9 November 2015: Allowing for more input from representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, the 19th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) made progress on agenda items related to biodiversity mainstreaming, while the concurrent meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions developed guidelines on prior informed consent (PIC) and fair and equitable benefit-sharing from the use of traditional knowledge (TK). The Meetings were held from 2-7 November 2015.

SBSTTA 19 adopted recommendations on: biodiversity mainstreaming; indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020; key scientific and technical needs related to the implementation of the Strategic Plan; tools to evaluate the effectiveness of policy instruments for the implementation of the Strategic Plan; biodiversity and human health; climate-related geoengineering; forest biodiversity; and the work of SBSTTA in light of the work programme of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). SBSTTA 19 aimed to advance the coherence of different policies through mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and sustainable use across sectors; considered a report on biodiversity and human health co-launched by the World Health Organization and the CBD Secretariat and recommended further work, including a research programme; and recommended actions aimed at increasing cooperation, reducing duplication of efforts and making the most of the scientific information available by both bodies.

The ninth meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) adopted a series of recommendations, including on: guidelines on PIC and benefit-sharing from the use of TK; continued work on best-practice guidelines for the repatriation of TK; recommendations from the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII); and a glossary of relevant key terms and concepts used within the context of Article 8(j) and related provisions. In addition, the meeting featured an in-depth dialogue on challenges and opportunities for international and regional cooperation in the protection of shared TK across borders for the strengthening of TK and the fulfillment of the three objectives of the Convention in harmony with Nature/Mother Earth. Significant progress was made on the guidelines on PIC and benefit-sharing from the use of TK, reflecting to a large extent the proposals of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB). [IISD RS Coverage of the Meetings] [CBD Press Release on SBSTTA 19] [CBD Press Release on Article 8(j) Working Group] [SBSTTA 19 Webpage] [Article 8(j) Working Group Meeting Webpage]