24 July 2018
SBSTTA, SBI Discuss Progress on Biodiversity Targets and Protocols
Photo by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
story highlights

SBSTTA 22 highlights included the adoption of voluntary guidance on protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, guidance for avoiding unintentional introduction of invasive alien species, and a global action plan 2018-2030 for the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators.

SBI 2 achievements included adoption of a recommendation on biodiversity mainstreaming, and progress in the integration of processes under the Convention and its Protocols.

13 July 2018: The 22nd meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 22) and second meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 2) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) met in July to address a series of scientific and implementation-related issues, in preparation for the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the CBD. The SBSTTA and the SBI negotiated recommendations for consideration by the CBD COP 14, as well as by the Conference of the Parties serving as the third Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 3) to the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) and the ninth Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 9) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which will convene from 17-29 November 2018, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The agendas of the two bodies included, among other items, a review of progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and several items related to implementation of the CBD and its Protocols.

SBSTTA 22 highlights included the adoption of voluntary guidance on protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), guidance for avoiding unintentional introduction of invasive alien species (IAS), and a global action plan 2018-2030 for the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators. Delegates engaged in prolonged debates on ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), digital sequence information (DSI), and synthetic biology.

SBSTTA 22 adopted recommendations on:

  • DSI on genetic resources;
  • risk assessment and risk management of living modified organisms (LMOs);
  • synthetic biology;
  • updated scientific assessments of progress towards Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in particular targets on which the least progress has been made;
  • protected areas and OECMs;
  • marine and coastal biodiversity;
  • ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction;
  • IAS;
  • conservation and sustainable use of pollinators; and
  • the second work programme of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

SBI 2 achievements included adoption of a recommendation on biodiversity mainstreaming, and progress in the integration of processes under the Convention and its Protocols, while controversies continued on a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism under the Nagoya Protocol. The two bodies further assessed progress in implementation of the Convention, the Strategic Plan, and its Aichi targets, and addressed a proposal for negotiating the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

SBI 2 adopted recommendations on:

  • review of progress in the implementation of the Convention and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;
  • assessment and review of the effectiveness of the Nagoya Protocol;
  • mainstreaming of biodiversity within and across sectors and other strategic actions to enhance implementation;
  • preparation for the follow up to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;
  • the need for a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism under the Nagoya Protocol;
  • specialized international ABS instruments under the Nagoya Protocol;
  • resource mobilization;
  • the financial mechanism;
  • capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation and technology transfer;
  • cooperation with other conventions, international organizations, and partnerships;
  • mechanisms for review of implementation;
  • national reporting, and assessment and review, under the Convention and its Protocols;
  • enhancing integration under the Convention and its Protocols with respect to ABS, biosafety, and Article 8(j) (traditional knowledge) and related provisions;
  • review of the effectiveness of the processes under the Convention and its Protocols; and
  • the trust fund for facilitating participation of the parties in the Convention process.

SBSTTA 22 met in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 2-7 July 2018, followed by the SBI 2, which met from 9-13 July 2018. [IISD RS Coverage of the Meetings] [CBD Press Release] [Meetings Webpage]


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