from the global partnership for plant conservation

Convention on Biological DiversityPlant Conservation Report Page 8A SUMMARY OF THE IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATIONOF THE STRATEGY BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TOTHE CBDThe Global Strategy for Plant Conservationwas adopted in 2002 (annex to decision VI/9)with the ultimate goal to halt the current andcontinuing loss of plant diversity. It includes 16outcome targets to be met by 2010. In line with themulti-year programme of work of the Conferenceof the Parties up to 2010, adopted through decisionVII/31, an in-depth review of the GSPC has beencarried out, based on (i) information compiledfrom the third national reports; (ii) additionalinformation submitted by Parties, stakeholdersand partners; and (iii) input from the meeting of aliaison group convened by the Executive Secretaryin collaboration with the Global Partnership forPlant Conservation, held in Glasnevin, Dublin, from 23to 25 October 2006.The review indicates that, in line with its objectives,the Global Strategy has provided a useful frameworkto harmonize and bring together various initiativesand programmes in plant conservation at both thenational and regional levels. The GSPC has beennotably successful in stimulating the engagement ofthe botanical and plant conservation communitiesin the work of the Convention, through inter alia theestablishment of national, regional and global networks,including in particular the Global Partnership for PlantConservation, launched at the seventh meeting of theConference of Parties to the Convention. The GSPChas also stimulated the development of new projectsand initiatives and helped to mobilize resources forthe implementation of its targets. The findings of theMillennium Ecosystem Assessment provide a furtherrationale for implementing the Strategy, includingat the national level, with a view to securing plantresources and their provisioning services and allowingcommunities to continue to derive benefits from plantdiversity, for example, food, medicines, fuel, fibre, woodand other uses. In addition, the context of nationalimplementation of the GSPC provides opportunities toaddress the Millennium Development Goals especiallyby seeking to reduce poverty (Goal 1), combat diseases(Goal 6) and promote environmentalsustainability (Goal 7).Landscape diversity securing plant diversity (Photo:PlantLife International).their national biodiversity strategies and action plans.Constraints to the national implementation of theStrategy include limited institutional integration,lack of mainstreaming, and inadequate policies andlegal frameworks at the planning stage; and at theoperational level, lack of data, tools and technologies,limited sectoral collaboration and coordination, as wellas limited financial and human resources. The reviewindicates also that further implementation of the GlobalStrategy should include considerations related to: (i)climate change, a driver of biodiversity loss increasing inintensity in recent years; and (ii) the impacts of nutrientloading on plant diversity.With the key challenges for plant conservation identified,it should now be possible to focus on enhancedimplementation of the Strategy up to and beyond 2010.This should include reaching beyond the botanical andconservation communities to address the wider impactson plant diversity from agriculture and climate change,integrate the Strategy into poverty reduction initiativesand development strategies, and consider the ways inwhich the Strategy can be developed beyond 2010 (seeAnnex 1 of SBSTTA recommendation XII/2 on the indepthreview of the Strategy in 2007).Efforts are being made to facilitatenational implementation of theStrategy, including through thedevelopment of national strategiesand targets, and/or the integration ofthe GSPC targets into national plans,programmes and strategies includingthe national biodiversity strategies andaction plans (in response to decisionVI/9, paragraphs 3 and 4). Currentlyhowever, less than 10% of Parties havedeveloped national strategies and/or targets, or incorporated these intoLeft: Habitat destruction leading to loss of plant diversity (Photo:Peter Wyse Jackson). Right: Change in land use affecting plantdiversity (Photo: Christopher Willis).