The Sixth National Reports (6NR) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) project, funded by the GEF and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), provides support to 137 Parties to the CBD in preparing a high quality, data driven, gender responsive 6NR. These 6NRs provide a final review of the progress each Party is making to implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Among these 137 countries, 36 are Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who are facing specific challenges to protect nature and monitor biodiversity.

The SIDS have some of the most diverse and unique ecosystems in the world, and are home to a host of rare endemic species, therefore we must ensure their conservation and protection. Biodiversity is an important contributor to the livelihood of many SIDS, as industries like tourism and fisheries can constitute over half of the GDP of small island countries. Many of the threats to biodiversity – unsustainable fishing and agriculture practices, pollution, poaching, and habitat destruction – are addressed in national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs), but remain important challenges due to a lack of adequate capacities and data to efficiently implement and monitor national conservation action. Additional difficulties arise in the coordination of stakeholders and the sharing and use of up-to-date spatial and non-spatial data on biodiversity.

Main Resources:

• Small Island Developing States and the Sustainable Development Goals
• SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway
• Partnerships on Small Island Developing States 2016

Presentations from the webinars “Informing the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Overcoming Obstacles to Develop Biodiversity Baseline Data in Small Island Developing States”: (will be posted after the webinar sessions)

Esta página ofrece al equipo y a los representantes de Ecuador un espacio de trabajo privado para compartir información más sensible sobre el proyecto y su implementación en Ecuador. Esta página está protegida con contraseña y solo los usuarios permitidos de Ecuador y el equipo científico tienen acceso a ella. Para permitir que un nuevo usuario de su país acceda a esta página, comuníquese con Marion Marigo (marion.marigo@undp.org).

This page offers the team and representatives from Ecuador a private working space to share more sensitive information regarding the project and its implementation in Ecuador. This page is password-protected, and only allowed users from Ecuador and the science team have access to it. To enable a new user from your country to access this page, please contact Marion Marigo (marion.marigo@undp.org).

Main Resources

• Sixth National Report Information Portal
• CBD Searchable List of National Reports and NBSAPs
• COP Decision XIII/27: National reporting
• COP Decision XIII/28: Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• The Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CHM)
• User Manual for the online reporting tool on the CBD Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
• Technical Guidance document on indicators: English, French, Spanish
• Data Capture Tool: English, French, Spanish
• Technical guidance document on stakeholder engagement (upcoming)
• Technical Review Framework: English, French, Spanish
• UN Biodiversity Lab Portal
• Best practices from 5NR (upcoming)
• Gender and NBSAP (e-learning) (upcoming)

Inception Workshop

• Inception Workshops recordings:
  • French-speaking Arab and African states and Haiti
  • Asia
  • English-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Spanish-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Central Asia, Engish-speaking Arab and African states
• Inception Workshops Presentations:
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
• Inception Workshop final report

Main Resources

• Sixth National Report Information Portal
• CBD Searchable List of National Reports and NBSAPs
• COP Decision XIII/27: National reporting
• COP Decision XIII/28: Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• The Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CHM)
• User Manual for the online reporting tool on the CBD Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
• Technical Guidance document on indicators: English, French, Spanish
• Data Capture Tool: English, French, Spanish
• Technical guidance document on stakeholder engagement (upcoming)
• Technical Review Framework: English, French, Spanish
• UN Biodiversity Lab Portal
• Best practices from 5NR (upcoming)
• Gender and NBSAP (e-learning) (upcoming)

Inception Workshop

• Inception Workshops recordings:
  • French-speaking Arab and African states and Haiti
  • Asia
  • English-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Spanish-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Central Asia, Engish-speaking Arab and African states
• Inception Workshops Presentations:
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
• Inception Workshop final report

Main Resources

• Sixth National Report Information Portal
• CBD Searchable List of National Reports and NBSAPs
• COP Decision XIII/27: National reporting
• COP Decision XIII/28: Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• The Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CHM)
• User Manual for the online reporting tool on the CBD Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
• Technical Guidance document on indicators: English, French, Spanish
• Data Capture Tool: English, French, Spanish
• Technical guidance document on stakeholder engagement (upcoming)
• Technical Review Framework: English, French, Spanish
• UN Biodiversity Lab Portal
• Best practices from 5NR (upcoming)
• Gender and NBSAP (e-learning) (upcoming)

