Ministry of the Environment Summary in English: Report No. 42 to the Storting (2000-2001) Published by: Royal Ministry of the Environment Norwegian biodiversity policy Additional copies may be ordered from: Statens forvaltningstjeneste Informasjonsforvaltning and action plan – cross-sectoral E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +47 22 24 27 86 Publication number: T-1414 responsibilities and coordination Translation: Alison Coulthard Coverdesign: Seedesign as Printed by: www.kursiv.no, Oslo 8/2002 Summary in English: Report No. 42 to the Storting (2000–2001) Norwegian biodiversity policy and action plan – cross-sectoral responsibilities and coordination Side 1 Cyan Magenta Yellow Sort ISBN 82-457-0366-4 www.kursiv.no SIDE 2 Cyan Magenta Yellow Sort Table of Content 0 Summary ......................................... 5 3 A new policy: towards knowledge-based management 1 Introduction .................................... 8 of biological diversity .................... 39 1.1 Implementation of the UN 3.1 Main conclusion of the white Convention on Biological Diversity paper: a new management system – challenges at international level .. 8 for biodiversity is needed ................ 39 1.2 Implementation of the UN 3.2 Joint action forming part of the Convention on Biological Diversity seven main tasks in the period – challenges at national level .......... 10 2001–2005 .......................................... 41 1.3 About the white paper ..................... 11 3.2.1 Identifying cross-sectoral and sectoral responsibilities and 2 A coordinated approach to the coordinating the use of policy conservation and use of instruments ....................................... 41 biological diversity ........................ 12 3.2.1.1 Cross-sectoral and sectoral 2.1 Vision, targets and strategy ............ 12 responsibilities .................................. 41 2.1.1 Vision ................................................. 12 3.2.1.2 Coordinating the use of policy 2.1.2 Targets .............................................. 12 instruments ....................................... 41 2.1.3 Strategy ............................................. 13 3.2.2 Coordinating and improving 2.2 Main tasks ......................................... 17 knowledge of biological diversity ... 45 2.2.1 Identifying cross-sectoral and 3.2.2.1 Surveying and monitoring sectoral responsibilities and biological diversity ........................... 45 coordinating the use of policy 3.2.2.2 Research and development ............. 48 instruments ....................................... 17 3.2.3 Ensuring sustainable use of 2.2.1.1 Cross-sectoral and sectoral biological resources ......................... 48 responsibilities .................................. 17 3.2.4 Avoiding the undesirable 2.2.1.2 Coordinating the use of policy introduction of alien species ........... 49 instruments ....................................... 20 3.2.5 Ensuring sustainable land use ....... 50 2.2.2 Coordinating and improving 3.2.6 Avoiding pollution ............................ 51 knowledge of biological diversity ... 23 3.2.7 Enhancing international 2.2.3 Ensuring sustainable use of cooperation ....................................... 51 biological resources ......................... 26 3.2.7.1 Coordination of environmental 2.2.4 Avoiding the undesirable agreements ....................................... 52 introduction of alien species ........... 29 3.2.7.2 The relationship between 2.2.5 Ensuring sustainable land use ....... 31 environment and trade agreements 52 2.2.6 Avoiding pollution ............................ 34 3.2.7.3 Development cooperation ............... 52 2.2.7 Enhancing international 3.2.7.4 Marine resources, the Arctic and cooperation ....................................... 37 indigenous peoples .......................... 53 3.2.7.5 Other fora .......................................... 53 Side 3 Cyan Magenta Yellow Sort SIDE 4 Cyan Magenta Yellow Sort 2000–2001 Summary in English: Report No. 42 to the Storting 5 Norwegian biodiversity policy and action plan – cross-sectoral responsibilities and coordination 0 Summary Norway’s action plan for the conservation of biodi- – making planning processes more cost-effective versity was presented to the Storting (Norwegian – making land-use management more predict- parliament) in the form of a white paper. The En- able, for example for the Ministry of Transport glish translation consists of three chapters of the and Communications, Ministry of Defence, white paper: the introduction (Chapter 1), a pre- Ministry of Local Government and Regional sentation of a coordinated approach to the conser- Development and Ministry of Trade and Indu- vation and sustainable use of biological diversity stry (Chapter 2) and