Conclusions: options for synergies within the biodiversity cluster

Synergies could be implemented through a number of approaches. These approach-es are not mutually exclusive. The following five options reprapproach-esent a growing level of

62 The list of benefits is adapted from Jaime Webbe, ‘Synergies within the biodiversity-related MEAs’, pre-sentation at the Nordic Symposium: Synergies in the Biodiversity Cluster, Helsinki, Finland, April 2010, available at <http://www.biodivcluster.fi/pdf/friday/7Webbe_9April2010.pdf> (visited 16 January 2012).

63 These include the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (Basel, 22 March 1989, in force 5 May 1992, 28 International Legal Materials (1989) 657, <http://www.basel.int>); the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Proce-dure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam, 11 September, 1998, in force 24 February, 38 International Legal Materials (1999) 1, <http://www.pic.int>); and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (, Stockholm, 22 May 2001, in force 17 May 2004, 40 International Legal Materials (2001) 532, <http://www.pops.int>). On the synergies pro-cess, see Osvaldo Álvarez-Pérez and Kerstin Stendahl, ‘Synergies between the Basel, Rotterdam and Stock-holm Conventions, from AHJWG to ExCOPs’, presentation at the Nordic Symposium: Synergies in the biodiversity cluster, Helsinki, April 2010, available at <http://www.biodivcluster.fi/pdf/thursday/

1Stendahl_8April2010.pdf> (visited 10 January 2012); and Kerstin Stendahl, ‘Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions’, in Tuula Kolari and Ed Couzens (eds), International Environmental Law-making and Diplomacy Review 2007, University of Joen-suu – UNEP Course Series 7 (University of JoenJoen-suu, 2008), 127–141.

64 See Eléonore Dziurzynski, Meghna Abraham, Alison Graham Gareth and Gareth Sweeney (eds), Human Rights Monitor, International Service for Human Rights no. 64 (Médecine & Hygiène, 2006); Eléonore Dziurzynski, Katrine Thomasen, and Gareth Sweeney (eds), Human Rights Monitor, International Service for Human Rights no. 65 (Médecine & Hygiène, 2007).

65 See <http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/about-un-women> (visited 10 January 2012).

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How Biodiversity Synergies Support and Facilitate National Implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements to Halt Biodiversity Loss

ambition: (1) maintaining the existing secretariat level cooperation (business as usu-al); (2) enhancing secretariat initiatives as well as synergies at the national level, building on existing collaboration and making use of lessons learned through projects and initiatives; (3) increasing clustering of the biodiversity-related conventions, which could involve joint administrative functions, secretariats, budgets and com-munication functions, following the example of the chemicals and waste conven-tions; (4) merging conventions as protocols under the CBD; and (5) conducting fundamental reorganization of MEAs in the framework of the discussions on the proposed World Environment Organization (WEO) or United Nations Environ-ment Organization (UNEO).⁶⁶

A step-by-step approach to building synergies, following option (2) above (while not excluding following options (3) to (5) at a later stage), would make the biodiversity-related conventions more efficient in contributing to the overarching goal of conserv-ing biodiversity and usconserv-ing natural resources sustainably. It should be stressed that the process would need to be party-driven whilst simultaneously respecting the autono-my of individual conventions, with form following function and synergies serving the purpose of enhancing convention implementation.

The synergies process for the biodiversity-related conventions can build on the wide range of existing initiatives for cooperation; as well as make use of the options for collaboration and coordination at the global, regional and national levels provided by the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020.

Key elements for such an approach to synergies at the national level, in particular for the four key areas considered above, would include the following:

• collaboration of national focal points on NBSAP implementation, aided by ap-propriate mechanisms such as national biodiversity committees;

• the inclusion of the objectives of other conventions in NBSAPs;

• alignment of national policies and strategies for the non-CBD conventions with the NBSAP;

• joint development of national indicators for convention implementation;

• joint use of funding, in particular for national capacity-building for convention implementation;

• collaboration of national focal points and relevant agencies on national reporting to the biodiversity-related conventions and integrated management of national

66 For the discussion of the potential advantages and disadvantages of a World Environment or United Na-tions Environment Organization and the complexities of its establishment, see, for example, Alejo Etchart, Lessons from GATT/WTO for enhancing UNEP (Stakeholder Forum, London), available at <http://www.

stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/Lessons%20from%20GATT-WTO%20for%20enhancing%20 UNEP.pdf> (visited 30 March 2012); UNEP, The Environmental Dimension of IFSD: Importance of Envi-ronmental Pillar to IFSD, supra note 20; and UNEP, The EnviEnvi-ronmental Dimension of IFSD: Fragmentation of Environmental Pillar and its Impact on Efficiency and Effectiveness, supra note 20.

107 Peter Herkenrath biodiversity data and information in support of reporting to, and implementa-tion of, all the biodiversity-related convenimplementa-tions;

• making available to the global convention processes the experience on synergies at the national level; and

• providing support to national synergy efforts by the UNEP Regional Offices and other regional and national UN offices and other institutions (e.g. the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO),⁶⁷ the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),⁶⁸ the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),⁶⁹ and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).⁷⁰

Regional and subregional cooperation mechanisms and processes, assisted by the UNEP Regional Offices and other regional and national institutions, could provide support to the integrated implementation of NBSAPs across the conventions at the national level, could establish or host regional hubs for IPBES, and could assist par-ties in testing national approaches to streamlining and better integrating reporting to the biodiversity-related conventions.

The global synergies process could further evolve through the following elements:

• alignment of the strategic planning documents of the biodiversity-related con-ventions in the light of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020;

• joint interaction of the conventions with IPBES, facilitated by the BLG and advised by CSAB;

• joint approval and use by the conventions of global and sub-global biodiversity assessments as well as of biodiversity indicators;

• joint addressing of key thematic areas, such as water, forests, agriculture, marine biodiversity, invasive alien species, bushmeat⁷¹ or protected areas, among others;

• further harmonization of national reporting;

• a joint capacity-building initiative of the biodiversity-related conventions for convention implementation;

• joint provision of guidance to national-level implementation of conventions in a synergistic manner, supported by the UNEP Regional Offices and other re-gional and national UN offices;

• extension of synergy efforts to other MEAs such as the other Rio Conventions, supported by UN-wide efforts facilitated by the EMG; and

• consistent decision-taking across the biodiversity-related conventions in support of synergies.

67 See <http://www.fao.org>.

68 See <http://www.iucn.org>.

69 See <http://www.undp.org>.

70 See <http://www.unesco.org>.

71 Wild, often endangered, animals caught for food (both subsistence and to satisfy a growing urban restau-rant market for exotic foods), particularly in Central, East and West Africa.

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How Biodiversity Synergies Support and Facilitate National Implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements to Halt Biodiversity Loss

9 Recommended next steps for synergies between the