The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held from 18-29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan, gathering over 7,000 delegates. Following intense, late-night sessions marked by numerous parallel deliberations, and up-to-the minute negotiations on ABS, the strategic plan and resource mobilization strategy, an impressive “package” was adopted, making COP 10 one of the most successful meetings in the history of the Convention: the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization; the CBD Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2020; and a decision on activities and indicators for the implementation of the Resource Mobilization Strategy. Last but not least, the meeting: adopted a decision amounting to a de facto moratorium on geo-engineering; took a stance on the issue of synthetic biology; affirmed the role of CBD in REDD+; adopted the Tkarihwaié:ri code of ethical conduct; and established clear steps to increase cooperation among the Rio Conventions leading up to the Rio+20 Summit.

President Matsumoto gaveled COP 10 to a close at 2:59 am on Saturday, 30 October 2010.

Above photo: COP President Ryu Matsumoto gaveling to adopt the historic Nagoya Protocol on Accessto Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization.