◊ On Article 18(5), has your country promoted the establishment of joint research programmes and joint ventures for the development of technologies relevant to the objectives of the Convention?
a) No
b) Yes (please provide some examples below)
X
Examples for the establishment of joint research programmes and joint ventures for the development of technologies relevant to the objectives of the Convention.
For example:
International Plant Names Project (IPNI).
This collaborative project between the Australian National Herbarium (CSIRO Plant Industry & DEH), the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Harvard University Herbaria combines the data of Index Kewensis, the Gray Card Index and the Australian Plant Name Index into a combined dataset, replicated in real time at each institution. IPNI has become a standard tool for nomenclatural and taxonomic research in the global scientific community, providing the names of all seed plants of the world. See:
http://www.ipni.org/index.html
Pacific
The Australian Government through the Pacific Governance Support Program (PGSP) has recently commenced CBD and related Convention capacity-building activities with Pacific Island Countries. The Australian assistance is being delivered under a joint venture called the Pacific Regional Support Mechanism. The joint venture includes the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the United Nations University (UNU), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The joint venture is designed to support Pacific Island developing countries to undertake National Capacity Self Assessments (NCSAs), funded through the Global Environment Facility. The assistance may include identification and future development of technologies relevant to the objectives of the Convention, depending on the biodiversity priorities and capacity needs of participating Pacific Island Countries.
Papua New Guinea
Australia’s Government Department of the Environment and Heritage has a joint venture with Papua New Guinea (PNG) that includes the development of technologies relevant to the objectives of the CBD. Australia also has an ongoing Bilateral Cooperation Program with PNG, which includes promoting partnership development as a means for improving PNG’s ability to address its environmental priorities. As well as assisting PNG to undertake biodiversity conservation activities, Australia has worked with other organisations (eg. research institutions and non-government organisations) to assist PNG to access the technical/scientific assistance required. For example, Australia has worked with the World Wildlife Fund-PNG in assisting PNG’s Department of Environment and Conservation to develop a Protected Area register and supporting digital database.
Has your country established links to non-governmental organizations, private sector and other institutions holding important databases or undertaking significant work on biological diversity through the CHM? (Decision V/14)
No
No, but coordination with relevant NGOs, private sector and other institutions under way
X
Yes, links established with relevant NGOs, private sector and institutions
The following question (132) is for DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Has your country further developed the CHM to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition to gain access to information in the field of scientific and technical cooperation? (Decision V/14)
No
Yes, by using funding opportunities
Yes, by means of access to, and transfer of technology
Yes, by using promotion of contacts with relevant institutions, organizations and the private sector
X
Yes, by using other means (please specify below)
Further comments on CHM developments to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition to gain access to information in the field of scientific and technical cooperation.
Has your country used CHM to make information available more useful for researchers and decision-makers? (Decision V/14)
No
No, but relevant initiatives under consideration
Yes (please provide details below)
X
Further comments on development of relevant initiatives.
At the national level the CHM has been used to serve the information needs of those at Australian Government, State (provincial and local government levels, and community organizations, responsible for domestic implementation of the Convention and the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biodiversity.
Has your country developed, provided and shared services and tools to enhance and facilitate the implementation of the CHM and further improve synergies among biodiversity-related Conventions? (Decision V/14)
a) No
X
b) Yes (please specify services and tools below)
Further comments on services and tools to enhance and facilitate the implementation of CHM and further improve synergies among biodiversity-related Conventions.
Review and reconstruction of CHM national portal currently underway.
Please elaborate below on the implementation of this article and associated decisions specifically focusing on:
outcomes and impacts of actions taken;
contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention;
contribution to progress towards the 2010 target;
progress in implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
constraints encountered in implementation.
Article 19 - Handling of biotechnology and distribution of its benefits
◊ On Article 19(1), has your country taken measures to provide for the effective participation in biotechnological research activities by those Contracting Parties, which provide the genetic resources for such research?
a) No
b) No, but potential measures are under review
c) Yes, some measures are in place
X
d) Yes, comprehensive legislation are in place
e) Yes, comprehensive statutory policy and subsidiary legislation are in place
◊ On Article 19(2), has your country taken all practicable measures to promote and advance priority access by Parties, on a fair and equitable basis, to the results and benefits arising from biotechnologies based upon genetic resources provided by those Parties?
