Press Release

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
United Nations Environment Programme
413 Saint-Jacques Street, Suite 800, Montreal, QC, H2Y 1N9, Canada
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[email protected] www.cbd.int

PRESS RELEASE
The Group of 77 and China propose a Multi-Year Plan of Action for South-South Cooperation on Biodiversity for Development for adoption at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties
Nagoya, 19 October 2010.

At the First Forum on South-South Cooperation on Biodiversity for Development, convened in Nagoya on 17 October, the Group of 77 and China unanimously adopted a draft Multi-Year Plan of Action on South-Couth Cooperation on Biodiversity for Development.

“The Plan defines targets and South-South cooperative strategies, including triangular
cooperation and programmes, to the year 2020,” said H.E. Ambassador Abdullah M. Alsaidi,
Permanent Representative of Yemen and Chairman of the G77. “The Plan also reflects the need
to include consideration of the loss of biodiversity in other types if South-South and triangular
agreements, therefore, calls for further exchange of knowledge and technology among Member
States.”

“The adoption of the Plan by the Group of 77 and China is a milestone towards a successful
outcome of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties,” said Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive
Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. He thanked Ambassador Alsaidi for his
leadership in building consensus of the 131 Parties of the Group of 77 and China, as well as
H.E. Ambassador Conrod Hunte of Antigua and Barbuda, the past Chair of the G-77, for his
contribution to the development of the Plan. He also welcomed the proactive attitude of
H.E. Ambassador Daniel Chuburu, Argentina, who is the future Chair of the G-77.

Participants from Grenada, Brazil and Malawi highlighted the importance of a united voice from
all 131 Parties of the Group of 77 and China, to the overall success of the meeting of the
Conference of the Parties, particularly on key issues such as the adoption of the international
regime on access and benefit-sharing (ABS), the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan and a suitable
financial mechanism to support their implementation. Participants agreed also on a regular
coordination meeting schedule during the meeting.

“Developed countries are our partners, and we must seek constructive collaboration with them,”
stated Ambassador Alsaidi, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China “We look forward to its
adoption at this meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity and we call on our partners to support for its implementation.”

Information on COP 10

- Cop 10 will be held from 18 to 29 October 2010 at the Nagoya Conference Centre, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. See www.cbd.int/cop10 for more information.
- Live and recorded webcasts of the proceedings of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties can be accessed at: http://webcast.cop10.go.jp/
- Press briefs of the main issues under discussion can be found at: http://www.cbd.int/cop10/meeting/media/
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entering into force in December 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources. With 193 Parties, the Convention has near universal participation among countries. The Convention seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business
community. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a supplementary treaty to the Convention, seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. To date, 159 countries and the European Union have ratified the Protocol. The Secretariat of the Convention and its Cartagena Protocol is located in Montreal.
For more information visit www.cbd.int

For additional information, please contact: David Ainsworth on +81 (0) 80 699 04168 (until 29 October 2010) or at [email protected]; or Johan Hedlund at [email protected]