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Moderators

Ms. Malta Qwathekana
(South Africa) and

Mr. Daniel Lewis
(Grenada)

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Online Forum on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - 2014

This online discussion took place from 26 May to 13 June 2014. The objective of the discussion was to provide a platform for Parties, other Governments and other stakeholders to exchange information, views, experiences and lessons learned regarding the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol with a particular focus on the integration of biosafety into national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and the mobilisation of human, financial and technical resources for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol.

The outcomes of the discussion provided input to the “Special Session on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety” held during the seventh meeting of Parties to the Protocol in September 2014 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea.

Topics

  • Topic 1: National experiences and lessons learned in integrating biosafety into NBSAPs and national development plans;
  • Topic2: Strategies and approaches for integrating biosafety into NBSAPs and development planning, financing and implementation processes;
  • Topic3: Measures to strengthen national capacities to integrate biosafety into NBSAPs and development plans and processes;
  • Topic 4: Strategies for mobilization of resources for implementation of the Protocol.

Introduction

The meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP) in its decision BS-V/16, paragraph 2, urged Parties and invited other Governments and relevant international organizations, to: a) review and align, as appropriate, their national action plans and programmes relevant to the implementation of the Protocol, including their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, with the Strategic Plan (NBSAPs); and b) allocate adequate human and financial resources necessary to expedite the implementation of the Strategic Plan. The analysis of the status of implementation of the Protocol (UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/6/17/Add.1), which was considered at COP-MOP 6 in October 2012 noted that some of the main barriers that have impeded the full implementation of the Protocol include a lack of human, financial and technical resources; low levels of awareness of biosafety issues among the public and policymakers; and the limited integration of biosafety considerations into relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, plans and programmes, including NBSAPs and national development plans, policies and programmes.

In this context, a special session on the implementation of the Protocol will be held at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP 7) on October 2014 to allow for the exchange of views, experiences and lessons learned regarding the integration of biosafety into relevant national policies, plans and programmes, including the NBSAPs and to mobilize additional resources to advance the implementation of the Protocol at the national level in line with the Strategic Plan for the Protocol (2011-2020). This online discussion is intended to allow for the preliminary exchange of information, views and experiences. The synthesis report of the discussions will be made available as a background document to facilitate the discussions during the special session.

Online Forum on Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol Online Discussion

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Topic 1: National experiences and lessons learned in integrating biosafety into NBSAPs and national development plans

A number of countries, including Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Guyana, Mauritius, South Africa, Uganda and Turkey included biosafety in their first NBSAPs. In this regard, participants are invited to share their experiences in integrating biosafety into NBSAPs and national development policies, plans and programmes, including examples of good practices and lessons learned as well as obstacles and challenges encountered and how they have been addressed. Participants may also wish to share information on the extent to which biosafety issues have been or are being taken account in the ongoing review and revision of the NBSAPs.

Topic 2: Strategies and approaches for integrating biosafety into NBSAPs and development planning, financing and implementation processes

There are various tools (e.g. environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments, risk assessments, etc.) and approaches that counties have used or could use for integrating biosafety considerations into NBSAPs and national development policies, plans and programmes. Under this topic, participants are invited share information on the tools and the entry points they have used to integrate biosafety and their particular experience in using the various tools and mechanisms.

Topic 3: Measures to strengthen national capacities to integrate biosafety into NBSAPs and development plans and processes

Under this topic, participants are invited to identify the capacities (human resources, institutional and technical capacities) that would be required for effectively integrating biosafety into NBSAPs and national development policies, plans and programmes and exchange views and suggestions on possible options for developing such capacities. For example, participants may wish to share their views on whether development of a guidance document on integration of biosafety into NBSAPs and national development plans be useful.

Topic 4: Strategies for mobilization of resources for implementation of the Protocol

The second assessment and review of the Protocol, which was considered at the sixth meeting of the Parties to the Protocol noted that full implementation of the core elements of the Protocol has been impeded by lack of human, financial and technical resources, among other barriers. It was noted that in most countries the level of funding for biosafety activities is much lower than other sectors. In this regard, the COP-MOP in decision BS-VI/5 invited Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to undertake various measures to mobilize new and additional resources to support national implementation of the Cartagena Protocol. Under this topic, participants are invited, among other things, to share information on their experience with regard to mobilization of resources for the implementation of the Protocol including existing opportunities and challenges/obstacles encountered as well as the good practices and lessons learned. Participants may also wish to share information on how support for biosafety has been incorporated into the national resource mobilization plans for meeting the three objectives of the Convention.

This Forum is closed.