Oliver Hillel, Secretariat of the CBD All European States and the EU are signatories
EU entities have very heterogeneous standings in international law, reltilations hips with ithCBDf CBD focal poi itnts are not formalized
Legal status includes some but not all EU entities, some (Greenland) even report separately
Overseas Europe contributed more to PWIBPoWIB IDR t hat ever be fore: 7 UK is lan ds and France reported on overseas islands (p)(see SBSTTA report) Adopted 2006 by CBD COP 8, in Brazil, (decision VIII/1). The first-ever programme of work dedicated solely to the uniqueness and fragility of island biodiversity - 11 goals, 22 targets, 50 priority actions, seven focal areas One-stop shop on the Convention for island Parties – objective is not to duplicate tasks Promoting and supporting high level regional commitments (“ challenges”) Maintaining and supporting key databases and information portals (Global Islands Database) Focusing on priorities as they affect livelihood and island economies: ◦ Management and eradication of IAS ◦ Climate change adaptation and mitigation ◦ Establishment and management of MPAs ◦ Capacity building ◦ Access to fair and equitable sharing of benefits ◦ Poverty alleviation ◦ Governance of networks of protected areas ◦ Supporting subnational implementation by engaging sub- national and local authorities. ◦ Coordinate with ongoing review of the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy. Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) as an effective platform to support implementation of the programme of work, supported by the SCBD; “Small Islands, Big Difference” campaign coordinated by Island Conservation on invasive alien species will be launched as part of GLISPA Working Group Joint reporting for biodiversity-related conventions Regional and global technical support networks to help the ongoing review, updating and implementation of NBSAPs with key sectors (e.g. mining, agriculture, fisheries, health, energy, tourism, integrated marine/coastal management, education and development Subnational implementation of the Convention in islands bygggy engaging subnational and local authorities throug h the Plan of Action for Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)
•Open platform for cooperation with over 20 Parties to the Convention, as well as major non-governmental and multilateral organizations
•Launch at COP 8 in Curitiba, 2006, co-chaired by Palau and Seychelles
•Already facilitated USD 130+ million projects, Micronesia Challenge, Caribbean Initiative, and other commitments •Side events at SBSTTA and COP 11: ISLAND BRIGHT SPOTS: EXCHANGING INNOVATIONS AND SUCCESSES, ISLAND LIFE: CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO ACTION Rio+20 also was a great success for GLISPA and for island Parties:
◦ Grenada becomes 3rd chair of GLISPA (after Seychelles and Palau) and announces the Caribbean Summit ◦ Seychelles announced 10k/yr to GLISPA coordination team in 200313 for three years ◦ Strong relationships forged between European overseas islands and their regional neighbors (Bonaire, Greenland) “Scientific collaboration to better understand marine biodiversity and support country efforts to achieve Aichi targets” CBD cr iter ia inc lu de un iqueness an d rar ity, spec ia l importance for life history and threat levels of relevant species and habitats, vulnerability, productivity and diversity Lack of references in international law - new uncharted territories, always in coordination with global MEAs such as UNCLOS and regional ones such as the Barcelona C. SCBD to be repository of proposals, reports will be forwarded to UN GA Proposals for criteria and actual EBSAs formulated in 4 workshops (Western South Pacific, Wider Caribbean and Western Mid-Atlantic, Southern Indian Ocean, Eastern Tropical and Temperate Pacific) with more to go (Southeastern Atlantic/West Africa, North Pacific, Mediterranean, Northeast Atlantic, with, UNEP/MAP, OSPAR and NEAFC). All EU overseas territories are being involved in thShe EBSA process. Build partnerships and enhance capacity to achieve Aichi targets related to marine and coastal biodiversity: ◦ 6 (fish, invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants managed and harvested sustainably) ◦ 10 (anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs and other sensitive marine ecosystems impactedbd by CC an d acidification minimized) ◦ 11 ((,10% of all land, and 12% marine areas conserved under system of protected areas and other area-based conservation measures).
Launched at COP 10 with support of Japan and UNU, co- sponsored by French Marine Protected Areas’ agency Other issues include sustainable fisheries, control of land-based pollution, coral bleaching, underwater noise, ocean acidification, marine debris. Develop and Implement National -Level Joint Activities in Support of Ecosystem Based Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
◦ Side events at Rio+20 and COP 11 ◦ Capacity building workshop in Vietnam ◦ Commitments from UNEP, World Bank, Birdlife International, UNEP-WCMC, the UNCCD Secretariat and IUCN for follow-up in kind support for the countries Reduce the reporting burden on countries through improving the harmonization of reports to the CBD, UNCCD and UNFCCC New Caledonia and Bermuda participated in planning workshop, Bonaire also interested Gaps: ◦ Participation in regional work and stronger links with other EU territories, ◦ Support for integrating climate change into the updated BSAP and protected species policy ◦ More fldlhformalized relationship with Rio Convention focal points and improved communication Plan adopted at COP 10 (X/22) Decision XI/8 item A calls on Parties and other Governments to develop LBSAPs, encourage networks of subnational/local authorities, support the Global Partnership and continue to involve local and subnational authorities in NBSAP workshops Cities for Life Summit at COP 12 in Korea 2014: the voice of subnational and local authorities Support IUCN as convenor, EP as platform for BEST – identify leaders! From La Reunion to the future: - How can overseas Europe be more visible in the Rio Conventions given its role for Europe? - What benefit to overseas European islands byyggg engaging in the CBD? LBSAPs? TEEB? Joint MEA reporting? Showcase gg/reen/blue economy ? IAS? Regional outreach – find channels for regular ppparticipation