Inception Workshop

• Inception Workshops recordings:
  • French-speaking Arab and African states and Haiti
  • Asia
  • English-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Spanish-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Central Asia, Engish-speaking Arab and African states
• Inception Workshops Presentations:
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
• Inception Workshop final report

Main Resources

• Sixth National Report Information Portal
• CBD Searchable List of National Reports and NBSAPs
• COP Decision XIII/27: National reporting
• COP Decision XIII/28: Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• The Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CHM)
• User Manual for the online reporting tool on the CBD Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
• Technical Guidance document on indicators: English, French, Spanish
• Data Capture Tool: English, French, Spanish
• Technical guidance document on stakeholder engagement (upcoming)
• Technical Review Framework: English, French, Spanish
• UN Biodiversity Lab Portal
• Best practices from 5NR (upcoming)
• Gender and NBSAP (e-learning) (upcoming)

Inception Workshop

• Inception Workshops recordings:
  • French-speaking Arab and African states and Haiti
  • Asia
  • English-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Spanish-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Central Asia, Engish-speaking Arab and African states
• Inception Workshops Presentations:
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
• Inception Workshop final report

Main Resources

• Sixth National Report Information Portal
• CBD Searchable List of National Reports and NBSAPs
• COP Decision XIII/27: National reporting
• COP Decision XIII/28: Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• The Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CHM)
• User Manual for the online reporting tool on the CBD Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
• Technical Guidance document on indicators: English, French, Spanish
• Data Capture Tool: English, French, Spanish
• Technical guidance document on stakeholder engagement (upcoming)
• Technical Review Framework: English, French, Spanish
• UN Biodiversity Lab Portal
• Best practices from 5NR (upcoming)
• Gender and NBSAP (e-learning) (upcoming)

Inception Workshop

• Inception Workshops recordings:
  • French-speaking Arab and African states and Haiti
  • Asia
  • English-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Spanish-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Central Asia, Engish-speaking Arab and African states
• Inception Workshops Presentations:
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
• Inception Workshop final report

Main Resources

• Sixth National Report Information Portal
• CBD Searchable List of National Reports and NBSAPs
• COP Decision XIII/27: National reporting
• COP Decision XIII/28: Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• The Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CHM)
• User Manual for the online reporting tool on the CBD Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
• Technical Guidance document on indicators: English, French, Spanish
• Data Capture Tool: English, French, Spanish
• Technical guidance document on stakeholder engagement (upcoming)
• Technical Review Framework: English, French, Spanish
• UN Biodiversity Lab Portal
• Best practices from 5NR (upcoming)
• Gender and NBSAP (e-learning) (upcoming)

Inception Workshop

• Inception Workshops recordings:
  • French-speaking Arab and African states and Haiti
  • Asia
  • English-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Spanish-speaking Latin American and the Carribean
  • Central Asia, Engish-speaking Arab and African states
• Inception Workshops Presentations:
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
• Inception Workshop final report

Welcome to the South Asia Regional Implementation Support Network for Achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, being launched on 22 November 2018.

This Network has been created in response to Decision XIII/2 paragraph 9 (d) of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which invites Parties, other governments, relevant partners, regional agencies, bilateral and multilateral funding agencies, in conjunction with the Secretariat to, inter alia, facilitate support networks at the regional and sub-regional level, for achieving Target 11 and its various elements by 2020.

This Network will support nine countries in the South Asia region: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It will facilitate the decentralised implementation of focused actions, identified in NBSAPs and other commitments, for achieving Target 11 by 2020, in the South Asia region.

This network aims to:

• Support the development, implementation and monitoring of the South Asia regional implementation action plan for achieving Target 11 by 2020;
• Foster dialogue and experience sharing between peers; and
• Share best practices, technical guidance, tools, lessons learned on protected areas and OECMs.

This Network is open to all agencies engaged in the work of conservation in the South Asia region. 

Main Resources:

Coming soon

Through two NASA-funded projects, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Member States, and several world-class research institutions are working in partnership to provide world-class data on forests, climate change, and conservation.

The primary objective of these projects is to enable sustained use of satellite data to track progress, support planning efforts, and inform policy and management decisions that contribute toward implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) in several pilot countries. As the world works to deliver on the CBD and the 2030 Agenda, spatial data will be an imperative component of national planning and implementation. These projects provide one of our best opportunities to develop spatial data layers and ensure countries utilize them.

