/ / CBD
NOT FOR CIRCULATION
/ ADVANCED INFORMAL VERSION ONLY / 20 June 2010
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

1

/…

ADVANCED INFORMAL VERSION ONLY

Page 1

REPORT OF THE international conference on biological and cultural diversity for development

Montreal, 8-10 June 2010

A.Background

1.A number of decisions arising from the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9), request the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to strengthen cooperation with relevant processes and conventions, and in particular decision IX/27 on Cooperation among multilateral environmental agreements and other organizations, requests the Executive Secretary in paragraph 8. to continue to liaise with the conventions, organizations and initiatives with which the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has already signed or is in the process of signing memoranda of cooperation, including in particular the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, with a view to advancing implementation of the Convention in accordance with the decisions of the Conference of the Parties, including the development of joint activities as appropriate.

2.Building on this decision, the International Conference on Biological and Cultural Diversity – for Development (ICBCD), is a joint initiative by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNESCO, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and the University of Montreal and supported by the International Economic Forum of the Americas. The Government of Canadaand the Government of Quebec werealso proud sponsors of the event. The report of the meeting herein is made available as an information document to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) and the joint work programme along with the draft decision which introduces it and which appears in annex I, will be considered under the item Cooperation with other conventions and international organisations.

B.Introduction

3.The International Year of Biodiversity (IYB 2010)provides an effective point for reinforcing the implementation of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. These three objectives also highlight the linkages between biodiversity as the core of sustainable development promoting human well-being. This is a golden moment to also promote the recognition of the inextricable links between biodiversity and cultural diversity, particularly as 2010 is also the International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures (IYRC). The IYRC aims to promote reciprocal knowledge exchange of cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity and to foster dialogue for sustainable development based on recognition of and respect for knowledge, including traditional knowledge,and the knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities.

4.2010 can thus be seen as the Year that celebrates the diversity of life on earth in all its forms but also 2010,raises the alarm over the unprecedented changes its main biological and cultural components are currently facing. From genes, species, ecosystems, landscapes and seascapes, to languages, practices, traditions, artistic expressions and belief, value and knowledge systems, these diversities are facing unprecedented changes, and most importantly loss. The impact of reduction in bio-cultural diversity on the resilience of the planetary systems is profound. In the current global change context, the loss of biological diversity, with the simultaneous loss of languages, knowledge systems, and specific ways of life, has resulted in new challenges for coupled social-ecological systems.

5.To address these challenges, it is critical that the links between biological and cultural diversity - encompassing, inter alia, languages as repositories of knowledge and practices, tangible and intangible heritage related to nature, modes of subsistence, economic and social relations and belief systems – are taken into consideration in policy development at all scales.

6.Because of their respective mandates, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and UNESCO’s Conventions and Programmes dealing with biological and cultural diversity are in a unique position to focus attention on the links between biological and cultural diversity at especially international levels. The recent coming into force of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions underlines the value in strengthening the ties between the work of UNESCO and that of the CBD at the interface of biological and cultural diversity. It is in this context that the present International Conference on Cultural and Biological Diversity: Diversity for Development- tookplace.

7.The main objectives of the Conference were:

(a)To bring together civil society, representatives of indigenous and local communities, policy makers, scientists and intergovernmental and development cooperation agencies,

(b)To exchange knowledge and practices linking biological and cultural diversity; and

(c)To provide elements for a programme of work to be jointly implemented by UNESCO, the SCBD and other partners.

c. Attendance

8.The meeting was attended by high-level representatives of relevant international agencies, representatives of Governments, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, and civil society, including academia and non-governmental organizations and international experts. A total of one hundred and seventy-three delegates participatedin the conference. A complete list of participants appears in alphabetical order, as annex III of this document. The programme attached in annex II identifies individual presenters and moderators.

ITEM 1OPENING OF THE MEETING

9.The meeting was opened at 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday 9 June 2010, with a ceremonial prayer and blessing by Mr. Charlie Patton, Mr. Alex Diabo and Mr. Kenneth Deer, Elders of the Mohawk Community of Kahnawake. A joint meeting was held prior to this on 8th June, with the Economic Forum of the Americas.

ITEM 2ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

2.1. Officers

10.Mr. John Scott,programme officer for Article 8(j) (SCBD) and Ms. Ana Persic (UNESCO) agreed to act as Master of Ceremonies for the facilitation of the conference. Each panel was requested to appoint a moderator and rapporteur. The moderators and rapporteurs were invited to join a drafting committee to work on the outcome document.

2.2. Adoption of the agenda

11.The programme of the conference was adopted without amendment. The programme appears in annex II of this document.

