Enhancing cooperating among the seven biodiversity related agreements and conventions at national level using the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans

Abstract

The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) are seen as key entry points for enhancing synergies and cooperation among the key biodiversity related conventions, namely the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Convention on Migratory Species of wild fauna (CMS), the World Heritage Convention (WHC), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and the International Plan Protection Convention (IPPC). With close of one hundred countries currently finalizing their NBSAPs that serve as key national policy documents concerning biodiversity, this paper attempts to provide specific guidance to countries on ways and means to integrate synergistic actions across key biodiversity conventions. This paper builds on UNEP actions promoting synergies and cooperation among the biodiversity Conventions, including the 'Options Paper' that has been published in 2016 and various Decisions of governing bodies of the conventions calling for synergies.