Transcript Slide 1

Areas to discuss
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The Convention Text + Articles and definitions
Entry into force
Ratification by Jamaica
Articles of the Convention
Obligations re Articles
The COP
The SBSTTA
Functions of COP:decisions and reviews etc
SBSTTA: Guidance
Thematic Areas & Cross-cutting areas
Protocols
Jamaica’s implementation:NBSAP, CHM a priority project
Biosafety Protocol
The BCH
Elaine Fisher Ph D
What is Biological/biodiversity?
• Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is
the term given to the variety of life on
Earth and the natural patterns it forms.. It
forms the web of life of which we are an
integral part and upon which we so fully
depend.
• This diversity is often understood in
terms of the wide variety of plants,
animals and microorganisms.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
What is biodiversity?
• Biodiversity also includes genetic differences
within each species - for example between
varieties of crops and breeds of livestock.
• another aspect of biodiversity is the variety of
ecosystems such as those that occur in deserts,
forests, wetlands, mountains, lakes, rivers, and
agricultural landscapes. In each ecosystem,
living creatures, including humans, form a
community, interacting with one another and
with the air, water, and soil around them.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
The Convention on biological Diversity
The Convention on biological Diversity (CBD)
is a United Nations Convention and is one of
the so called three “Rio Conventions” which
opened for signature on June 5, 1992 at the
United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil. Jamaica was one of the many
countries which signed the Convention at that
time, indicating its commitment to the
objectives of the Convention.
The Convention on biological
Diversity
• The Convention entered into force in
December 1993 and Jamaica ratified it in
January 1995. Currently there are 190
Parties to the Convention.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Terminology
• Entry into force:
Conventions/protocols/treaties are not
binding in international law until they have
been ratified by an agreed number of
countries. In the case of the CBD,
ratification by 30 countries was needed for
the treaty to enter into force. The CBD
entered into force for the first 30 Parties on
29 December 1993. It enters into force for
other Parties 90 days after each ratifies.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Terminology Contd.
• Ratification: In this context - a process of
adopting an international treaty preceded by
signing. State or Federation/Union now becomes a
Party.
• What does it mean to be a Party? legally bound
to implement the treaty.
• Obligations of signatories – not legally bound but
commits itself to the spirit of the treaty, that is not to
do any thing that would be counter to the objectives
of the treaty.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Why a Convention?
• Heightened concern about environmental destruction
and loss of species and ecosystems in the seventies led
to concerted action.
• In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment (Stockholm) resolved to establish the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Governments signed a number of regional and
international agreements to tackle specific issues, such
as protecting wetlands and regulating the international
trade in endangered species. These agreements, along
with controls on toxic chemicals and pollution, have
helped to slow the tide of destruction but have not
reversed it.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Why a Convention?
• In 1987, the World Commission on Environment
and Development (the Brundtland Commission)
concluded that economic development must
become less ecologically destructive. In its
landmark report, Our Common Future, it said
that: "Humanity has the ability to make
development sustainable-to ensure that it meets
needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs". It also called for "a new era of
environmentally sound economic development".
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Why a Convention?
• In 1992, the largest-ever meeting of world
leaders took place at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An historic set of
agreements was signed at the "Earth Summit",
including two binding agreements, the
Convention on Climate Change, which targets
industrial and other emissions of greenhouse
gases such as carbon dioxide, and the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the first
global agreement on the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
The Convention
• Several Articles make up the text of the
Convention which, inter alia, defines the
objectives of the Convention and areas for
consideration by its Parties.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Article 1. Objectives of the CBD
• the conservation of biological
diversity,
• the sustainable use of its components
and
• the fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of the utilization of
genetic resources.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Operations of the Convention
• The Conference of the Parties:
Makes Decisions for implementation by
Parties
• Its Subsidiary Body SBSTTA:
Provides Scientific, technical and
technological advice to the COP, thereby
enabling it to make decisions related to
biodiversity for implementation by the
Parties.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Operations of the Convention
• Decisions include:
1. Actions for Parties to implement on the
various thematic and cross-cutting issues
as defined by the various articles of the
Convention
2. Administrative arrangements to facilitate
the efficient operation of the Convention
including communication among Parties.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
CBD Thematic Areas
POWs developed for implementation:
1. Marine and coastal biodiversity
2. Agricultural biodiversity
3. Forest biodiversity
4. Island biodiversity
5. The biodiversity of inland waters
6. Dry and sub-humid lands
7. Mountain biodiversity
Elaine Fisher Ph D
CBD Cross- cutting issues
1.Access to genetic resources
2.Traditional knowledge innovations and
practices (Article 8(j))
3.Indicators
4.Goal Taxonomy Initiative
5.Public education and awareness
6.Incentives
7.Alien species
8.2010 Biodiversity target
9.Biodiversity & Tourism
Elaine Fisher Ph D
CBD Cross- cutting issues
10.Climate Change and Biological
Diversity
11.Economics, trade & incentive measures
12.Ecosystem Approach
13.Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
14.Impact Assessments
15.Sustainable use of biodiversity
16.Technology transfer & cooperation
17.Protected areas
18.Liability & redress
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Administrative arrangements
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Primary National Focal Points to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD NFP)
• National Focal Points to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and
Technological Advice (SBSTTA NFP)
• National Focal Points to the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM NFP)
• National Focal Points to Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS NFP)
• Competent National Authorities on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS
CNA)
• National Focal Points to the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI NFP)
• National Focal Points to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
(GSPC NFP)
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
• Primary National Focal Point to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
(CPB NFP)
• National Focal Point to the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH NFP)
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Article 18. 3 Technical and Scientific
Cooperation
• The Conference of the Parties, at its first
meeting, shall determine how to establish a
clearing-house mechanism to promote and
facilitate technical and scientific cooperation.
