THE 5^th CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES OF THE CBD DECIDES TO ESTABLISH AN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF POLLINATORS

Based on a draft decision submitted by the Brazilian Government, the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity at its fifth meeting, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15 to 26 of May 2000, decided to establish an International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators.

The two relevant decisions, part of larger decisions, are the following:

V/5. Agricultural biological diversity: review of phase I of the programme of work and adoption of a multi-year work programme

II. INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF POLLINATORS

Considering decision III/11, in which the Conference of the Parties established the programme of work on agricultural biodiversity, and called for priority attention to components of biological diversity responsible for the maintenance of ecosystem services important for the sustainability of agriculture, including pollinators,

Considering the recommendations of the Sao Paulo Declaration on Pollinators, based on the results of the Workshop on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators in Agriculture, with an Emphasis on Bees, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 7 to 9 October 1998, presented by the Brazilian Government at the fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,

Considering the urgent need to address the issue of worldwide decline of pollinator diversity, and considering recommendation V/9 of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,

15. Decides to establish an International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators as a cross-cutting initiative within the programme of work on agricultural biodiversity to promote coordinated action worldwide to:

(a) Monitor pollinator decline, its causes and its impact on pollination services;

(b) Address the lack of taxonomic information on pollinators;

(c) Assess the economic value of pollination and the economic impact of the decline of pollination services;

(d) Promote the conservation and the restoration and sustainable use of pollinator diversity in agriculture and related ecosystems;

16. Requests the Executive Secretary to invite the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to facilitate and coordinate the Initiative in close cooperation with other relevant organizations and to consider establishing a coordination mechanism, with geographical balance and with leading relevant organizations, to prepare a proposal for a plan of action taking into account the recommendations in the Sao Paulo Declaration on Pollinators, as well as on contributions submitted by countries and relevant organizations, for submission to and review by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting;

17. Invites leading relevant organizations, such as IUCN-The World Conservation Union, the International Bee Research Association and the International Commission for Plant-Bee Relationships, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, the international agriculture research centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and other relevant regional and international bodies, to collaborate in supporting actions in Parties and countries subject to pollinator decline;

18. Requests the Executive Secretary, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the financial mechanism to support the development and implementation of the Initiative and invites Parties and Governments to collaborate and compile case-studies and implement pilot projects, making use of the clearing-house mechanism, and to report to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.

V/13. Further guidance to the financial mechanism

The Conference of the Parties,

Having examined the report of the Global Environment Facility (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/7),

Taking note of the note by the Executive Secretary (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/13/Add.1) with respect to previous guidance in relation to agenda items of the fifth meeting, in response to paragraph 4 of decision IV/11,

Taking note with appreciation of the efforts of the Global Environment Facility to provide additional funding for biodiversity enabling activities under expedited procedures, and urging it to continue to improve access to funding by developing country Parties and increase flexibility in its operational criteria,

2. Decides to provide the following additional guidance to the Global Environment Facility in the provision of financial resources, in conformity with decisions I/1, II/6, III/5 and IV/13 of the Conference of the Parties. In this regard, the Global Environment Facility shall provide financial resources to developing country Parties for country-driven activities and programmes, consistent with national priorities and objectives, recognizing that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of developing countries. The Global Environment Facility, as the institutional structure operating the financial mechanism, should provide support:

(a) For projects utilizing the ecosystem approach, without prejudice to differing national needs and priorities which may require the application of approaches such as single-species conservation programmes, in accordance with decision V/6;

(b) As a priority, for projects which:

(i) Implement the Convention’s programme of work on agricultural biodiversity, in accordance with decision V/5, through the timely finalization and implementation of its operational programme on agricultural biodiversity, and through the development and implementation of other relevant operational programmes;

(c) For projects which assist with the development and implementation of the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators in Agriculture, in accordance with decision V/5;