CBD COP 11 adopted 33
key decisions on a range of strategic, substantive, administrative,
financial and budgetary issues. Among other issues, the meeting
addressed the status of the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic
resources and benefit-sharing (ABS); implementation of the Strategic
Plan 2011-2020 and progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; and
implementation of the Strategy for Resource Mobilization.
The eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held from October
8-19, 2012, in Hyderabad, India, following the sixth Meeting of the Parties
to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 6) on October 1-5, 2012. Approximately 6,000 delegates representing parties
and other governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental,
non-governmental, indigenous and local community organizations,
academia and the private sector participated in the meeting. Please find below summary reports
on the Biosafety and CBD meetings:
Trinidad and Tobago was represented at both meetings by the MEAU's Biodiversity Specialist, Dr Floyd Homer who also participated in one of the Convention's side events under the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), which showcased "island bright spots". The event highlighted island
innovations in the context of the CBD’s Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity and was co-sponsored by the Government of the Seychelles
and the Government of India. Dr Homer served as Chairman of the morning session
and provided technical inputs to several of the break-out groups.
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| Dr Floyd Homer, Biodiversity Specialist chairing the event hosted by the Global Island Partnership at CBD COP 11 |
Following the impressive
overall package adopted at COP 10 in Japan, COP 11 marked the move from
policy-making to implementation. The meeting adopted a set of
decisions on items ranging from ecosystem restoration and marine and
coastal biodiversity, to the Nagoya Protocol and customary sustainable
use to set the groundwork for intense inter-sessional work with a focus
on implementation at the national and local level.
As a fun green way to commemorate the biodiversity conference, each participating country planted a tree in its name in the newly established Biodiversity Park in Hyderabad.
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| Tree planted for Trinidad and Tobago at the Biodiversity Park in Hyderabad, India! |
