The WSSD should reaffirm that the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources are essential to achieving sustainable human development. The Convention on Biological Diversity is the main global instrument for achieving these three objectives.

Loss of biodiversity, together with the consequent reduction in the value of the goods and services that nature provides, undermines the potential for sustainable development. Biodiversity must be treated as a cross-cutting issue at the WSSD. It is an essential part of the natural resource base (fisheries, agriculture, timber, genetic resources, etc.), and its value for sustainable development must be kept in mind when addressing other specific challenges (poverty eradication, unsustainable consumption and production patterns, globalization, etc.). The WSSD should address the question of how to overcome the main obstacles to the successful implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other conventions relating to biodiversity, as many of these obstacles lie outside the sphere of responsibility of these conventions.

Norway considers that priority must be given to:

• Increased recognition of international environmental agreements in the WTO system. Environmental concerns must be coordinated with trade regimes, building on the best available scientific information, the ecosystem approach and the precautionary principle.
• Improved cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination both nationally and globally

In order to manage biodiversity, we need to improve the knowledge base at all levels, including taxonomy, ecosystem structure and functioning, and to improve our understanding of the economic value of species and ecosystem services.

Despite the achievements since UNCED 1992, there is a long way to go before the goals and intentions are fulfilled, and there is a need for further political and scientific development.

The ecosystem approach

Sustainable use of biological resources

The Convention on Biological Diversity provides a framework for the development of central principles and procedures for sustainable resource management, building on the precautionary principle and the ecosystem approach. Cooperation with other organizations, international processes and relevant stakeholders provides a common platform for action and is essential for ensuring broad acceptance of the results.

Norway wishes to emphasize the following:

• The use of natural resources is legitimate, but all use should take account of the functioning of ecosystems and their biodiversity.
• Guidelines are needed for the operationalization of the ecosystem approach, including the implementation of the precautionary principle. This requires a better knowledge and understanding of the way ecosystems function.
• Technical guidelines should be developed for the implementation of ecosystem-based management, and the general guidelines should be adapted to the different sector approaches (fisheries, mariculture, agriculture and forestry are the main sectors using biodiversity).

Norway further supports:

• The speedy ratification and entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
• The implementation of the newly ratified Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UNCLOS of 10 December 1982, relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks of 1995 (1995 Fish Stocks Agreement), which is a very important international treaty since it explicitly links the precautionary approach to fisheries management.
• The ratification and entry into force of the FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (the Compliance Agreement).

Conservation

The protection of species and habitats is a means of ensuring the future functioning and productivity of ecosystems, and must be the basis for the future utilization of living resources.

In particular we wish to focus on the increasing Pressure on the productive coastal zone. The continuous expansion of the aquaculture industry will further increase competition for areas between the various users of the coastal zone. The challenge is to ensure that the use of these areas does not lead to over-exploitation of resources or habitats, and that conflicts between competing interests are kept to a minimum.

If conflict is to be kept to a minimum, the following points are important:

• Increased knowledge is necessary in order to weigh up the competing interests.
• Open cooperation and processes are vital to enhance knowledge of conservation values and the consequences of use.
• Flexible and applicable measures for the protection of marine areas need to be developed.

Benefit-sharing

More political attention should be devoted to mechanisms for benefit-sharing both between countries and within countries. The recent negotiations under the CBD and FAO on access and benefit-sharing in relation to genetic resources have been successful.

The challenge will be to implement effective and transparent access and benefit-sharing frameworks at the national level. It is a big step to move from the intergovernmental arena and its associated political decisions to the level of concrete exchanges on access to and sharing of benefits from biological resources from forests, fields and waters.

Norway wishes to emphasize the importance of the following:

• Implementation of the Bonn Guidelines on Access and Benefit Sharing, to be adopted at CBD COP6, and capacity-building efforts associated with the guidelines.
• Speedy ratification and entry into force of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
• Acknowledgement of and respect for the value of traditional knowledge and improvement of the mechanisms for managing traditional knowledge

Support for the implementation of international agreements

More attention has to be paid to coordinating support for developing countries to enable them to ratify, implement and comply with international agreements. Developing countries need assistance in developing the knowledge and institutions necessary to make trade and environmental policies mutually supportive.

To be able to really implement international agreements, developing countries need financial resources and support for capacity building, including training. Obviously both bilateral and multilateral development assistance should be directed towards fulfilling these needs.

It is also important to develop efficient mechanisms for monitoring and reporting in order to chart the progress made in the implementation of agreements

The importance of a sound knowledge base

Mapping and monitoring systems adapted to local, national and global needs must be developed.Norway supports the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.Decisions under the various different conventions have to be based on the best scientific information available.