First Meeting of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) Task Force on Streamlining Forest-Related Reporting Bonn: 19-20 November 2002 CPF TF 1/2002/?
Chronological and Thematic Overview of Past, Present and Future UNEP-WCMC Activities in Support of MEA Harmonization and Streamlining
Submitted by UNEP-WCMC Introduction 1. Beginning of October 2002, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) adopted at its eighth meeting the Terms of Reference and Work Plan for a CPF Task Force on Streamlining Forest-Related Reporting (cf. document CPF TF 1/2002/2), which outlines the (i) background, (ii) mandate, (iii) objective, (iv) activities and tasks, (v) membership, (vi) working modalities and (vii) proposed overall work plan of the task force. In accordance with the latter, the provisional agenda for the first meeting of the Task Force (cf. CPF TF 1/2002/1) foresees, inter alia, discussions on: Orientation of the Task Force (Agenda Item 2); Different reporting practices and information needs (Agenda Item 3 Work Plan of the Task Force (Agenda Item 5).
2. Taking into account the remit and focus of the Task Force, UNEP will be represented at the first meeting of the CPF Task Force by the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) in its capacity as the main UNEP body dealing with: (i) (ii) harmonization of reporting and information management in support of the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) at the national and international level; biodiversity of forests and forest ecosystems.
3. The purpose of this document is to inform the participants at the first meeting of the CPF Task Force about the past, present and future harmonization projects and streamlining activities under UNEP and UNEP-WCMC, in particular those related to the five global biodiversity-related Conventions (CBD, CITES, CMS, Ramsar and WHC), with a view to outlining potential UNEP contributions to the work of the Task Force. 4. This document will be accompanied by a short presentation (under Agenda Item 3) about UNEP and UNEP-WCMC's harmonization work and it's relevance for the CPF Task Force.
Action requested 5. The Task Force is invited to examine the attached information and to discuss the how best to utilize the results of this work and UNEP-WCMC's experience and expertise in the context of harmonizing and streamlining forest-related reporting.
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Annex 1
Chronological and Thematic Overview of Past, Present and Future UNEP-WCMC Harmonization Activities
The following list provides a selection of past* and ongoing UNEP-WCMC harmonization projects, which the CPF Task Force might want to consider in its work on streamlining forest-related reporting. For ease of use/reference, hyperlinks to the relevant documentation and information have been inserted for each of the products/results stated. Further information can be found on UNEP-WCMC's harmonization web site under http://www.unepwcmc.org/conventions/harmonization/index.htm. 1996 Guide to Information Management in the context of the Convention of Biological Diversity * 1998 WCMC Handbooks on Biodiversity Information Management * Companion Volume * Vol. 1 Information and Policy * Vol. 2 Information Needs Analysis * Vol. 3 Information Product Design * Vol. 4 Information Networks * Vol. 5 Data Custodianship and Access * Vol. 6 Information Management Capacity * Vol. 7 Data Management Fundamentals * 1998 Feasibility Study for a Harmonized Information Management Infrastructure for Biodiversityrelated Treaties * 1998-ongoing National Reporting and Implementation Assessment - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Reporting Formats and Obligations Summary of National Commitments implied by the Articles of the Convention and the Decisions of the Conference of the Parties * Reporting Formats and Guidelines for the Second Round of National Reports * Implementation Assessment CBD Implementation Measures Pilot Project * Framework for national assessment of implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity * How to carry out an assessment * Assessment of CBD Implementation in the United Kingdom * Assessment of CBD Implementation in Selected CEE/NIS Countries * Assessment in the Seven Countries of Central America * 1998 – ongoing National Reporting and Information Management - Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) New Reporting Format for Production of National Reports * Synthesis of CMS National Reports (1988-2002) * CMS Information Management System for the implementation of the CMS Information Management Plan. 2000 UNEP Workshop on Harmonized Reporting to International Agreements General information and documents * Final report *
*
Finalized studies and reports are indicated with an asterix (*).
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2001 Inventory of Biodiversity-Related Reporting Obligations as a Contribution to the Reporting Obligations Database (ROD) Vol. I * Vol. II * 2002 Rationalization of International Nature Conservation Information Systems (RINCIS) * 2001 - ongoing UNEP Pilot Projects to Review and Test Approaches to Harmonized Reporting
In the light of the outcome of the UNEP Harmonization Workshop convened in 2000, UNEP agreed with four developing countries MOUs (Ghana, Indonesia, Panama and the Seychelles) for pilot projects: a. b. to review the reporting processes to the relevant global biodiversity conventions (CBD, CITES, CMS, Ramsar and WHC) at the national level and to deliver the required reports; to test one of the harmonization concepts recommended by the UNEP workshop as follows: Ghana Indonesia Panama assessing the possibility of linking national reporting to the State of the Environment (SoE) reporting process; identifying common information modules and using this as a basis for developing a modular approach to national reporting; exploring potential regional support mechanisms for national information management and reporting;
Seychelles assessing the potential for producing a consolidated national report responding to the needs of several conventions. A web forum was established to facilitate the discussions and the exchange of information and intermediate products between the pilot projects. User registration is free. So far, only the Seychelles have finalized the pilot project and prepared a report * on the results and experiences gained. Information about the pilot projects and other ongoing harmonization work under UNEP is presented to all relevant international organizations and meetings in form of documents, presentations and posters. 2001 – ongoing EMG Harmonization Action Plan
The Environmental Management Group (EMG) is a forum for UN agencies and MEA secretariats established under the chairmanship of the UNEP Executive Director as a mechanism for enhancing interagency cooperation in the field of environment and human settlements. The first meeting of the EMG in January 2001 established an Issue Management Group (IMG - with UNEP as task manager) to deal with harmonization of environmental reporting, in particular with respect to the biodiversity-related conventions. At its third meeting in October 2001, EMG examined a background paper on the "Harmonization of Information Management and Reporting for Biodiversity-Related Treaties" prepared by UNEP on behalf of the IMG. The text and the various Annexes to this document provided a comprehensive overview and summary of the background, rationale, mandate, needs and benefits of harmonizing and streamlining information management and reporting to MEAs, with special focus on the five global biodiversity-related conventions. Following discussion, EMG agreed that, on the basis of the background paper and any further input from EMG members, UNEP should work with the IMG to prepare a draft plan of action, and present this plan to the EMG at its next meeting for review and endorsement. The first draft of this EMG Harmonization Action Plan contains a portfolio of proposals for enabling activities and harmonization projects. The further development of the EMG Harmonization Action Plan, including revised and final version(s), will be documented on the relevant UNEP-WCMC harmonization web pages.
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