The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ahmed Djoghlaf, congratulated Japan on its decision to revise its national biodiversity strategy and incorporate it will common global concerns, such as the 2010 target of achieving a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss.
Addressing the 300 participants to the international symposium on the revision of Japan’s biodiversity strategy Djoghlaf said "Japan’s decision to revise its biodiversity strategy to integrate the commitment taken by 110 Heads of State and Government at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development to significantly reduce biodiversity loss by 2010, as it is a model that needs to be followed by the rest of the international community if the promise is to be fulfilled."
"I also applaud Japan’s decision to make its strategy a living document to be adjusted every five years in order to integrate the latest developments in the implementation of the Convention, thus elevating it as a major tool of the translation of the three objectives of the Convention, thus elevating it as a major tool of the translation of the three objectives of the Convention at the national level."
Initially adopted in 1995 to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity, the national biodiversity strategy of Japan was first revised in 2002.
The Executive Secretary’s visit to Japan comes in the wake of a decision adopted by the Japanese Cabinet, on Jan 16 to offer to host the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, to be held in 2010.
"The decision taken by Japan at the cabinet level three years in advance of the meeting is unique and needs to be applauded and emulated," said Djoghlaf.
"I hope a host for the 2012 meeting will soon be identified so as to establish a triple presidency of the Conference of the Parties for the period 2008-2012.
Regarding the protection of life on Earth, Djghlaf emphasized that "we need continuity, long-term planning as well as sustained and coordinated efforts at local, national and global levels."
During his visit to Japan, the Executive Secretary finalized the negotiation of a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, located in Yokohama, to enhance inter-agency cooperation for the implementation of the objectives of the Convention on life on Earth.
During his visit to Tokyo, the Executive Secretary met with the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, senior officials in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Environment, and Agriculture as well as the Mayor of Nagoya, the Vice-Governor of Aichi Prefecture.
The Executive Secretary also met with representatives of Nippon Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation) as well as the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
"The biodiversity assembly in 2010, Djghlaf said, will be of crucial importance as it coincides with the 2010 Target, the adoption of a new international regime on access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources, as well as the celebration of the International Year on Biodiversity.
"I would therefore like to pay tribute to the government and the people of Japan as well as to the Mayor of Nagoya on life on Earth. Japan has indeed made a unique contribution to the climate change agenda through the Kyoto Protocol and we expect a similar contribution on the field of biological diversity."
A decision on the venue and date of the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties will be adopted in Bonn, Germany in May 2008.