Youth

Highlights for Wednesday, 11 September 2019 Group photo of CSO representatives with panelists from the open dialogue session In the morning, the Conference of the Parties (COP) held the second open dialogue session with civil society, focusing on intergenerational equity, land tenure, food security, green jobs, and migration. The session was organized around two rounds of discussions: intergenerational “testimonies for legacy” aimed at stimulating an exchange between older and younger generations on how to sustain the earth’s resources for future generations; and learning from civil society initiatives on the ground. Delegates watched a film about Yacouba Sawadogo’s contribution to restoring degraded land in the Sahel using traditional Za’i water efficient techniques. He described his motivation as “I don’t want to eat today and leave future generations with nothing to eat.” The dialogue closed with a performance by Senegalese musician Baaba Maal, who recalled the rich cultural traditions of the Sahel that pass on messages of peace and love, and the imperative to protect the land for future generations. In the afternoon, the contact group preparing draft decision texts by the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) concluded its work. Meanwhile, the Committee of the Whole (COW) contact group on other matters finalized draft decisions on collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector, and continued consideration of decisions on drought and land tenure into the evening. The COW contact group on budget also worked through the afternoon and evening on the programme and budget for the biennium 2020-2021. Events on the sidelines of the plenary sessions included, ‘Towards Common Goals: Achieving impact in land-based approaches for sustainable development,’ convened by the UN Environment Programme, and ‘100 Landscapes for 1 Billion People: Towards a Strategy for Scaling Locally-Driven Landscape Regeneration,’ hosted by the UN Development Programme. The Rio Conventions Pavilion featured the Drought Preparedness Day, presenting successes and challenges of current drought tools, methodologies and policies, and featuring the UNCCD Drought Initiative and other important partnerships and frameworks in this area.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB meeting coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from UNCCD COP 14. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from this session, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Testimonies for Legacy Jigmet Takpa, India; Carmen Margina, UNCCD Secretariat; Emmanuel Seck, Environment and Development Action (ENDA), Senegal; Marcos Montoiro, UNCCD Secretariat; and Yugratna Srivasta, UN Environment Programme Major Group for Children and Youth, India Participants during the opening dialogue Jigmet Takpa, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India Yugratna Srivasta, UNEP-MGCY, India Alvaro Alfaro, Coordinator for the 15th Conference of Youth (COY 15), Chile Bhawani Shanker Kusum, Society for Rural Development, India Emmanuel Seck, ENDA, Senegal, and Marcos Montoiro, UNCCD Secretariat Kwon Byong Hyon, Future Forest, Republic of Korea Moses Chabuka, Neno Active Youth in Development, Malawi Participants during the dialogue Lessons from the Ground Oindrila Basu, International Forestry Students' Association, India Sophiko Akhobadze, Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus, Georgia Juan Riet, Interdisciplinary Center for Studies on Development, Uruguay  Mathilde Bourjac, Centre d'Actions et de Réalisations Internationales, France Luke Mendes, Holy See UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw R.B. Lal, India Baaba Maal closes the session on a high note. Participants watching the musical performance Baaba Maal, Senegal, performing during the open dialogue Commitee of the Whole Juan Carlos Mendoza, Managing Director, Global Mechanism; Marcos Montoiro, UNCCD Secretariat; and Pradeep Monga, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNCCD Secretariat Christina Blank, Switzerland Francisco Rilla, Ramsar Convention Secretariat Nathalie van Haren, Both ENDS Luo Jiajia, China Green Foundation Bernardo Macke, Brazil Juan Carlos Mendoza, Managing Director, Global Mechanism, and Sasha Alexander, UNCCD Secretariat Around the Venue