2.3.Organization of work

12.On the 8 June, the meeting worked in plenary in a joint high level day with the International Economic Forum of the Americas. On 9 June, the International Conference conveyed in a separate meeting room, commencing in plenary for the Mohawk traditional blessing and two keynote speakers before breaking for morning tea, after which the meeting continued in parallel sessions. On 10 June the meeting reconvened in plenary to welcome guest speakers and to discuss and adopt possible elements of a joint work programme.

ITEM 3JOINT HIGH LEVEL DAY

13.The partner agencies worked with the secretariat of the International Economic Forum of the Americas to prepare and host a joint high level day on 8 June which focused on the economy, development, energy and the relevance of biological and cultural diversity. In particular, the Executive Secretary of the SCBD provided concluding remarks for the opening plenary panel on the green economy and new models of growth: challenges and realities. Mr. Hans d’Orville, Deputy Director-General and Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning, UNESCO provided cultural diversity perspectives to economic development, biodiversity and cultural diversity, respecting new standards. The Executive Secretary of the Convention along with other dignitaries, also participated in a working lunch.

14.In the afternoon plenary, Ms. Monique Barbut, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer for the Global Environmental Facility presented on energy, sustainable development and biodiversity, including examples of win-win situations between business and biodiversity.

15.In the afternoon’s round-table, Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, moderated a session which considered biological and cultural diversity for sustainable development, introducing Ms. Elisa Canqui Mollo, distinguished representative of the United Nations Permanent forum on Indigenous Issues, who presented on development with culture and identity.

16.Also presenting on the round-table were Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ms. Veerle Vandeweerd, Director, Environment and Energy Group, United Nations Development Programme, and Mr. Hans d’Orville (UNESCO), InterimDeputy Director-General and Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning, UNESCO.

ITEM 4EXPERTS PANELS AND SESSIONS

17.In the morning session of 9 June, after the representatives of the Mohawk Nation provided a traditional blessing to the participants, the meeting continued in plenary with two keynote addresses by Ms. Marie Roue (CNRS/MNHN, France) and H.E. Richard Ariihau Tuheiava, Senator of French Polynesia.

18.Sessions 1 (Knowledge Systems: Recognition, Transmission and Protection) and session 2 (Biocultural Landscapes: integrated approaches) were conducted parallel sessions, as were sessions 3 (Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity) and 4 (Measuring Diversity and Its Values) and sessions 5 (Cultural and Biological Resilience) and 6 (Bio-Cultural Responses to Environmental Change).

19.The rapporteursfor each session agreed to supply a summary of each panel which will be part of the Proceedings of the Conference along with the abstracts of all presentations.

20.On 10 June the meeting reconvened in plenary for a special key-note address by Mr. David Suzuki and Mr. Jean Lemire. Mr. Suzuki discussed the fragility of the earths systems and the impact of globalization and climate change on diversity. Mr. Jean Lemiure provided a special presentation on his work including his expeditions to the Antarctic and the filming of his internationally acclaimed film “the Last Frontier”. The plenary also heard from three additional panels including on the links between biological and cultural diversity in international agreements, possible elements of a joint programme of work and educating for biological and cultural diversity.

ITEM 5ADOPTION OF THE CONFERENCE DECLARATION AND the Draft Joint Programme

21.In the afternoon session of the final day, the participants considered and adopted a the 2010 Declaration on Bio-cultural Diversity and the draft joint programme between UNESCO and the SCBDfor the consideration of the tenth meeting of the conference of the parties to the CBD, attached in annex I.

ITEM 6CLOSURE OF THE MEETING

22.The meeting was closed by Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, the Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs in Japan, who provided some concluding remarks regarding preparations for the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will be held in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010 and the vision of the CBD under the Japanese presidency. Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf(Executive Secretary/SCBD), together with Dr. Mechtild Rössler (Chief, Europe & North America, UNESCO World Heritage Centre),formally thanked the partners and participants and declared the meeting closed at 5.30pm on Friday 10 June 2010.

------

Annex I

The International Conference on Cultural and Biological Diversity for Development

The 2010 Declaration on Bio-cultural Diversity

We, the participants of the International Conference on Cultural and Biological Diversity for Development, held from 8-10 June 2010, inMontreal, Canada:

Expressing our gratitude to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Canada Chair for Ethno-ecology and Biodiversity (University of Montreal), the International Economic Forum of the Americas and the host Mohawk Nation, for providing a forum to discuss the links between cultural and biological diversity for development,

Appreciating that the Conference has been organized in the context of the 2010 International Year on Biological Diversity and the 2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures,

Consideringthe vital importance of cultural and biological diversity for present and future generations,

Recognizing the importance of biological and cultural diversity for the survival and well-being of contemporary societies, both in urban and rural areas,