Forest Integrity Project Forest Integrity Project

The NASA Forest Integrity Project (FIP) provides accessible, high quality spatial data to national policymakers to support their commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project’s goal is to provide pilot countries with spatial data on forest cover, human pressure, forest integrity (a metric to identify high value forest areas), and forest connectivity that can guide decision making through the UN Biodiversity Lab decision support system. 

The project initially focused on eight pilot countries: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, DRC, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru, and Viet Nam. In the final year of the project, we are delighted to scale-up our activities to provide data access to 21 additional countries with humid tropical forests: Angola, Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guyana, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Uganda. Collaborating research and capacity building institutions include: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), NASA, Montana State University, University of Northern Arizona, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Maryland, University of Queensland, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

Click the button above to access the project page, which offers the science team and representatives from project countries a secure forum to share information regarding the project. To enable a new user from your country to access this page, please contact Marion Marigo (marion.marigo@undp.org).

Life on Land Life on Land

The NASA Life on Land Project provides forecasting models to evaluate scenarios for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to meet their commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under alternative climate and policy scenarios. With key ties to the commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), this project works to enable countries to conserve, restore, and sustainably use their forests to support nature-based solutions for climate change and sustainable development. The project focuses on: (1) projecting change to 2040, 2070, and 2100 in ecosystem structure and composition, vertebrate habitats, and water risk under scenarios of climate and land use change; (2) analyzing trends to inform reporting and policymaking for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15; and (3) developing an SDG decision support system for sustained use by in-country collaborators, building on the work already completed through UN Biodiversity Lab.

The project focuses on three pilot countries: Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Collaborating research and capacity building institutions include: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), NASA, Montana State University, University of Northern Arizona, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Queensland, and Wildlife Conservation Society. 

Click the button above to access the project page, which offers the science team and representatives from project countries a secure forum to share information regarding the project. To enable a new user from your country to access this page, please contact Marion Marigo (marion.marigo@undp.org).

Resources:

• NASA Projects Overview Deck: English
• NASA Forest Integrity Project Brochure:  English | French | Spanish

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Two - Biodiversity Mainstreaming – focuses on the need to integrate the values and benefits of biodiversity into societal decision-making. It states: By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.

Although biodiversity and ecosystem services provide enormous societal values, these values and benefits are not widely reflected or accounted for in societal decision making, including in productive sectors, such as agriculture and energy, and in development sectors, such as land-use planning and poverty reduction. As a result, these and other sectors often have major negative impacts on biodiversity, underpinning the very foundation that sustains them. Furthermore, trends in biodiversity loss are often invisible in national accounts. To achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target Two, countries need to assess the values of biodiversity to a variety of sectors, and integrate biodiversity values fully into their national planning processes. Countries should consider developing natural capital accounting systems, and those that recognize social and cultural values.

Indicators of biodiversity mainstreaming may include status and trends in:

• Biodiversity value assessments for key development and economic sectors
• Incorporating natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services into national accounting systems
• Incorporating biodiversity into environmental impact assessments and strategic environmental assessments

Main Resources

1. Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 Quick Guide
2. IIED and UNEP-WCMC NBSAPs 2.0 Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Development Project
3. IIED Environmental Mainstreaming
4. The Economics of Ecosystems of Biodiversity
5. Poverty Environment Initiative
6. World Bank WAVES Program CBD B-3. Mainstreaming biodiversity into sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies, plans and programmes (2011)
7. CBD Technical Series 28
8. Natural Capital Project
9. The Green Economy
10. UN System for Economic and Environmental Accounting
11. CBD Cross-cutting Theme: Biodiversity for Development
12. UNDP Mainstreaming Environment into Development
13. UNEP-WCMC and IEEP: Incorporating Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Values into NBSAPs: Guidance to Support NBSAP Practitioners
14. UNEP-WCMC and IEEP: Incorporating Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Values into NBSAPs: Roadmap to Support NBSAP Practitioners

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Four - Sustainable Production and Consumption– focuses on the sustainable production and consumption of natural resources. It states: By 2020, at the latest, governments, businesses and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve, or have implemented, plans for sustainable production and consumption, and have kept the impacts of natural resources use well within safe ecological limits. 

The unsustainable use of natural resources is one of the main drivers of the loss of biodiversity and the impairment of ecosystems. Current levels of natural resource production and consumption are not sustainable in many countries. Issues include the depletion of forest stocks, the use of water beyond carrying capacity, the degradation of soil fertility, and the collapse of species resulting from overharvesting. To achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target Four, and manage natural resources within safe ecological limits, countries will need to assess the type and magnitude of pressures facing biodiversity and ecosystems within their own boundaries; understand how consumption patterns affect biodiversity and ecosystems within and beyond their national boundaries; and develop plans for sustainable production and consumption that fall within safe ecological limits. 