• What is a Clearing-house?
• a central collection place where banks exchange
checks or drafts; participants maintain an
account against which credits or debits are
posted
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Elaine Fisher Ph D
National Strategy and Action Plan on
Biological Diversity in Jamaica
• The National Strategy and Action Plan on
Biological Diversity in Jamaica was
developed under the guidance of a multisectoral National Biodiversity Steering
Committee with funding from the Global
Environment Facility (GEF), it was
implemented by UNDP and executed by the
National Environment Planning Agency
(NEPA). It was completed in July 2003.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
NBSAP contd.
• Its contents include:
• an assessment of Jamaica’s Biodiversity;
• legal and policy framework for the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity;
• the major gaps and challenges affecting the
conservation and sustainable use of Jamaica’s
biodiversity; a national biodiversity strategy with
defined goals; and
• an Action Plan in which there is a list of 37 suggested
projects which relate to the goals outlined in the
Strategy.
• Priority issues have already been identified at the
national level as the projects concepts have been
ranked, 8 as highest priority and 10 as priority. The
CHM expansion is listed
as a priority project.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Structure of the CHM
Parties
Parties
Parties
Secretariat
Int.Organisations
Elaine Fisher Ph D
UN Entities
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the
Convention on Biological Biodiversity
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Terminology
• What is a Protocol?
• A Protocol as a supplementary treaty is
an instrument which contains
supplementary provisions to a previous
treaty.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
What is Biosafety?
• The concept of biosafety encompasses a
range of measures, policies and procedures
for minimizing potential risks that
biotechnology may pose to the environment
and human health. Establishing credible and
effective safeguards for GMOs is critical for
maximizing the benefits of biotechnology
while minimizing its risks.
• Biosafety is a term used to describe efforts to
reduce and eliminate the potential risks
resulting from biotechnology and its products.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
What are GMOs/LMOs?
• A Living Modified Organism (LMO) is defined in the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as any living
organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic
material obtained through the use of modern
biotechnology. The Protocol also defines the terms
'living organism' and 'modern biotechnology‘. In
everyday usage LMOs are usually considered to be the
same as GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), but
definitions and interpretations of the term GMO vary
widely.
Common LMOs include agricultural crops that have
been genetically modified for greater productivity or
for resistance to pests or diseases. Examples of
modified crops include tomatoes, cassava, corn, cotton
Elaine Fisher Ph D
and soybeans.
Background
• In 1995, Pursuant to Article 19, paragraph 3, of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the Parties to the
Convention begun negotiations on a legally binding
agreement that would address potential risks posed
by Geneticaly Modified Organisms.
• Art.19,para.3 states: The Parties shall consider the
need for and modalities of a protocol setting out
appropriate procedures, including, in particular,
advance informed agreement, in the field of the safe
transfer, handling and use of any living modified
organism resulting from biotechnology that may have
adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Background Cartagena Biosafety
Protocol Contd.
•These discussions culminated in January
2000 with the adoption of the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety in Montreal
•Protocol entered into force 11.09.02
•143 Parties to the Protocol
Scope of Protocol
• The Protocol applies to the transboundary
movement, transit, handling and use of all
living modified organisms (LMOs) that may
have adverse effects on the conservation
and sustainable use of biological diversity,
taking also into account risks to human
health.
• However, LMOs that are pharmaceuticals
for humans are excluded from the scope
of the Protocol if they are covered by
another international agreement or
arrangement.
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Jamaica’s position in
relation to the Protocol
• Jamaica signed the Protocol in
June 2001.
• Need for legislation prior to
ratification to facilitate
enforcement.
• Currently implementing
UNEP/GEF/GOJ project to develop
frameworks
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Establishment of the BCH: Article 20. Information
Sharing and the Biosafety Clearing-House
• A Biosafety Clearing-House is hereby established
as part of the clearing-house mechanism under
Article 18, paragraph 3, of the Convention, in order
to:
• (a) Facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical,
environmental and legal information on, and
experience with, living modified organisms.
• Information to be posted includes: any existing laws,
regulations and guidelines for implementation of the
Protocol, as well as information required by the
Parties for the advance informed agreement
procedure;
Elaine Fisher Ph D
Advance Informed Agreement
• The Protocol prescribes an `advance
informed agreement' (AIA) procedure that
must be followed, prior to the first
intentional transboundary movement of
LMOs for intentional introduction into the
environment of the Party of import.
• Information relating to the AIA should also
be posted on the BCH
Elaine Fisher Ph D