CBD Implementation Assessment

Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity occurs largely at the national level and is the responsibility of each individual Contracting Party.

The aim of UNEP-WCMC is to work in collaboration with the Secretariat and Contracting Parties to develop and test mechanisms for systematic assessment of the implementation of the Convention that will:

be of value at national level, providing a framework for information management and reporting
be of value internationally, providing a framework for assessing implementation
help to focus attention on areas where further international support is required
be expandable to incorporate further detail and new requirements as the Convention continues to develop

Obligations on Contracting Parties

The official documents that guide Contracting Parties in their implementation of the Convention are the Articles of the Convention and the Decisions of the Conferences of the Parties. UNEP-WCMC has prepared a list of all obligations that specifically relate to actions by Contracting Parties.

Summary of national commitments implied by the Articles of the Convention and the Decision of the Conference of the Parties
(Version 2.1 - 20 September 2000)

National Reporting

Under Article 26, Contracting Parties are required to report periodically on implementation of the Convention. UNEP-WCMC worked in collaboration with the CBD Secretariat and a number of Contracting Parties to develop new guidelines for national reporting based on the list of obligations mentioned above. The new guidelines were adopted at the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Decision V/19).

Guidelines for National Reports - English (October 2000)
The Guidelines for National Reports are also available in Word and PDF format in:
Arabic
Chinese
French
Russian
Spanish

The project webpage for the CBD Implementation Measures Pilot Project describes how the guidelines were developed. It provides access to copies of all relevant information, including project planning documents, previous drafts and the comments of all project participants.

Review of national implementation

Using the same list of obligations, UNEP-WCMC has developed and tested an approach for compiling information on national implementation of the Convention, which can then be used to assess and report on implementation, and to help identify future priorities. The information compiled as part of this approach would feed directly into development of the national report using the guidelines identified above.

Framework for national assessment of the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Version 2.1 - 20 September 2000)
How to carry out an assessment (Version 2.0 - 20 September 2000)

The following projects have already been carried out using this methodology, and all of the project documents can be reviewed, including reviews of lessons learnt in carrying out the projects.

In 1999, UNEP-WCMC worked with the UK National Focal Point to carry out an assessment of CBD implementation in the United Kingdom.
UNEP-WCMC has recently completed work with the UNEP Regional Office for Europe and six European countries on a project for the assessment of CBD implementation in selected CEE/NIS countries. This work was funded by the European Commission.
UNEP-WCMC is currently working with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development to support assessment in the seven countries of Central America. This work is funded by the UK Darwin Initiative.

Any Contracting Party wishing to use this approach should feel free to do so. UNEP-WCMC would be pleased to assist in any way that was useful, and would appreciate being informed.

Managing information at the national level

If the matrices described above are used for compiling information on implementation at the national level, this information can then be used as the basis for:

completing the national report in the recommended format
reporting at the national level
review of progress at the national level
setting priorities and justifying allocation of resources

The matrices therefore provide a framework for information management and reporting, built logically on the list of obligations.

Information management and reporting to conventions is also a key part of efforts to harmonize national reporting to international conventions.