CBD Distr. GENERAL CBD/SBSTTA/24/INF/24 23 February 2021 ENGLISH ONLY SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE Twenty-fourth meeting Venue and dates to be determined Item 3 of the provisional agenda* REPORT ON REGIONAL SEAS BIODIVERSITY UNDER THE POST-2020 GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK Note by the Executive Secretary 1. The Executive Secretary is pleased to circulate herewith, for the information of participants in the twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, an information document on regional seas biodiversity under the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. 2. The document identifies ways to enhance compatibility between the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the Regional Seas Programme under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme and the document authors, together with the project coordination team, with funding support from the European Commission 3. The document has not been formally edited or formatted and is being circulated in the form in which it was received. * CBD/SBSTTA/24/1. UNEP Regional Seas Working Paper February 2021 Regional Seas Biodiversity under the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework David E. Johnson, Maria Adelaide Ferreira and Christopher Barrio Froján © 2021 United Nations Citation: United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Regional Seas Biodiversity under the post- 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Nairobi. Authors: David E. Johnson, Maria Adelaide Ferreira and Christopher Barrio Froján Project Coordination Team: Joseph Appiott (CBD) Marijana Mance (European Commission) Juan-Pablo Pertierra (European Commission) Takehiro Nakamura (UNEP) Nancy Soi (UNEP) Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to the Project Coordination team for their guidance and comments to draft versions of this study, in particular to Takehiro Nakamura (UNEP) for his comprehensive review of this document. The information presented here could not have been brought together without the contributions of Regional Sea Conventions and Action Plans’ Secretariats, through their responses to questionnaires, virtual interviews and contributions during online sessions (webinar and workshop). Thanks are also due to external experts, interviewed in their own personal capacity, for their considered views and input. Cover image: Maria Adelaide Ferreira. Atlantic Ocean, Lagos, Portugal (OSPAR Maritime Area). This study has been funded by the European Commission - UN Environment Programme Cooperation Agreement, signed under the European Commission Strategic Programme for Global Public Goods and Challenges. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this document are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect UNEP or European Union’s positions. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP, contributory organisations or editors. The designations employed and the presentations of material in this report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organisations, editors or publishers concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries or the designation of its name, frontiers or boundaries. The mention of a commercial entity or product in this publication does not imply endorsement by UNEP. 1 Regional Seas Biodiversity under the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework February 2021 1 Contents Executive summary .................................................................................................................................. 4 Summary of recommendations................................................................................................................. 8 List of acronyms .....................................................................................................................................10 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................13 1.1 Aim and objectives ....................................................................................................................13 1.2 Structure of the report ...............................................................................................................14 1.3 Methods ....................................................................................................................................15 2. The CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework .....................................................................16 2.1 Genesis .....................................................................................................................................16 2.2 Development .............................................................................................................................16 2.3 Need to galvanise urgent and transformative action across society ........................................20 2.4 The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic ....................................................................................28 2.5 Concluding remarks ..................................................................................................................28 3. The Regional Seas Programme ....................................................................................................29 3.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................29 3.2 Implementing an Ecosystem Approach ....................................................................................37 3.3 Uptake of MEAs by the Regional Seas ....................................................................................44 3.4 Monitoring and reporting: Selection and application of a coordinated set of indicators for the RSP ..................................................................................................................................................47 3.5 Concluding remarks ..................................................................................................................51 4. Implementation challenges and potential implications of the GBF for RSCAPs ...........................52 4.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................52 4.2 Integrating the GBF into the programmes of work of the RSCAPs ..........................................52 4.3 Institutional frameworks of the RSCAPs to support GBF delivery ............................................59 4.4 Follow-up and review of RSCAPs regional targets and objectives associated with GBF Goals and Targets and associated monitoring .............................................................................................68 4.5 Conclusions ..............................................................................................................................72 5. RSCAP monitoring and reporting relevant to the GBF ..................................................................74 5.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................74 5.2 RSCAPs monitoring and indicator systems ..............................................................................75 5.3 Key RSP indicators in relation to the GBF ................................................................................87 5.4 Strengthening the reporting of marine aspects in the GBF ......................................................92 5.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................105 6. Potential future role for the RSP in the GBF: capacity needs and gaps .....................................107 6.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................107 2 6.2 Capacity needs: tiers and implementation thresholds for RSCAPs .......................................107 6.3 Levelling the playing field: RSCAPs implementation toolbox to address the GBF .................113 6.4 Gaps and challenges limiting the potential contribution of the RSP to the GBF ....................126 6.5 A role for each level of the hierarchy ......................................................................................128 6.6 Reinforcing the role of the RSP ..............................................................................................130 6.7 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................131 References ...........................................................................................................................................133 Annexes ................................................................................................................................................140 Annex 1: Questionnaire ....................................................................................................................141 Annex 2: List of interviewees ...........................................................................................................143 Annex 3: Summary of Workshop Conclusions