Recognizing also that biological and cultural diversity are intrinsically and inextricably linked and together hold the key to sustainable development and are critical for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,

Expressing deep concern aboutthe threats to both cultural and biological diversity, particularly in the face of the homogenizing forces of globalization,

Acknowledging the important progress made in building the knowledge on the links between biological and cultural diversity and to mainstream it into practices to ensure environmental, economic, social and cultural sustainability and human well-being,

Also acknowledging the challenges and opportunities of a prospective International Regime on Access and Benefit Sharing for indigenous and local communities who hold critical knowledge, customs and practices associated with biodiversity,

Committing to take action towards significant reduction in biodiversity loss, and promotion of cultural diversity,

Call uponGovernments and Parties to all the relevant Conventions, including the 1972 World Heritage Convention, 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, as well asinter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, academia, indigenous peoples and local communities, the private sector and civil society, to strengthen collaboration and coordination and to adopt, contribute to and support the joint programme between the SCBD and UNESCO on the links between biological and cultural diversity.

joint programme between UNESCO and the SCBD

Vision

A world in which the global community sustains biological[1] and cultural diversity[2] for present and future generations.

Mission

With the CBD acting as global focal point for biodiversity[3] and UNESCO acting as global focal point for cultural diversity, strengthen the linkages between biological and cultural diversity initiatives, and enhance synergies between interlinked provisions of conventions and programmes dealing with biological and cultural diversity at relevant scales.

Timeframe: To 2020 with mid-term review at the end of 2015, to also contribute to the Millennium Development Goals.

General Principles for the Implementation of the Joint Programme

  • Full and effective participation of all relevant actors, and in particular indigenous and local communitiesin the establishment and implementation of the joint programme.
  • Collaborative engagement of policy and decision makers, governmental and non-governmental organizations, academia, private sector and civil society in both rural and urban contexts.
  • A holistic approach consistent with cultural and spiritual values, worldviews and knowledge systems and livelihoods that contribute to conservation and sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity.

Specific Objectives

  1. To build bridges between ongoing work on biodiversity and cultural diversity where such bridges are relevant and do not already exist.
  2. To promote synergies and information sharing among already existing programmes, projects and activities that focus on links between biological and cultural diversity.
  3. To further explore conceptual and methodological issues related to the links between biological and cultural diversity and the role of indigenous peoples and other communities in enhancing those links.
  4. To promote the collection, compilation and analysis of information from on-the ground activities linking biological and cultural diversity from, among others, biosphere reserves and World Heritage sites, and from the experiences provided by indigenous and local communities.
  5. To support and foster learning networks on bio-cultural approaches, linking grassroots and community initiatives with local, national, regional and global policy processes.
  6. To raise awareness about the importance of interdependent biological and cultural diversity in resource management and decision-making processes as well as for the resilience of socio-ecological systems.

Key Action Points

Building bridges between legal instruments

  • Finalizein-depth analysis of the provisions linking cultural and biological diversity under the CBD and UNESCO culture related Conventions.
  • Analyze and provide recommendations for the implementation of the interlinked provisions of the CBD and UNESCO culture related Conventions in a mutually reinforcing and coordinated manner.
  • Collaborate with other international programmes and legal instruments towards the protection of the interdependent biological and cultural diversity.

Building the knowledge base

  • Building on the existing scientific, local and indigenous knowledge, develop robust interdisciplinary conceptual and methodological frameworks for addressing the links between biological and cultural diversity.
  • Develop a set of guiding principles, including ethical principles, for future research, management, practice and policy work to sustain the interdependent biological and cultural diversity for present and future generations.
  • Advance knowledge on the ways in which cultures have shaped and continue to shape biodiversityin sustainable way (e.g. cultural landscapes, traditional agricultural systems, sacred sites, culturally significant speciesand urban biodiversity).
  • Synthesize and advance knowledge on contemporary processes that simultaneously impact biological and cultural diversity and the responses to address those processes and their impacts.
  • Support the development of indicators and other means of measuring status, trends and values of diversity, including linguistic diversity by building and maintaining expert networks, providing platforms for the exchange and sharing of information.
  • Promote inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogues on the links between biological and cultural diversity.

Raising awareness and educating

  • Develop communication materials and other tools to raise awareness on the importance of the links between biological, cultural and linguistic diversity, for human well-being and environmental sustainability.
  • Promote and develop multilingual and intercultural education as well as non-formal intergenerational transmission of knowledge on links between biological and cultural diversity in the framework of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
  • Develop education kits for students as well as local decision makers, including in cities and urban environments.
  • Promote the use of UNESCO chairs for further systematic study of the links between biological and cultural diversity.

Acting