The Challenge

Over the past decades, numerous multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) have been adopted by governments to address biodiversity loss and many other environmental concerns. But biodiversity continues to be unsustainably used and lost at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. Action to counter biodiversity loss does not sufficiently address the drivers of change. The value of biodiversity is still not fully factored into decision-making and remains poorly integrated into the wider policy framework. In addition, many countries, particularly in the developing world, lack the financial, human and technical resources to implement the commitments they have made under these multilateral environmental agreements.

Our solution & impact

A significant part of the work undertaken by the UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre entails providing support to the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Parties in addressing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Moreover, decisions agreed by the Conference of the Parties of the UN Biodiversity Convention have increasingly identified specific areas in which the Centre’s expertise has proven valuable in advancing the implementation of the Convention.

We provide support to the Convention on Biological Diversity at global, regional and national levels on a range of themes that include:

• Biodiversity indicators: We are developing global biodiversity indicators for 2011–2014 to assess progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; and supporting Parties to develop corresponding national indicators.
• Protected areas:  We are expanding the World Database on Protected Areas to include data on management effectiveness; developing the registry of indigenous and community protected areas; and developing in-country capacity to implement the CBD programme of work on protected areas, for example through the PARCC project.
• Resource mobilization: We manage and undertake research on the benefits of meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as well as the investments, resources and policy developments required to achieve them.
• NBSAP forum: Through workshops, online support tools, products and services we support countries to develop and implement National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), in response to the CBD.
• Biodiversity and climate change: We provide data and information on the links between biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation; and work with Parties to ensure their plans for REDD+ (Reducing Emission on Deforestation and Forest Degradation) take into account any potential risks and opportunities for biodiversity.
• National reporting: We assist least developed countries and small island developing states to improve their coordination of national reporting to multiple MEAs; and are exploring how reporting to the many different MEAs can be streamlined.Examples from out work include the UNEP-WCMC piloted Integrated Processes and  Approaches to Facilitate National Reporting to the Rio Conventions (CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD), known as the FNR_Rio project and the elements for a modular reporting against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (Report and Annex)
• Technical and scientific cooperation: We work with a number of centres of expertise across the globe with the aim of fostering the mutual development of capacities and networking among different communities of practices.
• Synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions: We work with other colleagues in UN Environment to identify opportunities for improving the policy coherence and coordinated implementation of the seven major biodiversity-related conventions. At the global level, we have identified options to reduce duplication and overlap between the requirements of the different conventions to enable them to be implemented and reported on in a coordinated manner. At the national level, we have produced practical guidance for implementing the conventions more efficiently, as part of our support for the NBSAP revision process.

Other outputs:

Mappigng Multilateral Environmental Agreements to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

• Report
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2

Promoting synergies within the cluster of biodiversity-related multilateral agreements 

• Full report
• Summary

Expertise & Team

Staff across the Centre contribute to our work with the CBD and Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, and collectively have significant experience in working with all the biodiversity-related conventions and their national implementation, support programmes, initiatives and funding bodies. Collaboration with the CBD Secretariat and engagement with the Convention’s governance and advisory processes is coordinated by Jerry Harrison.  

Jerry Harrison

Head of Conventions and Policy Support Programme