Gisela
Alonso Dominguez, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment
(Cuba)
Erik
Bjoørnebye, Ambassador (Norway)
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CCD
COP-6 HIGHLIGHTS: WEDNESDAY 27 AUGUST, 2003
Delegates
met in morning and afternoon sessions of the CRIC and the
CST and in afternoon sessions of the COP and COW. The CST
deliberated on traditional knowledge, benchmarks and indicators,
early warning systems, the Land Degradation Assessment in
Drylands (LADA) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA),
and on the priority issue of the CST’s programme of
work.
The CRIC
considered the Global Mechanism (GM) and the review of information
on the financing of the CCD’s implementation by multilateral
agencies and institutions. The COW considered the outcomes
of the WSSD and rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure. The COP
elected the Bureau members from the Western European and Others
Group in a brief meeting.
CRIC
PLENARY
GLOBAL MECHANISM: GM Managing Director Per Rydén spoke
on the review of the report on activities of the GM, highlighting
two evaluations of the GM, and the finalization of its business
plan. He outlined several recommendations from the evaluations
and lessons learned, underscoring mainstreaming and partnership
building as the two pillars of its operational strategy. He
urged enhanced collaboration with the Facilitation Committee
and monitoring resource flows to the CCD. Pierre Marc Johnson,
head of the Secretariat's independent evaluation team, underscored
challenges faced by the GM on both the supply and demand sides.
Numerous Parties congratulated the GM for its contribution
to implementing the CCD. NORWAY noted that combating desertification
has to be a national priority if donors are to provide financial
support, and, with CANADA, said the business plan reflected
the recommendations from the evaluations. KENYA stressed that
the GM should work closely with other agencies on the demand
side. CUBA highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge
and suggested closer coordination between the GM and the CCD
Secretariat.
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Mohamed
Mahmoud Ould El Ghaouth (Mauritania) Chairman of the CRIC
Charles
Basset (Canada) COP-5 president
Rachel
A. Arungah, SS. Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and
Wildlife (Kenya)
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