Highlights for Friday, 30 August 2019 Working Group Co-Chairs Francis Ogwal, Uganda, and Basile van Havre, Canada, gavel the meeting to a close at 7:43 pm. The first meeting of the Working Group on Post-2020 resumed for its final day of deliberations on Friday. Delegates completed discussions on the conclusions of the meeting based on a Co-Chairs’ draft that included annexes on the outcomes of the meeting, and a preliminary list of intersessional meetings relevant for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF).During lunch, participants attended an information session on global strategic plans and linkages with other international instruments and processes. Neville Ash, Director, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), presented an overview of strategic plans and indicators across multilateral environmental agreements, and highlighted options for synergies and alignment with the GBF. Participants also heard from: Ludgarde Coppens, UNEP, on 26 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and efforts to build data-related methodology and capacity at national and regional levels; Elizabeth Mrema, on behalf of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), on its Strategic Vision 2021-2030 that promotes transformative change and sustainable use; Olivier Rukundo, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), on cooperation with the Convention in supporting states in access and benefit-sharing; and Frederic Perron-Welch, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, on biotrade, including incentive measures, private sector engagement, and sustainable use. During the closing session, Christiana Paşca Palmer, CBD Executive Secretary, remarked on the good energy in the room and great amount of work done, noting the need to respond to the calls for action from the public on biodiversity issues. Providing regional statements: The African Group urged that the GBF ensure regional and thematic balance; Asia and Pacific said the 2050 Vision “living in harmony with nature” has played an important role in galvanizing action and should remain prominent; The EU welcomed the broad understanding of the need for transformative change, and using Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-Oriented, and Time-limited (SMART) targets; The Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) emphasized using science to identify causes and solutions and to seek co-benefits; and Central and Eastern Europe stressed the need for active participation of all parties and stakeholders to ensure well-formulated goals and targets. The meeting was gaveled to a close at 7:43 pm.The final day of the meeting saw delegates continuing to get their heads around their four days of labor based on draft conclusions of the meeting. The meeting, some agreed, has been a week of patience, as delegates put their negotiator’s hats down in favor of what some referred to as “a listening exercise.” One element that many agreed remains uncertain is whether to have an over-arching apex target. In spite of an almost equal number of proponents and opponents for this, most agreed that it would require a stroke of genius to come up with one target that is adequately inspiring, global, and encapsulates the complexity of the 2050 Vision of “living in harmony with nature.” Before parting, one delegate remarked, “Although it all seems rather topsy-turvy right now, once we are done packaging the zero draft, it will all come together pretty nicely.” IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Delegates during the morning discussions on the potential elements and scope of the framework Dilovarsho Dustov, Tajikistan Norbert Bärlocher, Switzerland Georgina Catacora-Vargas, Bolivia Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Mexico L-R: Stig Johansson and Stefan Leiner, EU; Alexander Shestakov, CBD Secretariat; and Gabriele Obermayr, Austria Carolina Díaz, Colombia Joaquín Salzberg, Argentina Wadzanayi Patience Mandivenyi, South Africa Gaute Voigt-Hanssen, Norway Luciana Melchert, Brazil A group of Friends of the Chair meets during plenary David Cooper, CBD Secretariat Tia Stevens, Australia Musonda Mumba, UNEP María Alejandra Guerra, Chile CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer Delegates during Friday’s proceedings L-R: Musonda Mumba, UNEP; Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Ghana; Alex Owusu-Biney, UNEP; Doris Richter and Eric Okoree, Ghana Ludgarde Coppens (left), UNEP, addresses participants during the lunch event on Global Strategic Plans in other National Instruments and Processes L-R: Working Group Co-Chairs Basile van Havre, Canada; Francis Ogwal, Uganda; CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer; Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, David Cooper, and Catalina Santamaría, CBD Secretariat L-R: Janice Weatherley-Singh and Alfred DeGemmis, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Noëlle Kümpel, BirdLife International L-R: Kimberly Chan, Canada; Brooke Hynes, Jaime Grubb, Georgina Newton, and Tia Stevens, Australia Ivan Feys, Belgium, and Neville Ash, Director, UNEP-WCMC L-R: Jamila Janna, Wildlands Conservation Trust; Yuriko Shimada, Japan Youth Biodiversity Network; and Alphonce Muia, Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa Amandine John-Herpin and Barbara Petersen, Germany Working Group Co-Chair Basile van Havre, Canada, and Abdulghani A.M. Al-Bokwali, Yemen UNEP visitors at the meeting A view of UNEP Headquarters

