Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CO-OP4CBD (Co-operation for the Convention on Biological Diversity)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-05-31
CO-OP4CBD is a Horizon Europe-funded project which aims to enhance coordination of EU support to advance the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This objective is achieved through the effective use of existing expertise and initiatives, ultimately leading to a more coherent approach in identifying and utilizing expertise across the EU and its Member States.
Biodiversity is declining at unprecedented rates, posing severe consequences for humanity worldwide (IPBES 2019). Addressing this requires transformative change across various scales, including technological, economic, and social systems, aligned with the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity—"Living in harmony with nature." Achieving this vision necessitates a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The post-2020 global biodiversity framework under development by CBD Parties is central to this effort, providing a structured approach to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and promote recovery by 2050.
Biodiversity is declining at unprecedented rates, posing severe consequences for humanity worldwide (IPBES 2019). Addressing this requires transformative change across various scales, including technological, economic, and social systems, aligned with the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity—"Living in harmony with nature." Achieving this vision necessitates a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The post-2020 global biodiversity framework under development by CBD Parties is central to this effort, providing a structured approach to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and promote recovery by 2050.
The project’s objectives and key activities are as follow:
Objective 1: Develop and implement an approach for more effectively engaging expertise within CBD processes, in informing EU and its Member States and associated countries’ positions and in providing briefings in support to their negotiators.
Work Package 1 (WP1) has made significant progress by identifying and prioritizing knowledge needs through workshops and surveys. The workshops facilitated discussions on CBD-relevant knowledge needs, resulting in the completion of key milestones. Two major workshops were held in March 2023 and February 2024, involving over 100 participants, including CBD National Focal Points. These workshops identified crucial knowledge needs and preferred formats for expert support, laying the groundwork for future activities.
Through the work of WP2, the project has produced four technical briefs during its first eighteen months which are published on its website, in order to support EU CBD negotiators, therefore successfully providing briefings in support to negotiators.
Objective 2: Increase access to European expertise through enhanced mechanisms for promoting technical and scientific cooperation, and through targeted capacity-building.
WP2 established expert communities to address specific CBD topics. Through the work of WP4, project also successfully organized workshops and training sessions, reaching over 520 participants.
Training sessions covered topics such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Bioland tool, and SBSTTA (Subsidiary body on scientific, technical and technological advice) agenda items. These sessions enhanced stakeholders' capacity to participate effectively in CBD processes.
Objective 3: Contribute to the development of an effective process for monitoring and review of the efforts of Parties to implement the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the CBD.
WP3 focused on understanding capacity needs for the monitoring framework. A comprehensive survey was disseminated in multiple languages, receiving some participation from EU member states.
Regular meetings and workshops, including participation in SBSTTA 26 and SBI 4 (Subsidiary body on implementation), ensured alignment with ongoing negotiations. The survey's preliminary findings are being analysed to inform capacity-building initiatives and improve monitoring frameworks.
Overview of Project Results:
Over the first eighteen months, CO-OP4CBD has successfully engaged a diverse range of stakeholders through workshops, surveys, and training sessions. These activities have led to a shared identification of knowledge needs, improved capacity for technical and scientific cooperation, and the identification of capacity needs relating to the implementation of the monitoring framework for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). The project has adapted to challenges and delays, ensuring continued progress towards its strategic objectives.
The project has laid a strong foundation for the next phases of its implementation, focusing on integrating science through expert engagement into CBD processes and enhancing the impact of biodiversity efforts across Europe. The commitment to open science and data management practices ensures that CO-OP4CBD's outputs are transparent, reproducible, and accessible, contributing to the broader goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
Objective 1: Develop and implement an approach for more effectively engaging expertise within CBD processes, in informing EU and its Member States and associated countries’ positions and in providing briefings in support to their negotiators.
Work Package 1 (WP1) has made significant progress by identifying and prioritizing knowledge needs through workshops and surveys. The workshops facilitated discussions on CBD-relevant knowledge needs, resulting in the completion of key milestones. Two major workshops were held in March 2023 and February 2024, involving over 100 participants, including CBD National Focal Points. These workshops identified crucial knowledge needs and preferred formats for expert support, laying the groundwork for future activities.
Through the work of WP2, the project has produced four technical briefs during its first eighteen months which are published on its website, in order to support EU CBD negotiators, therefore successfully providing briefings in support to negotiators.
Objective 2: Increase access to European expertise through enhanced mechanisms for promoting technical and scientific cooperation, and through targeted capacity-building.
WP2 established expert communities to address specific CBD topics. Through the work of WP4, project also successfully organized workshops and training sessions, reaching over 520 participants.
Training sessions covered topics such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Bioland tool, and SBSTTA (Subsidiary body on scientific, technical and technological advice) agenda items. These sessions enhanced stakeholders' capacity to participate effectively in CBD processes.
Objective 3: Contribute to the development of an effective process for monitoring and review of the efforts of Parties to implement the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the CBD.
WP3 focused on understanding capacity needs for the monitoring framework. A comprehensive survey was disseminated in multiple languages, receiving some participation from EU member states.
Regular meetings and workshops, including participation in SBSTTA 26 and SBI 4 (Subsidiary body on implementation), ensured alignment with ongoing negotiations. The survey's preliminary findings are being analysed to inform capacity-building initiatives and improve monitoring frameworks.
Overview of Project Results:
Over the first eighteen months, CO-OP4CBD has successfully engaged a diverse range of stakeholders through workshops, surveys, and training sessions. These activities have led to a shared identification of knowledge needs, improved capacity for technical and scientific cooperation, and the identification of capacity needs relating to the implementation of the monitoring framework for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). The project has adapted to challenges and delays, ensuring continued progress towards its strategic objectives.
The project has laid a strong foundation for the next phases of its implementation, focusing on integrating science through expert engagement into CBD processes and enhancing the impact of biodiversity efforts across Europe. The commitment to open science and data management practices ensures that CO-OP4CBD's outputs are transparent, reproducible, and accessible, contributing to the broader goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
In the first eighteen months of the project, it has managed to identify experts for key issues through the work of Work Package 1 and 2. Support from experts to their National Focal Points and CBD negotiators was strengthened through the production and dissemination of four technical briefs within the first year of the project. Those briefs were able to me disseminated through dialogues between experts and CBD negotiators.