Biotechnology
Geoff Burton (GRM)
a) No
b) No, but potential measures are under review
c) Yes, some measures are in place
X
d) Yes, comprehensive measures are in place
Please elaborate below on the implementation of this article and associated decisions specifically focusing on:
outcomes and impacts of actions taken;
contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention;
contribution to progress towards the 2010 target;
progress in implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
constraints encountered in implementation.
As defined by the terms of the ‘Nationally Consistent Approach for Access to and Utilisation of Australia’s Native Genetic and Biochemical Resources’ (NCA), Australia is committed to facilitating the ecologically sustainable access and use of biological resources and enabling the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of Australia's genetic and biochemical resources. It seeks to model best practice conduct for both commercial and non-commercial scientific research. In regard to the latter, the agreement between the Craig Venter Institute and Australia is being adopted by the Institute as a best practice model for future access agreements with other governments.
See Article 15 (Question 110) for further details on the NCA.
Article 20 – Financial resources
Please describe for each of the following items the quantity of financial resources, both internal and external, that have been utilized, received or provided, as applicable, to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity, on an annual basis, since your country became a Party to the Convention.
Budgetary allocations by national and local Governments as well as different sectoral ministries
It is not possible to calculate total financial rsources expended by Australian Governments (at all levels) on matters applicable to implementation of the Convention since Australia became a party. It is not possible to separate CBD related expenditure from overall budget allocations, either at national or state level.
The Department of the Environment and Heritage advises the Australian Government on policies and programs for the protection and conservation of the environment, including natural, cultural and Indigenous heritage. It manages a significant annual budget in its work with other Australian Government agencies, industry sectors, the community, and other levels of government to protect Australia's environment and heritage. It represents Australia in international environmental agreements and forums such as CBD, CITES and CMS, the Antarctic Treaty System, the International Whaling Commission and the Basel Convention.
The Department also manages major environmental programs, the most significant of which come under the umbrella of the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. Both the Trust and National Action Plan are administered jointly with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.The Department administers the Australian Government environmental laws listed in Appendix 6, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Extra-budgetary resources (identified by donor agencies)
Bilateral channels (identified by donor agencies)
The Australian Government (through its environment and overseas development assistance agencies) has recently commenced Convention capacity-building programs, bilaterally in selected Melanesian countries, and within SPREP, through the Pacific Governance Support Program (PGSP). This is designed to support developing countries undertaking GEF funded National Capacity Self Assessments to support improved environmental governance.
The priority Conventions are the CBD, CCD (which, in the Pacific relates to deforestation and land degradation), and the UNFCCC.
Regional channels (identified by donor agencies)
The Regional Natural Heritage Programme (RNHP) was announced by the Australian Prime Minister on 18 February, 2004. It has a budget of $10 million over three years to provide grants to non-government organisations (NGOs) and other relevant agencies to protect outstanding bidodiversity in hotspot areas of South-East Asia and the Pacific.
The Biodiversity Hotspots concept has been developed by international scientists and experts who recognise the challenges and threats to conserving the world's biodiversity.
Hotspots are identified areas where biodiversity is particularly concentrated, and areas of high biodiversity value that are significantly threatened.
In South-East Asia and the Pacific region, a number of hotspot areas have been scientifically identified and have been adopted by Conservation International for its conservation programs.
Current RNHP Priority Areas are Indonesia (especially Sumatra); East Timor; Papua New Guinea; Vietnam; Philippines; and Pacific Island countries.
Priority Areas may change during the life of the Programme. Partnerships and synergies will also be sought for activities undertaken under relevant international conventions, such as the CBD. See also:
Regional Natural Heritage Programme: index
Multilateral channels (identified by donor agencies)
Australia views the GEF as the primary vehicle for funding global biodiversity conservation under the Convention.
In August 2002, Australia increased its contribution to the GEF by 58 per cent in nominal terms to meet its burden share, contributing $68.2 million to the Facility over the next three years (which will be drawn down over the next ten years).
Private sources (identified by donor agencies)
Private biodiversity conservation organizations, such as WWF International, The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International sometimes have an Australian arm, or are regionally headquartered in Australia, with a focus on activities specifically in Australia’s region.
Many Australian parks and reserves (primarily but not entirely at the sub-national level) levy user charges, which are redirected towards biodiversity conservation, as well as reserve maintenance and upkeep. Other instruments such as incentives measures and sectoral reform initiatives, such as for water, are attempting to achieve similar outcomes in the wider natural resource use economy.