Highlights for Thursday, 29 August 2019 Representatives from civil society at the end of a peaceful demonstration about nature and people protection versus corporate interest. The first meeting of the Working Group on Post-2020 resumed discussions on Thursday, tackling the future work programme of the Working Group and allocation of tasks to other intersessional bodies and processes. Delegates called for inter alia: a balanced approach in thematic intersessional consultations; ensuring draft text is available ahead of the second meeting of the Working Group; and involvement of the UN Environment Management Group to ensure inputs from all multilateral environmental agreements. During the lunch break, delegates attended an information session focused on strategic planning. Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, presented the second of a two-part series on developing a shared strategic planning framework. He led participants in an interactive exercise on developing Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-Oriented, and Time-limited (SMART) targets, using, among other principles, the theory of change.In the afternoon and evening, a discussion group co-chaired by Charlotta Sörqvist (Sweden) and Dilosharvo Dustov (Tajikistan) met to discuss a non-paper prepared by the discussion group co-chairs on a possible structure of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF). Delegates deliberated on the components of, and relationships between, the rationale, the preamble, the 2050 Vision, the 2030 mission, a possible apex goal and milestones, and goals, targets, sub-targets and indicators. Discussions focused on central questions to the structure, including, inter alia: whether the 2030 mission should express an action to be taken or a status of biodiversity to be achieved by 2030; how to express the 2030 mission in a simple manner while ensuring a balanced representation of all three pillars of the Convention; how to formulate SMART goals, indicators and targets; how to ensure that levers of transformative change are specified within the scope of the GBF; and whether an apex goal would benefit or hinder effective implementation of the GBF. With only one day left of the meeting, delegates continued to push towards a tangible outcome. One delegate remarked that we want to leave with clear guidance on the “post-2020 outcome we want” to enable us to return for the second meeting with more substance than a “to do list.” Some delegates were already eager to produce and negotiate text, and urged for ensuring that the second meeting will be furnished with comprehensive preparative documents. Many called for intersessional consultations that go beyond the subsidiary bodies of the convention, the Bureau and the Secretariat. The discussion group, some delegates noted, allowed for unpacking of details of the GBF’s scope and structure. Noting how much time was taken on targets, one delegate remarked that, “the apex target is becoming a distraction,” and that there should be more focus on implementation, which is indeed where we failed with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Hlobsile Sikhosana, eSwatini Working Group Co-Chair Basile van Havre, Canada Marina von Weissenberg, Anne Theo Seinen, and Stefan Leiner, EU Takafumi Osawa, Japan Sonia Peña Moreno, and Jane Smart, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) L-R: Amy Fraenkel, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and Tita Korvenoja and Diane Klaimi, UNEP María Rivera, Ramsar Convention, and Katia Karousakis, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Cicilia Githaiga, Women Ken Paul, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) Abdulghani A.M. Al-Bokwali, Yemen Kevin Lunzalu, Global Youth Biodiversity Network Kenya Amy Fraenkel, Acting CMS Executive Secretary Barbara Lassen, Natural Justice Diagana Mallé, Mauritania Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, CBD Secretariat Malte Timpte, Institute for Biodiversity Network (IBN) Óscar Guevara, WWF Colombia Yemisi Fawibe, Nigeria Lactitia Tshitwamulomoni, South Africa Delegates continued work during the afternoon and evening on the potential elements and scope of the framework. Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, during the lunch event on Strategic Planning Frameworks - Part II Participants engage in an activity to develop a SMART target Delegates from the Arab region meet at lunch time L-R: Neville Ash, Director, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC); Aria St. Louis, Grenada; and Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Ghana, share a laugh at the end of the morning session Evening informal consultations Members of the 30X30 Ocean Alliance meet outside plenary (L-R) Alfred DeGemmis, Wildlife Conservation Society; Justin Kenney, 30X30 Ocean Alliance; Masha Kalinina, Pew Charitable Trusts; Lina Barrera, Conservation International; and Michael Degnan, Campaign for Nature L-R: Brian O’Donnell and Raina Thiele, Campaign for Nature, and Holly Jonas, ICCA Consortium Civil society asked parties “Who do you listen to: Nature & people or corporate interest?”

