20 June 2014: The fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation (WGRI 5) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted recommendations to the CBD Conference of the Parties (COP) on a range of implementation, strategic and financial issues. An informal dialogue session held during the meeting focused on mainstreaming biodiversity in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and mobilization of resources for achieving the Aichi targets.

Held from 16-20 June 2014, in Montreal, Canada, WGRI 5 adopted 12 recommendations that will be submitted to CBD COP 12, which will take place from 6-17 October 2014, in Pyeongchang, the Republic of Korea. The recommendations address, among other issues: review of progress in updating and implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs); review of progress in providing support in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; the strategy for resource mobilization; the financial mechanism; gender mainstreaming; biodiversity for poverty eradication; cooperation with other conventions; engagement of business and other stakeholders; engagement with subnational and local governments; and improving the efficiency of structures and processes under the Convention.

Increasing the efficiency of structures and processes under the Convention and its Protocols was a major focus of the meeting. Parties recommended a consolidation of proceedings for subsequent meetings of the CBD COP and Meetings of the Parties to its Protocols. WGRI 5 also forwarded to COP 12 the Chennai Guidance, which aims to integrate biodiversity in sustainable development and poverty eradication programmes, serving as a tool for both biodiversity and development communities.

Main issues of controversy concerned resource mobilization, and cooperation with other conventions. Full agreement on the setting of final targets for resource mobilization could not be reached, and the recommendation contains two options in brackets. On cooperation, reference to efforts to promote and/or safeguards related to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) remain in brackets. [IISD RS Coverage of WGRI 5][CBD Press Release]