Target 4 indicators may include status and trends in: 

• National ecological footprints and key ecological limits
• Depletion rates of biodiversity and key stocks of natural resources

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target 4 Quick Guide
• Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity
• CBD Technical Series 52
• Global Footprint Network
• Stockholm Resilience Center - Planetary Boundaries
• Stockholm Environment Institute
• Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on Sustainable Use of Biodiversity
• UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Six – Sustainable Fisheries – focuses on the sustainable management of the world’s fisheries, including of key species and habitats. It states: By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe ecological limits. 

Overexploitation is a severe pressure on marine and riverine ecosystems globally, and has led to dramatic declines in fish stocks. This theme applies to all fish, invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants that are affected, either directly or indirectly, through harvesting activities. To achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target Six, sustainable fisheries management, countries will need to assess the state and trends of fisheries and fish habitats. They will need to take a variety of steps, including protecting areas critical for life stages; ensuring appropriate policies and catch levels; developing and implementing recovery plans for depleted species; and enforcing all relevant laws, including illegal fishing practices. 

Target 6 indicators may include status and trends in: 

• Area, frequency and/or intensity of fishing practices that are destructive and/or outside safe biological limits
• Fishing catch per unit effort for key species
• Populations of key target species including by-catch species
• Protection of ecologically and biologically significant areas for fisheries

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target 6 Quick Guide
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on the Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity
• CBD Technical Series 14
• Marine Spatial Planning: Practical Approaches to Ocean and Coastal Decision-Making
• Marine Stewardship Council
• Resilience Alliance Marine Program
• Conservation InternationalG��s Sustainable Fisheries Program
• IUCN Global Ocean Biodiversity Institute

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Eight – Pollution – focuses on the reduction of pollution. It states: By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity. 

Pollution, especially in the form of excess nitrogen and phosphorus, is a major cause of loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystem functioning, especially in wetland, coastal and dryland areas. Excessive nutrients from sewage and agricultural runoff can also cause dead zones, with severe losses of biodiversity and impairment of ecosystem services. Reducing pollution to non-harmful levels is critical to ensuring the long-term maintenance of key ecosystem services. To achieve Target Eight, countries will need to assess the extent, severity and distribution of point and non-point sources of pollution and gauge the impact of this pollution on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. They will also need to develop appropriate responses, such as strengthening national water quality standards, reducing subsidies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, increasing riparian and coastal buffer zones, and developing wastewater treatment facilities. 

Target 8 indicators may include status and trends in:

• Pollution emissions, deposition rate, and ozone levels
• Extents of hypoxic zones and algal blooms
• Levels of contaminants in wildlife
• Water quality in aquatic ecosystems

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target 8 Quick Guide
• International Nitrogen Initiative
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on Agricultural Biodiversity
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on Inland Waters
• CBD Technical Series 45
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Ten – Vulnerable ecosystems – focuses on reducing pressures on ecosystems that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, in order to improve resilience and enable adaptation of these systems. It states: By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification, are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning. 

Reducing anthropogenic pressures on vulnerable ecosystems that are disproportionately affected by climate change will strengthen the resilience of these ecosystems, and provide more opportunities for them to adapt to climate-related impacts. Ecosystems vulnerable to climate change impacts include coral reefs, mangroves, wetlands, Mediterranean forests, temperate grasslands, montane grasslands and forests, tropical forests, boreal forests, islands, peatlands and polar ecosystems, among others. To reduce pressures on vulnerable ecosystems, countries will need to identify which ecosystems are most vulnerable to climate change impacts and to anthropogenic pressures and identify and reduce the multiple threats that undermine ecological integrity and functioning, including pollution, fragmentation, invasive species and unsustainable harvesting. They will also need to develop and implement plans for strengthening ecosystem-wide resilience, including increasing protection of healthy, well-disbursed examples of the ecosystem and improving connectivity. 

Target 10 indicators may include status and trends in: 

• The distribution and condition of vulnerable ecosystems
• The levels of threat and protection of those ecosystems

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 Quick Guide
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity
• Resilience Alliance Marine Program
• World Ocean Council
• Global Partnership for Oceans
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on Climate Change and Biodiversity
• Identifying Vulnerable Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Reef Resilience
• CBD Technical Series No. 42
• CBD Technical Series No. 43
• CBD Technical Series No. 46
• CBD Technical Series No. 25

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Twelve – Species and Extinctions – focuses on preventing the extinction of species. It states: By 2020, the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained. 