Highlights for Tuesday, 27 August 2019 Peaceful protest by civil society representatives The first meeting of the Working Group on the post-2020 framework kicked off on Tuesday with expectations of intensive work over four days on the scope and key elements of the structure of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF).Co-Chair Francis Ogwal (Uganda), opened the meeting noting that deliberations from regional and thematic consultations have been invaluable to guiding the way forward for the GBF. Hamdallah Zedan, Ministry of Environment, Egypt, speaking on behalf of CBD COP President Yasmine Fouad, said, “though our task is a daunting one, we are able to rise to the challenge and get on the right path to achieving the 2050 Vision of ‘Living in harmony with nature’.” He emphasized that the development and implementation of the GBF should build on lessons learned from the implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and should be informed by scientific knowledge.Quoting Nelson Mandela, CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer said, “sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” She encouraged delegates to be bold, be brave and work together “to bend the curve” towards the 2050 Vision of “living in harmony with nature.”Inger Anderson, UN Environment Programme Executive Director, said the GBF is crucial to arresting biodiversity loss, and that in order to get it right, we need baselines for measuring indicators and to turn towards biodiversity-positive agriculture and biodiversity-rich cities as part of the solution. She suggested an “apex target” to measure overall performance that combines species, genetic and ecosystem diversity.Throughout the day delegates heard reports of consultations and other contributions to the post-2020 process, and discussed potential elements on structure and scope of the post-2020 framework.During lunch, delegates attended an information session aimed at supporting a common approach and common understanding of issues under discussion during the first meeting of the Working Group. This new format, which replaces conventional side-events, is being tested at the current meeting, for consideration in upcoming meetings. Tuesday’s information session focused on strategic planning. Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, presented principles of developing a shared strategic planning framework, emphasizing the need to agree on an agile user-friendly approach to developing the GBF, and the development of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-Oriented, and Time-limited (SMART) targets.Delegates entering the first day of the meeting expressed anticipation, as some noted the pressure and enormity of the task for the Working Group. “The world is watching,” one delegate remarked, noting that the urgency to succeed in combating biodiversity loss hangs over “all our heads” this week. Some noted that we cannot afford to fail, and that an ambitious GBF is a prerequisite to the successful transformational changes that society requires. After the Secretariat announced there are only 500 days to complete the GBF process, and that by the second meeting of the Working Group a digital hour glass would monitor the Working Group’s daily progress, a delegate exclaimed, “There is no time to waste!”As the day’s deliberations drew to a close, many delegates appreciated the highly participatory nature of the consultative process of the GBF, noting that it has not only facilitated a broad set of inputs but provided a basis for constructive discussions. Most delegates seemed unperturbed by the strict timing of interventions, noting that the six minutes encouraged wider participation and keeping to the point. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer Hamdallah Zedan, Representative of the Egypt COP Presidency Working Group Co-Chair Francis Ogwal, Uganda The 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, opens at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi Leina Alwadhi, Kuwait Moustafa Mokhtar Ali Fouda, Egypt Marina von Weissenberg and Stefan Leiner, EU Dilovarsho Dustov, Tajikistan Rosemary Paterson, New Zealand Lucy Mulenkei, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity Josefa Cariño-Tauli, Global Youth Biodiversity Network Gadir Lavadenz and Nele Marien, CBD Alliance Jane Smart and Sonia Peña, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Maria (Masha) Kalinina, the Pew Charitable Trusts Helena Jeffery Brown, Rapporteur, Antigua and Barbuda IPBES Chair Ana María Hernández Christine Echookit Akello, Rapporteur of the Global Consultation on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in relation to Access and Benefit-sharing and the Nagoya Protocol Fernando Coimbra, Brazil Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, during the lunch session on Strategic Planning Frameworks - Part I IPBES Chair Ana María Hernández, and Simone Schiele, IPBES Secretariat Won Seog Park, Chung Ang University, Republic of Korea, and Leejin Kim, Korea Environment Institute Informal meeting outside the plenary room The delegation from Italy The delegation from Finland Participants in discussions before the morning session L-R: Stephenne Harding, National Geographic Society; Catalina Santamaría, Special Advisor to the CBD Executive Secretary; and Alice Jay, National Geographic Society Participants review meeting publications A view of the UNEP headquarters gardens Delegates during the evening reception

