Ad hoc committee on developing a recommendation for a post-2020 coral reef target

Background

The ad hoc committee was established by ICRI at the 33rd ICRI General Meeting, December 2018, to follow the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework development process and to contribute on matters relating to the critical status of coral reefs and how these can be sufficiently addressed within the post-2020 framework.

One of the key objectives of this group was to develop a Recommendation from ICRI on the inclusion of coral reefs in the GBF. This was adopted in May 2020 and an addendum to reflect the new proposed target on restoration adopted in December 2021. 

The Terms of Reference were extended by the General Meeting meetings in December 2019. At the 36th General Meeting in February 2021 the ICRI Members extended the mandate to run through to conclusion of the CBD COP 15 meeting, taking into account the delay in negotiations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and thanks to the continued commitment of ICRI members, as well as on going financial and technical support from Vulcan Inc.

The current terms of reference for the ad hoc committee for 2021 are to:

1. Coordinate ICRI’s contribution to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework; and
2. Develop and implement a communications strategy to promote the ICRI Recommendation at important international meetings and events in preparation for and including the 15th COP of the CBD.

ICRI resolutions relating to the ad hoc committee

• ICRI GM 36 (Online, 2021) – Addendum to the ICRI Recommendation on the inclusion of coral reefs and related ecosystems within the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (PDF file)
• ICRI GM 35 (Online, 2021) – Resolution to extend the ICRI ad hoc committee on the inclusion of a coral reef-related target in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (PDF File)
• ICRI GM 34 (Townsville, Australia, 2019) – Resolution for the Inclusion of a coral reef-related target in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (PDF File)
• ICRI GM 33 (Monaco, 2018) – Terms of reference for the ad hoc committee on developing a recommendation for a post-2020 coral reef target (PDF File)

Composition

Co-Chairs: ICRI Secretariat, Monaco, and Vulcan Inc
Membership: Australia, France, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Maldives, New Caledonia, Seychelles, UK, USA, CORDIO, ICRS, IUCN, Reef-World Foundation, SPREP, UN Environment, UNEP-WCMC, Vulcan Inc., Wildlife Conservation Society, World Resources Institute, WWF International.

The work of the ad hoc committee is facilitated by a consultant, Emily Corcoran, thanks to financial support provided by Vulcan Inc.

Working procedure

The ad hoc committee works virtually and takes advantage of any opportunities for face-to-face meetings on the sidelines of other meetings.

Ad hoc committee outputs

ICRI Recommendations

May 2020: Adoption of the ICRRecommendation on the inclusion of coral reefs and related ecosystems within the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

December 2021: Adoption of an Addendum to the ICRI Recommendation on the inclusion of coral reefs and related ecosystems within the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Coral Post-2020 hub

coralpost2020.org and the social media hashtag #ForCoral were established in May 2020. The hub provides access to all of the  outputs of the ad hoc Committee, including links to the Recommendation (including translations); an FAQ; communication resources (translated); articles and Negotiation/ policy support tools.

Submissions to the CBD Secretariat

• August 2021 – The ICRI Response to the Post-2020 GBF 1st Draft (PDF Version and Word Version)
• March 2021 – The CBD Secretariat recently issued Notification 2021-012, triggering a scientific and technical peer review of SBSTTA/23/3/Add.2. The ICRI Post-2020 ad hoc committee prepared a response, developed on the basis of the ICRI Recommendation and focusing on strengthening the reflection of marine and coastal ecosystems, in particular, coral reefs: ICRI’s review of document ICBD/SBSTTA/24/3/ADD2
• February 2021: ICRI Statement to the informal virtual session of SBSTTA 24 (agenda Item 6)
• December 2020: Letter to the CBD Secretariat welcoming the inclusion of the ICRI Recommended indicators
• July 2020: ICRI’s response (PDF) to notification 2020-024 contributing to the peer review process relating to Agenda Item 3, the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This work is being undertaken in preparation for SBSTTA 24, which will take place from 2-7 November 2020.
• February 2020: notification 2019-108 providing views on possible targets, indicators and baselines related to the drivers of biodiversity loss as well as on species conservation and the mainstreaming of biodiversity across sectors; notification 2019-115 providing views on possible targets and indicators for linking biodiversity to climate change. The submission also provides reflections on the Zero Draft of the Global Biodiversity Framework: view ICRI’s response (PDF File)
• January 2020: Through notification 2020-001: provide additional views and suggestions regarding the draft proposals to strengthen technical and scientific cooperation in support of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: view ICRI’s response (PDF File)
• September 2019: notification 2019-075 proposals on the structure of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework: https://www.cbd.int/api/v2013/documents/E4F6DF43-3A3C-A352-21A9-B1DC3A5B77EE/attachments/ICRI.pdf
• April 2019: notification 2019-008 providing views on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. See response: https://www.cbd.int/api/v2013/documents/5630FDC2-3C44-EA39-1BED-47319FD31D12/attachments/ICRI.doc
• December 2018: notification 2018-063 providing views on the proposed preparatory process for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. See response: https://www.cbd.int/doc/strategic-plan/Post2020/postsbi/icri.pdf

Other Outputs

• Review of progress of the ahc to the ICRI Secretariat Handover Ceremony
• Presentation to the 36^th ICRI General Meeting
• Progress report to the ICRI GM 35
  • Report by the Post-2020 ad hoc Committee to the 35^th General Meeting (PDF File)
• Presentation used for Country Dialogue Virtual Calls (PDF File)
• Article in Reef Encounters: Coral Reefs and the Convention of Biological Diversity Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (July 2020)
• Progress report to the ICRI GM 34
  • Report by the Post-2020 ad hoc Committee to the 34th General Meeting (PDF File)
  • Annex 2: Coral related target text development (PDF File)
• Update to the CBD co-chairs on the progress of the ad hoc committee provided by ICRI GM 34 (December 2019). See: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2evfyd7rr3y3gon/191210_Elizabeth-Maruma-Mrema.pdf?dl=0
• Information note: Ways and means to contribute to the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (May 2019)

About the post-2020 process

In 2020 the Convention on Biological Diversity will adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”. In its decision 14/34 the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

All updates, meetings and documentation relating to the Post-2020 process are shared here.

Other useful links/ material to support the Committee

• A WCS convened webinar on integrity within the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework for EU CBD negotiators held 14 December 2021
• Approved IUCN Resolution 105- Conserving and protecting coral reef through the post-2020 global biodiversity framework 
• A WCS Op-Ed entitled We Can Save Earth’s Coral Reefs- Members of the International Coral Reef Initiative have agreed on the steps we must take. Now governments have to act which details the work done by ICRI members for the inclusion of coral reefs in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework was published in Scientific American.
• WCS has produced a document in support of the ICRI recommendation “Recommendation: setting shared goals and targets for coral reefs“, available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Indonesian, Portuguese and Spanish.
• WWF’s Coral Reef Rescue Initiative shared a blog post “Achieving high ambitions from down below” about the need to include ecosystem-specific indicators in the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
• A post-2020 target on coral reef ecosystems – Policy recommendation from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
• Analysis of global and regional policy instruments and governance mechanisms related to the protection and sustainable management of coral reefs (PDF File)
• A review of the experiences of selected coral reef countries in addressing Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 (PDF File)
• Appendix 1: Experiences of identified coral reef countries and other stakeholders (PDF File)
• Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (IUCN): https://www.iucn.org/theme/global-policy/our-work/convention-biological-diversity-cbd/post-2020-global-biodiversity-framework
• OECD Expert Workshop on The Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework: Targets, Indicators and Measurability Implications at Global and National Level

The work of the ad hoc committee is supported by Vulcan Inc.