Human pressure is causing the current rate of species extinction to be more than 100 times the known background extinction rate. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (hyperlink: http://www.iucnredlist.org) contains a list of more than 19,000 species that are threatened globally, including in the categories of vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. Of these, more than 3,900 species are critically endangered. Countries may also have their own lists of additional threatened species. Preventing extinctions will require concerted efforts to reduce threats to threatened species, and to ensure adequate habitat protection. For wide-ranging species, preventing extinctions may also require coordination across boundaries with other countries and regions. In order to achieve Aichi Target 12, countries will need to identify species at risk of extinction; assess the status and distribution of these species; and, identify key threats and levels of protection for prioritized species. They will also need to undertake key actions, including developing species recovery plans, reducing threats to key species, and improving the protection status of the habitats of key species. 

Target 12 indicators may include status and trends in:

• Abundance, distribution and extinction risk of species threatened with extinction
• Protection of species threatened with extinction

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target 12 Quick Guide
• IUCN Species Survival Commission
• Friends of Target 12
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
• WWF Species Program
• Conservation International Species Program
• Alliance for Zero Extinction
• BirdLife International
• Convention on the Migratory Species of Wild Animals
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
• Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Fourteen – Ecosystem Services – focuses on restoring and safeguarding critical ecosystem services. It states: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable. 

Ecosystems provide a wide range of goods and services that are essential to humans. These include food, fiber, medicines, fresh water, crop pollination, pollution control, sustainable livelihoods and natural disaster prevention, among many others. Ecosystem services are particularly important for vulnerable sectors of society, who depend disproportionately on them for their wellbeing. However, many ecosystems around the world have become degraded, and are in urgent need of threat mitigation, protection and/or restoration. In order to achieve Target 14, countries will need to identify the distribution and condition of critical ecosystems and assess the current levels of threat and protection of these ecosystems. They will also need to develop and implement key actions, including reducing key threats, increasing protection, changing management practices, and restoring degraded ecosystems. 

Target 14 indicators may include status and trends in:

• Conditions of key ecosystems
• Protection status of key ecosystems
• Flow sof ecosystems services from key ecosystems

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target Fourteen Quick Guide
• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
• Incorporating Biodiversity And Ecosystem Service Values Into NBSAPs
• CBD Technical Series No. 58: Developing ecosystem service indicators
• Society for Ecological Restoration
• Ecosystem Services Partnership
• CBD Cross-Cutting Theme on Protected Areas
• Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Sixteen – Access and Benefits Sharing focuses on the Nagoya Protocol and equitable sharing of the benefits of biodiversity. It states: By 2015, the “Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization” (the Nagoya Protocol) – http://www.cbd.int/abs/ - is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation.

The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits, arising out of the utilization of genetic resources of biodiversity, is one of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (http://www.cbd.int). The Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Nagoya Protocol at its tenth meeting in Nagoya, Japan. The Nagoya Protocol provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of fair and equitable benefits sharing of genetic resources. In order to achieve this target, countries will need to assess the opportunities and constraints involved in ratifying the Nagoya Protocol; understand the legislative, administrative and policy measures that will need to be in place to meet the obligations of the Nagoya Protocol, and implement these measures.

Target 16 indicators may include:

• The number of Parties to the CBD that have ratified the Nagoya Protocol.
• The degree to which countries have taken steps to implement the Nagoya Protocol, including efforts to: 
• Define mutually agreed terms
• Identify benefits sharing agreements
• Establish a prior informed consent process for sharing traditional knowledge
• Assess the current status of key species involved in any ABS agreements

The Global ABS Community is a global platform developed under the UNDP-GEF Global ABS Project that provides support to the national implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). The community's knowledge base and discussions are divided in five main thematic areas, a forum area, a knowledge repository area (with access to all the materials and recordings of the webinars and different events organized under the project), and an e-learning section. Access it here. 

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target 16 Quick Guide
• Nagoya Protocol website
• Access and Benefit Sharing Information Kit
• Bonn Guidelines on Access to Genetic Resources
• United Nations Treaty Handbook
• List of Nagoya Protocol signatories and ratifications
• Global ABS Community

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Eighteen – Traditional Knowledge – focuses on respecting the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities. It states: By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels. 