Highlights for Tuesday, 20 August 2019 A rhino statue is awarded to individuals involved in wildlife law enforcement. Committee II did not get their requested disco ball but managed to rock and roll through the items assigned to its agenda. Many parties reaffirmed the importance of demand reduction in combating illegal wildlife trade. With livelihoods and rural communities gaining greater attention within CITES, Committee II accepted the potential focus on livelihoods of indigenous peoples and rural and local communities in a future World Wildlife Day.The Committee also expressed support for youth engagement in CITES, with many parties sharing their own experiences.On guidance for making legal acquisition findings, parties recognized that non-binding guiding principles in the draft resolution would be an important resource for management authorities, while others appreciated that the resolution clearly identifies tasks for importing states.In Committee I, there was talk about the importance of “singing for love," as delegates addressed the plight of songbirds. The US highlighted the declining numbers of songbirds due to multiple threats. She mentioned the illegal trade for singing competitions and gave an example of a recent seizure of songbirds in the US bound for such competitions. Therefore, she said, a further study on the trade and conservation status of songbirds was needed, though many species are not currently CITES-listed. She thus encouraged parties to consider Appendix III listings. Benin, with Senegal and Ukraine, expressed strong support of the songbird document and its proposed workshop. Bird Life International echoed this support, stating that proactive work has been done for other non-CITES listed species in the past which can help inform conservation management. Bird Life International added that action should not be delayed where species status is already known. Chair Rod Hay struck a working group, chaired by the EU, to review and revise draft decisions proposed by the US.On great apes, many highlighted the serious threats facing populations, including from the trade in exotic pets that are advertised openly online. The Committee established a drafting group, chaired by the US, to review reporting obligations on great apes to the Standing Committee and Conference of Parties.Malaysia requested all parties to adopt legislation and controls to eliminate poaching of helmeted hornbill and trade in parts, calling on consumer states especially to monitor markets and take enforcement action as needed. Committee I established a working group to review the proposed amendments.On African cherry, Plants Committee Chair Sinclair stated that specific funding has not been secured for a proposed workshop but that the work could be incorporated into a regional meeting in Africa. The EU, as a main importer of African cherry bark, stated his support of this document and the continued work on data collection for more sustainable management of the species. Committee I agreed to the document with minor amendments.Committee I continued meeting into the evening, where it began to cover species listing proposals based on periodic review. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from CITES CoP18. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Committee I: Species-Specific Matters Discussions continue for species-specific matters. Cecilia Lougheed, Canada Nestor Waliwa, Central African Republic Augustin Ngumbi Amuri, Democratic Republic of the Congo Julie Sherman, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Kenneth Er, Singapore Klamon Haktouin, Chad Volodymyr Domashlinets, Ukraine Ian Redmond, International Primate Protection League Calvin Bernard, Guyana José Alberto Alvarez Lemus, Cuba Charles Barber, World Resources Institute John Bennett, International Association of Violin and Bow Makers Committee II: Interpretation and Implementation Matters Delegates in plenary as the discussions continue. Patience Gandiwa, Zimbabwe Ida Sletsjøe, Norway Layaly Camara, Guinea Obaid Ali Al Shamsi, United Arab Emirates Peter Fredrick Moll, World Leaders of Today Cécile Tang, Youth for Wildlife Conservation Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Mexico Carlos Mario Orrego Vásquez, Costa Rica Chair Craig Hoover, US Sasikumar Cherukulappurathu, India Ilaria Di Silvestre, Eurogroup for Animals Lisa Bradbury, Switzerland Craig Potter, San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards The Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards are presented to persons who have engaged in one or more exemplary law enforcement actions to protect species of wildlife listed in the Appendices of the Convention. Will Travers, Species Survival Network (SSN) D.J. Schubert, Animal Welfare Institute CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero Recipients of the Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards Around the Venue Melanie Virtue, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) Secretariat, speaks with Karen Baird, Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and Juney Ward, Samoa. Delegates from South Africa. Delegates from the Russian Federation. Delegates between sessions. Delegates from Bangladesh consult informally. CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero speaks with a delegate.