a description of a new policy to- wards knowledge-based management of biological The new management system for biodiversity will diversity (Chapter 3). Chapter 3 presents the gov- require the identification of areas that are of great ernment’s most important priorities, a new man- importance for biological diversity. To obtain this agement system for biodiversity and joint action information, surveys and monitoring programmes for the period 2001–2005. must be initiated. In addition, a species data bank The white paper is a political tool for use in is to be established (see Figure 1). Norway’s efforts to follow up the Convention on Information on areas of great value for biodi- Biological Diversity. It is subtitled «Cross-sectoral versity must be readily available. This will provide responsibilities and coordination» in direct refer- the factual basis for management at central, re- ence to Article 6 of the convention, which states gional and local level. that all sectors must take responsibility for inte- To ensure the conservation and sustainable grating biological diversity considerations into management of biological diversity, legislative and their administrative tasks. economic instruments must be coordinated. They The most important conclusion drawn by the must also focus on areas that are of great value for government in the white paper is that it is neces- biodiversity (see Figure 1). sary to establish a new management system for Work is already in progress on the legislative biological diversity (see Figure 1). Three cross- instruments. A committee has been appointed to sectoral priority areas will be of particular impor- evaluate the legislation on biological diversity and tance in ensuring that the value of Norway’s bio- relevant sectoral legislation. Another committee is logical diversity is maintained. The government evaluating amendments to the Planning and Build- will give special priority to the following areas in ing Act to ensure that it takes biodiversity con- the period 2001–2005 (see Figure 1): cerns more fully into account. 1. National programme to survey and monitor A review of all economic instruments that may biological diversity have an impact on biological diversity will also be 2. Coordination of legislative and economic in- initiated. The review will consider changes in exist- struments ing policy instruments and the need for new ones 3. Information, research and expertise that clearly target areas of great value for biologi- cal diversity. The new management system for biodiversity will The government’s new management system is help Norway to make progress towards a number to be knowledge-based. Information, research and of goals: expertise will constitute the scientific basis for the – the conservation and sustainable use of biologi- development of the new system, which is to be cal diversity built up in the period 2001–2005. – simplifying the public administration and mak- These three priority areas are the main ele- ing it more effective ments of the new management system for biologi- – the transfer of more authority and responsi- cal diversity. To make the system operative, steps bility from the central to the municipal level must be taken to improve and coordinate surveys – making it easier for decision-makers to weigh and monitoring of biodiversity (see Figure 1). up different public interests The government will also give priority to action Side 5 Cyan Magenta Yellow Sort 6 Summary in English: Report No. 42 to the Storting 2000–2001 Norwegian biodiversity policy and action plan – cross-sectoral responsibilities and coordination by the 17 ministries within the framework of the – Ministry of Finance following main tasks: – Ministry of Fisheries 1. Identifying cross-sectoral and sectoral respon- – Ministry of Foreign Affairs sibilities and coordinating the use of policy in- – Ministry of Health struments – Ministry of Labour and Government Adminis- 2. Coordinating and improving knowledge of bio- tration logical diversity – Ministry of Petroleum and Energy 3. Ensuring sustainable use of biological re- – Ministry of Social Affairs sources – Ministry of Trade and Industry 4. Avoiding undesirable introduction of alien spe- – Ministry of Transport and Communications cies 5. Ensuring sustainable land use These actions are not included in the English sum- 6. Avoiding pollution mary. Chapter 3 was drawn up on the basis of the 7. Enhancing international cooperation. conclusions reached in Chapter 2 and the actions listed by the ministries and the Sámediggi. These Using the seven main tasks as a framework, the were used to draw up a new management system Sámediggi (Sami parliament) and the following for biological diversity in Norway. ministries made contributions to the white paper The white