Traditional knowledge includes the body of knowledge built by indigenous and local communities over generations. Traditional knowledge can contribute to both the conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity. Traditional knowledge is especially important in ensuring the diversity of biodiversity and natural resource management practices required to enable adaptation to climate change impacts. In order to achieve Target 18, countries will need to assess how well traditional knowledge has been integrated and reflected in different phases of the implementation of the Convention; assess the degree of participation of indigenous and local communities; and identify mechanisms for improving the integration of indigenous and local communities. 

Target 18 indicators may include trends in: 

• The diversity of participation in NBSAP development and implementation
• The degree to which traditional knowledge and practices are respected through full integration and participation
• The development of traditional knowledge safeguards in NBSAPs

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target Eighteen Quick Guide
• Akw+�: Kon Voluntary Guidelines
• The Tkarihwai+�:ri Code of Ethical Conduct
• CBD Article 8(j) - Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices
• Traditional Knowledge Information Portal
• Plan of Action for the Retention of Traditional Knowledge, Innovation and Practices

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Aichi Biodiversity Target Twenty – Resource Mobilization – focuses on mobilizing the financial resources required to implement a country’s National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP). It states: By 2020, at the latest, the mobilization of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all sources, and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilization, should increase substantially from the current levels. This target will be subject to changes that are contingent with the resource needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties. 

The cost of implementing the CBD Strategic Plan and achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets is enormous. Yet bilateral and multilateral financial assistance accounts for just a tiny portion of total biodiversity expenditures. In order to be able to implement NBSAPs around the world, and to achieve the CBD Strategic Plan, there must be a transformation in the way that resources are mobilized for biodiversity. This includes a transformation in subsidies that harm biodiversity, and a transformation in implementing innovative finance mechanisms. In order to achieve Target 20, countries will need to understand the current national biodiversity expenditures, including expenditures that harm biodiversity and identify the full cost of implementing each of the NBSAP strategies and actions. They will also need to develop a detailed resource mobilization plan that identifies a wide range of finance actors, mechanisms and opportunities for mobilizing biodiversity resources. 

Indicators of resource mobilization may include trends in: 

• Biodiversity expenditure reviews
• Developing a comprehensive, prioritized costing for key strategies and actions within the NBSAP
• The volume and sustainability of finance mobilized for biodiversity

Main Resources

• Aichi Biodiversity Target Quick Guide
• Financial Resources and Mechanisms
• CBD Strategy for Resource Mobilization
• The Biodiversity Finance Workbook

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Spatial planning focuses on the use of spatial data for biodiversity and ecosystems mapping and planning. Spatial data includes a wide range of data that are stored, analysed and presented in spatial format, typically using some kind of geographic information system (GIS). 

Decision X/2 of the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 10) urged parties to use revised NBSAPs as effective instruments for the integration of biodiversity targets into spatial planning processes by Government and the private sector at all levels. Policy makers depend upon spatially-explicit information in order to effectively design, implement and manage policies and plans for a wide range of environmental issues, including land management, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Spatial data and mapping can be utilised within an NBSAP to illustrate the current status of biodiversity in a region, identify national priorities and visually communicate key biodiversity issues. These data can provide baselines to track progress towards national and international targets, analyse trade-offs, measure policy impacts and consider future scenarios. 

The types of spatial planning included in an NBSAP can range from simple datasets to more complex real time mapping tools and systematic conservation planning approaches. Maps of biogeographic regions, ecosystem services, key biodiversity areas, land cover, land use and land use change, protected areas and species distributions are particularly useful in demonstrating national priorities within the NBSAP. The recommended resources and datasets will assist an NBSAP team to identify the appropriate tools and datasets that target country requirements. In learning how to transform common barriers to incorporating spatial data and mapping into NBSAPS, such as limited access to reliable data, NBSAP teams will also be better prepared to integrate it into revised NBSAPs.

Main Resources

• UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• IBAT for Research and Conservation Planning
• Digital Observatory for Protected Areas
• GIS e-learning tutorial
• Incorporating and Utilizing Spatial Data and Mapping in NBSAPs: Guidance to Support NBSAP Practitioners
• Incorporating And Utilizing Spatial Data And Mapping For NBSAPs - Annex: Resource Information Sheets
• UN Biodiversity Lab

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The Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) is a two-way information exchange platform which can contribute to national planning, implementation and reporting in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It was established in accordance with Article 18.3 of the Convention to promote scientific and technical cooperation, and its evolution has been guided by COP decisions, the most recent being X/15 and XI/2 B and XII/2 B. The CHM is a global network with the CBD website as a central hub, national Clearing-House Mechanisms at country level, and partner institutions at thematic or regional levels.

