§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the(a) issues discussed at and (b) outcome of the seventh meeting of the subsidiary bodies for scientific, technical and technological advice of the convention on biodiversity. [15853]
§ Mr. MeacherThe subsidiary body on scientific, technical and technological advice (SBSTTA) met in Montreal from 12 to 16 November. The meeting made recommendations on a number of issues to the sixth518W meeting of the conference of the parties (COP6) to the convention on biological diversity, to be held in April 2002 in The Hague.
Most attention was focused on forest biological diversity, where SBSTTA proposed a comprehensive programme of further work. This will cover the status and trends of forest biodiversity, options for its conservation and sustainable use, and the role of the socio-economic enabling environment. It will include the impact of the unsustainable harvesting of non-timber forest resources, such as bushmeat.
Other recommendations included proposals for a global strategy for plant conservation and an international initiative for the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators. Technical advice was prepared on the use of incentive measures to secure the objectives of the convention; incorporating biodiversity considerations into environmental impact assessment; and designing monitoring programmes and indicators to measure the state of biodiversity. SBSTTA also welcomed publication of the global biodiversity outlook, a comprehensive stocktaking that will help guide further implementation of the convention.
The UK looks forward to making the best use of SBSTTA's advice, on these and other issues, including by working to ensure a successful outcome at COP6, particularly on the priority issues of forest biodiversity, alien species, access and benefit-sharing; and agreement of a strategic plan for the convention.