The ninth Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which convened from 19-30 May 2008, in Bonn, Germany, immediately following the fourth Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 4) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, adopted 37 decisions on a wide range of items.

Key agreements included the adoption of a roadmap for negotiations on access and benefit-sharing, a Resource Mobilization Strategy, scientific criteria for marine protected areas, and language cautioning against ocean fertilization. Issues for in-depth consideration included: agricultural biodiversity, including biofuels and biodiversity; the Global Strategy for Plant Conservaton; invasive alien species; forest biodiversity; incentive measures; the ecosystem approach; progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan and towards the 2010 target to reduce significantly biodiversity loss; and financial resources and the financial mechanism.
Among COP 9’s achievements is the adoption of a roadmap for the negotiation of an international ABS regime, ensuring that three ABS Working Group and three expert group meetings will take place before the 2010 deadline for completion of negotiations. The adoption of scientific criteria and guidance for marine areas in need of protection, and of the first-ever Resource Mobilization Strategy for the Convention were also hailed as major achievements and tools towards reaching the 2010 biodiversity target. A considerable amount of attention focused on issues related to climate change, including reference to mitigation and adaptation activities, ocean fertilization and biofuels. While strong language was agreed cautioning against ocean fertilization, there was no agreement on adopting sustainability criteria for biofuel production and consumption. On genetically modified (GM) trees, an issue which attracted a great deal of public interest, the COP reaffirmed the need for a precautionary approach and called on parties to authorize the release of GM trees only after completion of studies in containment as well as science-based and transparent risk assessments, a decision that was criticized as insufficient by several parties and observers.
Link to further information
IISD RS coverage of COP 9