In this context, a national CHM should complement the global information services of the the central CHM by providing more specific information services to facilitate the implementation of the NBSAP at country level. Therefore, an NBSAP should include a strategic vision for the national CHM and, where appropriate, a realistic roadmap for its operationalization and further development based on anticipated resources. This way, the information services provided by the national CHM will effectively respond to national needs identified by the NBSAP.

Even with limited resources, a national CHM can be effective by providing:

1. Information in the national language(s).
2. A brief online version of the latest NBSAP and national report for easy reference (e.g. executive summary).
3. News on major national events related to biodiversity.
4. Links to information on national biodiversity, especially if these links are in the NBSAP or national report.
5. A directory of institutions and expertise related to NBSAP implementation.
6. A space where national stakeholders can express their views and announce their biodiversity related events and activities.
7. Additional content or links that respond to other identified national information needs, whenever possible.

Main Resources

• CHM Work Programme G�� pages 7 G�� 11 (UNEP/CBD/COP/11/31)
• CBD guidance on CHM
• CBD developing a national CHM
• Regional workshop for African countries on the Clearing-House
• Regional Workshop for the Caribbean Countries on the Clearing-House Mechanism

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The negotiation and adoption, in 1992, of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) coincided with the emergence and rapid growth of modern biotechnology, which raised some concerns about its safe use. This led to the incorporation of references in the CBD. These include both the benefits of 
biotechnology, as well as the need to take measures to safeguard biodiversity and human health from the potential negative effects of living modified organisms (LMOs), as a result from modern biotechnology.

The Convention provides that each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:

• Establish or maintain means to regulate, manage or control the risks associated with the use and release of LMOs (Article 8(g)).
• Provide and/or facilitate access for and transfer to other Parties of technologies, including biotechnology, that are relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and do not cause significant damage to the environment (Article 16.1).
• Provide any available information about the use and safety regulations required in handling LMOs, as well as any available information on the potential adverse impacts to the country into which they are to be introduced (Article 19.4).

These Convention provisions focused mostly on the need of Parties to take measures at the national level. In response to Article 19.3 of the Convention, the Parties negotiated and adopted the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in January 2000.

The Cartagena Protocol aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of LMOs resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. The Protocol focuses on regulating LMO’s that are subject to transboundary movement between Parties. Subsequent meetings of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP) have adopted a set of decisions on how to implement the Protocol provisions, including the handling, transport, packaging and identification of LMOs, and risk assessment and risk management.

In 2010, COP-MOP 5 adopted a supplementary agreement, known as the Nagoya–Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol, which establishes rules and procedures for redress, including response measures in the event of damage to biodiversity resulting from LMOs. In 2010, it also adopted the Strategic Plan for the Cartagena Protocol (2011-2020). It invited Parties to review and align their national biodiversity action plans and programmes, including NBSAPs, with the plan (Decision BS-V/16). In 2014, the COP 12 encouraged countries to integrate biosafety and access and benefit sharing into NBSAPs and other relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, plans and programmes. It also called for a strengthening of national mechanisms to facilitate a coordinated approach to the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols (Decision XII/29, paragraphs 9-11). Biosafety measures may also directly contribute to achieving some of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for example targets 1, 7, 9, 13, 14, 17 and 19.

Main Resources

• Fact sheets on Cartagena Protocol issues
• Video on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
• Biosafety Clearing-House
• Online Forum on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
• Presentation on integrating national biosafety measures into NBSAPs
• The Nagoya - Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena: Protocol
• CBD Library of other Cartagena Protocol publications

Country progress map: Implementing the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation regarding LMOs

Priority Area 1 of the Programme of Work on Public Awareness, Education and Participation regarding LMOs recommends that the integration and promotion of the programme of work elements into awareness and education components in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and Priority Area 5 of the Programme of Work recommends the integration of work on Article 23 of the Cartagena Protocol on public awareness, education and participation regarding LMOs with CEPA, including materials in particular for youth education.

The programme of work is available at https://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_art23_pow.shtml. Below is a progress map of the current implementation of the programme of work.