30 April 2016: Delegates at the 20th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted 15 recommendations.

CBD Executive Secretary Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias welcomed SBSTTA 20 outcomes ensuring: progress towards achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; a strong relationship with Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES); and mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors. He praised SBSTTA recommendations on the action plan on ecosystem restoration, guidance on marine debris and next steps on ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs).

Costa Rica, for the Group of Latin American Countries (GRULAC), underscored recommendations on synthetic biology and invasive alien species (IAS), noting that biodiversity mainstreaming is key for sustainable development and requires stakeholder participation. Indonesia, for Asia-Pacific, stressed the importance of implementing CBD guidelines, capacity building and adequate funding. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, on behalf of the African Group, called upon parties to redouble their efforts to achieve those Aichi targets that show least progress and highlighted recommendations on restoring ecosystems, mainstreaming biodiversity and IAS, noting more work is needed on synthetic biology. Turkmenistan, on behalf of Central and Eastern Europe, emphasized the need to mainstream biodiversity targets into the sustainable development agenda.

SBSTTA also considered: work on a land degradation indicator jointly undertaken by the Secretariats of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the CBD and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) to provide input to the work of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs). Delegates also discussed, inter alia: a workplan on biodiversity and acidification in cold water areas; and a synthesis report on experiences with ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR).

On the functional review of the Secretariat, Dias informed participants that he established a Division on Scientific and Policy Support with units on biosafety and IAS, access and benefit sharing (ABS) and traditional knowledge and conservation and sustainable use. He said he appointed David Cooper as Deputy Executive Secretary and announced that he will not seek an extension of his mandate at the end of his term in February 2017.

Following the conclusion of SBSTTA, the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) to the CBD is taking place from 2-6 May 2016 in Montreal, Canada. It is expected to, inter alia: review progress in implementing the CBD and its Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020; and consider strategic actions to enhance and strengthen support for national implementation, as well as the implications of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the future work of the Convention. [CBD Press Releases] [CBD Executive Secretary Opening Statement] [SBSTTA Meeting Documents] [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]