Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

International Conventions

The MA was designed to meet some of the assessment needs of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and other users including the private sector, civil society, and indigenous peoples. The MA was invited by these conventions to provide updates on progress and to provide the assessment input to their scientific and technical bodies. To strengthen the linkages to the Conventions and to ensure that user needs are being met, the executives of CBD, CCD, Ramsar, and CMS represented these conventions on the MA Board along with the chairs of the scientific subsidiary body of each convention.

Convention on Biological Diversity

Convention to Combat Diversification

Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar)

Convention on Migratory Species

Convention on Biological Diversity

Parties to the CBD have provided their endorsement of the MA: the MA has been formally incorporated into the SBSTTA workplan; and at COP-6, the MA was called upon to provide information to the CBD in no fewer than five decisions. The MA has produced a special synthesis report on biodiversity that was reviewed by CBD focal points. The report shows how biodiversity is treated within all working groups of the MA, and was guided by the recommendations from experts that participated in the MA Cross-cutting meeting on Biodiversity held in Gland, Switzerland on February 13-14, 2003.

CBD Decisions that make reference to the MA

Recommendation X/3 adopted by SBSTTA 10: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: review of the draft reports, in particular the draft synthesis report prepared for the Convention on Biological Diversity
COP 7 Ministerial Declaration: The Kuala Lumpur Declaration
Decision VII/2 adopted by COP7: The biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands
Decision VII/4 adopted by COP7: Biological diversity of inland water ecosystems
Decision VII/6 adopted by COP7: Assessment Processes
Decision VII/11 adopted by COP7: Ecosystem Approach
Decision VII/15 adopted by COP7: Biodiversity and Climate Change
Decision VII/18 adopted by COP7: Incentive Measures (Article 11)
Decision VII/26 adopted by COP7: Cooperation with other conventions and international organizations and initiatives
Decision VII/27 adopted by COP7: Programme of Work on Mountain Biological Diversity - Goal 3.1.
Decision VII/30 adopted by COP7: Strategic Plan: future evaluation of progress
Decision VI/7: Identification, monitoring, indicators and assessments – (C) Scientific assessments
Decision VI/8: Global Taxonomy Initiative – Annex, Section (B): Taxonomic needs assessments at the national, regional and global levels, Operational objective 1 - Assess taxonomic needs and capacities at national, regional and global levels for the implementation of the Convention, Planned Activty 17.
Decision VI/20: Cooperation with other organizations, initiatives and conventions
Decision VI/22. adopted by COP6: Forest biological diversity
Decision V/21 adopted by COP5: Cooperation with other bodies

Convention to Combat Desertification

Parties to have provided their endorsement of the MA: the MA was formally acknowledged by the CST and COP as a source of assessment information. The MA produced a special synthesis report on desertification that was reviewed by CCD focal points. The report examines the globlal implications of desertification and how it is covered in the MA working groups and was guided by the recommendations from experts that participated in the MA Cross-cutting meeting on Drylands and Desertification held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan August 12-15, 2003.

CCD Decisions that make reference to the MA

Report of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention: D. Ways and means of promoting know-how and technology transfer for combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought
Decision 19/COP6 adopted by COP 6: Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
Decision 19/COP.5 adopted by COP 5: Dryland Degradation Assessment and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar)

Parties to Ramsar provided their endorsement of the MA: the MA was incorporated into several work groups undertaking the STRP workplan; and at COP-8, the MA was identified as a source of methods for assessment of wetland ecosystems. The MA has produced a special synthesis report on wetlands that was distributed for review by Ramsar focal points and STRP members. The report shows how wetlands were treated within all working groups of the MA, and was guided by the recommendations from experts that participated in the MA Cross-cutting meeting on Freshwater held in Darwin, Australia June 4-6, 2003.

Ramsar Resolutions that make reference to the MA

Decision SC30-10 adopted by the 30th Meeting of the Standing Committee: “Special Presentation on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment”
Resolution VIII.6 adopted by COP8: A Ramsar Framework for Wetland Inventory
Resolution VIII.7: Gaps in and harmonization of Ramsar guidance on wetland ecological character, inventory, assessment, and monitoring
Resolution VIII.8 Assessing and reporting the status and trends of wetlands, and the implementation of Article 3.2 of the Convention
Resolution VIII.25: The Ramsar Strategic Plan 2003-2008 – ANNEX, SECTION II: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN 2003-2008, OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE 1 Inventory AND assessment, Operational Objective 1.2

Convention on Migratory Species

Parties to the CMS provided their endorsement of the MA: at COP-7, the MA was invited to collaborate with CMS to determine the benefits MA could provide Parties and the Convention itself.

CMS Resolutions that make reference to the MA

Resolution 7.9: Cooperation with Other Bodies AND Processes