Margaret
Sangarwe (Zimbabwe)
Ir.
I Nyoman Yuliarsana (Indonesia) |
CCD
COP-6 HIGHLIGHTS: THURSDAY 28 AUGUST, 2003
Delegates
met in morning and afternoon sessions of the COW and CST.
Informal consultations on the programme and budget and the
CRIC also took place. The COW considered: the Regional Coordination
Units (RCUs); promotion and strengthening of relationships
with other conventions and relevant international organizations,
institutions and agencies; and additional procedures or institutional
mechanisms to assist the COP in regularly reviewing CCD implementation.
The CST deliberated the creation of ad hoc panels, and its
future programme of work. The CRIC met in an informal consultation
to begin negotiation on the draft decisions.
COW
REGIONAL
COORDINATION UNITS: TUNISIA, CHILE, with several others, welcomed
proposals on the RCUs. The EU supported regional coordination,
but emphasized the need to avoid duplication. CHINA, with
SYRIA, PAKISTAN and other delegations, argued for strengthening
the three existing RCUs. MEXICO, UGANDA, the US, CANADA, and
the ASIAN GROUP stressed the need to clearly define the terms
of reference of the RCUs. NIGER suggested establishing RCUs
in all regions, and the UKRAINE spoke on the possible functions
of a coordination unit in Central and Eastern Europe. Several
delegations requested more time to study the issue of RCUs.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER RELEVANT CONVENTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS: The EU reminded Parties of the different mandates
of the three Rio conventions and of the need to avoid duplication
of work. He suggested a focus on forests and forest ecosystems
as a common topic. ZAMBIA proposed involving the FAO, and
the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO suggested establishing an
ad hoc group to define projects that would comply
with synergy requirements. The CBD Secretariat explained the
Convention's current activities pertaining to dry and sub-humid
lands.
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Maria
Esther Bondanza (Argentina)
Bisaz
Andri (Switzerland)
Askarn
Omar (Morocco)
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Above
photos: (left to right) Inoke Ratukalou (Fiji); Andrei Pronin (Russian
Federation); B. Hassan (Nigeria); COW Chair Ositadinma
Anaedu (Nigeria)
Above
photos: Mitzi Gurgel Valente de Costa of Brazil (left); CST
Chair
Valentini accompanied
by members of the Secretariat.
Pavol
Bielek (Slovakia)
Helmut
Woehl (Germany)
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CST
CREATION OF AD HOC PANELS OF EXPERTS: A representative of
the NGO community welcomed the working group's suggestion
to include experts representing NGOs, local communities, farmers,
and women as this would facilitate the implementation of local-level
projects. Chair Valentini requested a small group to assist
in drafting a decision on this issue. FRANCE,
CANADA, GERMANY, ITALY and NORWAY emphasized the importance
of setting priorities in the GoE's work.
OTHER
MATTERS: Chair Valentini said the contact group on traditional
knowledge had decided that the Secretariat would invite Parties
to express their views on this issue, which will be discussed
at COP-7. An NGO representative emphasized the need for updating
the list of experts, including local experts that would enable
an analysis of which traditional knowledge should be updated
and which projects should be implemented.
*
Click
here for a full text report on today's
events
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Thomas
Schaaf (UNESCO)
Ana
María Hernández (Colombia)
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Above
photos: Canada's Brian Abrahamson (2nd from left); and delegates from
South Africa (right)
make interventions during the CST session
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Above
photos: Delegate from Israel (left) and representatives of NGOs (right)
participate in the CST session
Above
photos (left-right): UNCCD Side Event panel members Hermann Grell
(CILSS/GTZ advisor), Khadija Razavi (RIOD/CENESTA NGO), Maryam
Niamir-Fuller (UNDP-GEF), Philip Dobie (UNDP/DDC), Frank Pinto (UNDP),
Walter
Lusigi (GEF SECRETARIAT), Tahirou Diao (Author
of a Regional Annex), Juan Luis Merega (Argentine
NGO)
Above
photos: Participants in today's UNCCD side event, with UNDP-DDC's
Dianna Kopanslay (far left)
Above
photos: (left-right) ENB's Richard Sherman and Dagmar Lohan; Anna
Tengberg (UNEP), Ana Saez (GM), Alejandro Kilpatrick (GM) and Daya
Bragante (UNEP); Abdou Dodo Mahamane (Niger)
Links
to further information:
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