Subject: CSDGEN: CSD freshwater work and CBD One of the main themes for the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in April 1998 will be freshwater. A range of preparatory activities for this meeting are now getting under way. It is important that biodiversity issues should be fully considered in this process. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) provides a mechanism by which this can be ensured. Below is a note outlining the current situation and suggesting that the CBD play a formal role in the CSD's work. All comments are welcome. *************************************************************************** CSD work on freshwater: the need for input from the CBD The CSD and freshwater: UNGASS agreed that a dialogue on freshwater issues would be initiated at the 1998 CSD Session (April 1998), 'aimed at building a consensus on the necessary actions, and in particular, on the means of implementation and on tangible results, in order to consider initiating a strategic approach for the implementation of all aspects of the sustainable use of freshwater for social and economic purposes, including, inter alia, safe drinking water and sanitation, water for irrigation, recycling, and wastewater management, and the important role freshwater plays in natural ecosystems'. (Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, para. 35.) Preparations are now under way for the discussion of freshwater at the CSD in 1998. Scheduled events include: * Technology Co-operation workshop in the UK on 10 December 1997, examining freshwater issues among others * Freshwater Workshop in Harare in January 1998 * Discussion at the CSD Intersessional in February 1998 * Ministerial meeting on freshwater, France, 19-21 March 1998. A role for the CBD? Providing appropriate expertise: As noted above, 'the important role freshwater plays in natural ecosystems' is recognised as an important issue in the freshwater debates now starting under the CSD. 'Actions to protect the health and productivity of the environment in relation to freshwater' is the theme of one of the Working Groups at the Harare meeting. In view of the immense importance of freshwater issues for biodiversity, and of the functioning of freshwater ecosystems in social and economic terms, it is clearly extremely important that expert input on biodiversity and ecosystems is provided to the CSD's work. The CBD is well placed to provide such input. The Convention is in the advanced stages of formulating a work programme on inland water ecosystems that would address a wide range of relevant issues. To develop and implement this work programme, the CBD has established a network of relationships with a wide range of organisations with expertise in freshwater issues. This network would allow the CBD to act as a focal point for providing relevant input to the CSD. The CBD's institutional place as an overall focal point for biodiversity issues at the international level also suggests that it has a role to play in the CSD's freshwater work. Avoiding duplication: UNGASS and the CBD Conference of the Parties have called for co-ordination of effort at the international level: 'Given the increasing number of decision-making bodies concerned with various aspects of sustainable development, including international conventions, there is an ever greater need for better policy co-ordination at the intergovernmental level, as well as for continued and concerted efforts to enhance collaboration among the secretariats of those decision-making bodies.' Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, para. 117. '... the Commission should carry out its work in such a manner as to avoid unnecessary duplication and repetition of work undertaken by other relevant forums.' Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, para. 131. '[The Conference of the Parties] requests the Executive Secretary to continue to coordinate with the secretariats of relevant biological diversity-related conventions, institutions, and processes, with a view to: ... exploring the possibility of co-ordinating their respective programmes of work ...'. CBD Conference of the Parties, Decision III/21, on the Relationship of the Convention with the Commission on Sustainable Development and Biodiversity- related Conventions, other International Agreements, Institutions and Processes of Relevance. In view of the importance of ecosystem issues in the freshwater debate, of ensuring that the contribution of work under the CSD to the implementation of the CBD is maximised, and of avoiding duplication of effort, the closest possible co-ordination between the two processes is essential. The CBD's role: The CBD could and should make an important contribution to the CSD's work on freshwater. Options that should be explored as a matter of urgency include: * representation of the CBD Secretariat at freshwater meetings preparing for CSD 1998 * co-ordination at governmental level between CSD and CBD Focal Points on procedural and substantive issues relating to the two bodies' work * formal arrangements for the implementation of biodiversity and ecosystem- related aspects of the CSD freshwater work programme by the CBD, through appropriate decisions by CSD 1998 and the fourth Conference of the Parties to the CBD in May 1998; the situation here could be analogous to the role played by the CBD Secretariat in the Interagency Task Force on Forests in implementing part of the overall follow-up to the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests. Rob Lake Royal Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife International November 1997 tel. +44 1767 683355 x2254 fax +44 1767 691178 E-mail rob.lake@rspb.org.uk ------------------ Rob Lake Senior Policy Officer, Development Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds. SG19 2DL, UK Direct tel. (+44) (0)1767 683355 x2254 Fax (+44) (0)1767 691178