See more coverage of this event on the main IISD ENB website

We have launched a new website to better share our reports of global environmental negotiations.

As well as current coverage of new negotiations, you can find our original reports from this event by clicking here.

Linkages: a multimedia resource for environment and
development policy makers
UN DOALOS Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction
New York | 28 April-2 May 2008
United Nations
 
Daily Web
Coverage
Bulletins
HTM PDF
Curtain Raiser HTM PDF
Mon 28 Apr HTM PDF
Tue 29 Apr HTM PDF
Wed 30 Apr HTM PDF
Thu 1 May htm pdf
Fri 2 May &
Summary
HTM PDF
Click for additional translations...

Marine Biodiversity Working Group Convenes

The Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group of the General Assembly to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (the Working Group) opened on Monday 28 April, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.

In the morning, the Working Group addressed organizational matters and heard scientific presentations from panellists on deep sea biodiversity, the biogeography of deep sea benthos, the "Assessment of Assessments" for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment and the science policy nexus.

During the late morning and afternoon, delegates made general remarks on issues identified in General Assembly resolution 61/222 regarding the environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities on marine biological diversity, coordination and cooperation among states, the role of area-based management tools, genetic resources and the existence of governance regulatory gaps.


Monday, 28 April 2008
Opening Plenary


Ambassador Robert Hill (Australia) co-chaired the Working Group and encouraged participants to move beyond the work of the first meeting.

Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo (Mexico) co-chaired the Working Group and recalled the origins and evolution of the process.

Nicholas Michel, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, drew attention to the Secretary General's Report (A/62/66/Add.2) prepared to facilitate the Working Group's discussions.
Scientific Reports

Peter Auster, University of Connecticut at Avery Point.

Elva Escobar Briones, Ad Hoc Steering Group of the Assessment of Assessments.

Les Watling, University of Hawaii.
General Statements

Claude Heller (Mexico) for the Rio Group.

Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu (Tonga).

Gail P. Guy (Trinidad and Tobago).

Constance Arvis (United States).

Masaya Sagawa (Japan).

Anniken Krutnes (Norway).

Carolyn Schwalger (New Zealand).

Anna Cavnar (Palau).

Holger Martinsen (Argentina).

Harlan Cohen (IUCN).

Jorge Csirke (FAO).

Biliana Cicin-Sain (Global Forum).
Environmental Impacts of Anthropogenic Activities

Ecuador.

Dire Tladi (South Africa).

Stephanie Oberscheider (Australia).
Side Events

UN University-Institute for Advanced Studies and UNESCO co-hosted a lunchtime side event on "Marine Bioprospecting - status, tools and resources."

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Fiji hosted a lunchtime side event at which Ambassador Satya Nandan spoke on the "Relationship between UNCLOS and the two Agreements."

Related Links

UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
UN Ad hoc Informal Working Group on marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction
Draft Annotated Agenda

Related ENB Coverage

8th Informal Consultative Process, June 2007
7th Informal Consultative Process, June 2006
First meeting of the Working Group, February 2006
6th Informal Consultative Process, June 2005
5th Informal Consultative Process, June 2004
ENB Coverage of Meetings on Biodiversity and Wildlife
ENB Coverage of Meetings on Water, Oceans and Wetlands
OCEANS-L Oceans Policy Listserve

Linkages Update - Bi-weekly international environment and sustainable development news
MEA Bulletin - Newsletter on key MEAs and their secretariats
African Regional Coverage
Linkages Africa - Fortnightly newsletter reporting on sustainable development events in Africa

DigiMarc