The IPPCs Participation at the Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-Related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Bern, Switzerland: The IPPC delegation at the Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-Related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (left to right): Mr González, Mr Lopian, Mr Xia (IPPC Secretary), Ms Yim, Mr Njoroge and Ms Moreira. © FAO

12 June 2019, Bern - An IPPC delegation led by the IPPC Secretary Mr Jingyuan Xia attended the Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-Related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework held in Bern, Switzerland from 10 to 12 June 2019. The consultation workshop was held at the headquarters of the Universal Postal Union and sponsored by the Government of Switzerland. Approximately 120 participants, with representatives from eight biodiversity-related conventions and two Rio conventions, were present.

In 2020, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The framework is being prepared through a participatory process which includes consultation workshops. During this workshop, participants from biodiversity-related conventions explored ways in which their conventions can contribute to the post-2020 framework; and identified specific elements to be included in the framework to help reach common goals.

Existing frameworks, processes and priorities of each convention were also discussed. The IPPC delegation highlighted the importance of plant health and the newly endorsed IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030. They focused on the IPPC s strategic objective of protecting the environment from the impacts of plant pests. This objective targets plant pests that are invasive alien species and can have a devastating impact on terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, agriculture and forests. The IPPC framework also addresses environmental concerns related to plant biodiversity and plant pests.

As for next steps, the CBD is planning a series of meetings with all parties and stakeholders to finalize the global framework. The next meeting will be of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in August 2019. The IPPC community and the IPPC Secretariat will continue to support this work.

The consultation workshop documents are available at https://www.cbd.int/meetings/BRC-WS-2019-01.

A report of the consultation workshop will soon be available.

Background information

The IPPC delegation was composed of:

• Mr Jingyuan Xia (IPPC Secretary)

• Ms Adriana G. Moreira (IPPC Secretariat, Standard Setting Officer)

• Mr Ralph Lopian (International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) Steering Committee Chairperson, Senior Adviser International Affairs of Finland)

• Ms Kyu-Ock Yim (IPPC Financial Committee member / IYPH Steering Committee Vice-Chair, Senior Researcher of Republic of Korea)

• Mr Philip Karonjo Njoroge (IPPC Implementation and Capacity development Committee (IC) member, Head - Trade & Standards Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS))

• Mr Hernando Morera González (IPPC Standards Committee (SC) member, Pest Risk Analyst from Costa Rica).

The eight Biodiversity-related Conventions represented were: the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention (WHC)), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsa conventions), International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), and International Whaling Commission (IWC).

The two Rio Conventions represented were: the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).