The PEBLDS Joint Secretariat revised the PEBLDS Rolling Programme of Work and following the decision from the Budapest Conference in 2002, harmonised the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity with the programme of work.

The Joint Secretariat made the following modifications:

• Retained the Aims of the PEBLDS as the overarching strategic goals for the European region and combined the objectives of the PEBLDS with the objectives of the CBD Strategic Plan (in the European context) and, in that way focused the work programme and eliminated any overlaps or duplication.
• Dropped the existing programme element and sub-element headings as it was possible to fit all activities under the new integrated goals and objectives.
• Noted when an activity contributed to the implementation of a thematic or cross-cutting programme of the CBD, but grouped activities according to their objective rather than the CBD programme under which they may fit.

The Joint Secretariat further proposed that:

• all new activities of the PEBLDS should be considered on the basis of the goals and objectives in order to clearly identify the actions that help meet the objectives of the PEBLDS.
• a column with quantifiable or time-bound indicators needed to be added. This would be in line with the aim of the PEBLDS to reduce substantially the threats to, and increase the resilience of, Europe's biological and landscape diversity.
• monitor the progress of implementation of the PEBLDS and the achievement of goals through an analysis of the indicators.

The proposed revision was submitted to the PEBLDS Bureau at their 7th meeting in September 2002 for their comments. The Bureau welcomed the revision but the Joint Secretariat was asked to:

• further revise the programme of work and 'clean up' activities to delete those which were irrelevant or non-operational;
  
• develop time-bound, quantitative indicators for results-based monitoring;
  
• delete activities related to the Cartagena Protocol or access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (however, Norway felt this should be further discussed with the governments at the 7th PEBLDS Council meeting);
  
• delete preparatory meetings for SBSTTA; and,
  
• develop serious activities for engagement of civil society.

The comments were taken into account for the preparation of this paper but further work needs to be carried out with the partners to develop the indicators as suggested, particularly because there is uncertainty surrounding the funding of some of the PEBLDS activities. The views and comments of the PEBLDS Council on the revised Rolling Work Programme are welcomed.

Goals

Framework for the PEBLDS Rolling Work Programme, based on the harmonisation of the
Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the PEBLDS:

Goal 1: The PEBLDS is fulfilling its role as facilitator for European biodiversity issues, in close collaboration with other strategic frameworks, in particular the European Commission biodiversity strategy, as well as facilitating CBD implementation in the pan European region.

Goal 2: Participants in the PEBLDS process have improved financial, human, scientific, technical, and technological capacity to implement the PEBLDS and the CBD.

Goal 3: National biodiversity strategies and action plans and the integration of biodiversity and landscape concerns into relevant sectors serve as an effective framework for the implementation of the objectives of the PEBLDS and the CBD.

Goal 4: There is a better understanding of the importance of biodiversity, landscape, PEBLDS and of the CBD in the pan European region, and this has led to broader engagement across society in implementation.

Click here to view the full text of the Rolling Work Programme.