct webinars, regional workshops and other activities for the national focal points of biodiversity-related conventions on accessing funds in the GEF biodiversity focal area		CBD Secretariat, GEF Secretariat, other convention secretariats,* other relevant organizations		Not needed	UNEP/CBD/COP/13/15
		(e) To establish joint events, such as a pavilion for biodiversity-related conventions to be convened at international conventions and congresses;		Convention secretariats,* BLG**			UNEP/CBD/SBI/1/9/Add.1 (para. 37 (b))

* Involvement of convention secretariats, as appropriate.** The responsibility of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions in this activity is to promote coordinated oversight, for example ensuring that actions and priorities are in line with guidance and mandates of their respective conventions and governing bodies.

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