Convention on Biological Diversity - Actors and distribution of competences<p>The implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity is carried out by the federal government, the regions, the communities and the local authorities (provinces and municipalities).<br />
</p>
<p>The <strong>regions</strong> are in charge of territorial matters. They have therefore the greatest amount of responsibilities on biodiversity-related issues: nature conservation, forest management, agriculture, exploitation of natural resources, land use and spatial planning, hunting, fisheries, etc. They are also in charge of tourism, which is a competence that has been delegated to them by the communities.</p>
<p>The <strong>federal government</strong> is more specifically involved in the international dimension, the external relations and in matters related to the North Sea. It is the federal government that undertakes the follow-up of trade in threatened species and that takes measures relating to the trade of exotic species.</p>
<p>The <strong>communities</strong> take care of issues linked to culture, research, education and public awareness. The regions and the federal government can also raise public awareness in their own fields of competence.</p>
<p>The <strong>provinces and the municipalities</strong> play an important role at the local level, in accordance with regional policy.</p>
<p>The coherence of actions at national level is ensured by a coordination mechanism composed of representatives from the federal government, the regions and the communities. It is called the <strong>Coordinating Committee for International Environment Policy</strong> (CCIEP).</p>
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</p>2017-02-07T09:13:30Ztag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2017-02-07:/implementation/authoritieshttp://www.archives.biodiv.be/misc_/CHM2/Site.gifConvention on Biological DiversityThe Belgian Steering Committee 'Biodiversity Convention'tag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2016-03-01:/implementation/authorities/steeringcom2016-03-01T12:47:16ZAnton Cupceahdekoeijer<p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The coordinating structures and the role of the Steering Committee</span><br /><br />The conservation and sustainable use of nature and biodiversity conservation are essentially a competence of the three regions in Belgium. Some coordination at national level is therefore essential to undertake coherent national policy. The Coordinating Committee for International Environmental Policy (CCIEP) composed of representatives of federal and regional competent administrations, has been set up to provide coordinated action in response to European and international committments. Several thematic committees are currently operating under the direct authority of the CCIEP.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="/GraphicsArchive/sc_biodiv.jpg/view?display=" alt="" width="353" height="470" /></p>
<p align="left">One of these thematic committees is the <span style="font-style: italic;">Steering Committee 'Biodiversity Convention'</span>, which deals specifically with all aspects linked to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It holds several meetings per year, in function of the international and European agendas. Its terms of reference are the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>preparation of Belgium's National Reports,</li>
<li>preparation of a Biological Diversity Country Study,</li>
<li>preparation of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans,</li>
<li>preparation of Belgian points of view and statements under the CBD process,</li>
<li>preparation and follow-up of SBSTTA and COP meetings,</li>
<li>expertise in Convention matters.</li>
</ul>
<p>Another thematic commitee, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Steering Committee 'Nature'</span> is more specifically in charge of the follow-up of other biodiversity-related conventions (Ramsar, CMS, CITES, Bern) and of EU policy.</p>
<p><strong>Membership of the Steering Committee</strong></p>
<p>One of the specificities of the Steering Committee 'Biodiversity Convention' is that is it is not only composed of administrative correspondents, but that it includes a number of scientific and technical experts selected for their expertise in a wide range of fields (conservation, management, agriculture, forestry, etc.). The latter usually come from universities, scientific institutions or advisory bodies.</p>
<p>The Presidency and Secretariat of the Steering Committee is held by the Belgian CBD National Focal Point.</p>
<p><strong>Chair </strong></p>
<p>Hendrik Segers, IRScNB-KBIN, Tel: 02 627 43 10, Fax:02 627 41 95, E-mail: nfp-cbd <at> naturalsciences.be</p>
<p><strong>Secretariat </strong></p>
<p>Marianne Schlesser, IRScNB-KBIN, Tel: 02 627 45 25, Fax:02 627 41 95, E-mail: nfp-cbd <at> naturalsciences.be</p>Access members - Steering Committees CBD & Naturetag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2019-02-28:/implementation/authorities/access-members2019-02-28T12:20:47ZAnton Cupceahdekoeijer<p>This section of the Belgian CHM is reserved for members of the Steering Committees "Biodiversity Convention" and "Nature".</p>
<p>For the time being, every members of the SC biodiversity or Nature that requests a login can add information to this section but not delete! So be careful when adding information!</p>
<p>If you have any suggestions to improve the use of this section for the information exchange between members, please inform <a href="mailto:marianne.schlesser@naturalsciences.be">Marianne Schlesser</a> or the <a href="mailto:webmaster-chm@naturalsciences.be">webmaster</a>.</p>
<p>You can subscribe to receive notifications about new uploads to this section by clicking on this <a href="/implementation/authorities/access-members/portal_notification/my_subscriptions_html">link</a>. Open the section "implementation", open the section "autorities" and click on "access members"</p>Structures for CBD implementation at the federal leveltag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2014-11-25:/implementation/authorities/fed-structures2014-11-25T16:43:45ZAnton Cupceahdekoeijer<br />
<p>The Federal government shares responsibilities with the Regions for some biodiversity issues, including international aspects of the Convention on Biological Diversity (see our page on the <a href="http://www.biodiv.be/implementation/authorities/distribution">distribution of competences</a>).</p>
<p><br />
</p>Structures for CBD implementation in the Flemish Regiontag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2014-11-25:/implementation/authorities/flemish-structures2014-11-25T16:43:45ZAnton Cupceahdekoeijer<p>All the services of the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community are concentrated in one ministry, which consists of several departments, divided into administrations and sections.</p>
<p>The tasks and competences of the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community are divided into 13 policy areas, including ones for environment and nature conservation, agriculture, town and country planning, and education and training.</p>
<p>The current organisation of the Flemish structures relative to environmental issues is illustrated in the figure below:</p>
<div align="left"><img src="/implementation/authorities/flemish-structures/GraphicsArchive/fl_gov_structure.gif/view" alt="" /></div>
<p><br /> The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is followed-up and implemented by the Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB) and the Department for Environment, Nature and Energy. The LNE department plays a central role by ensuring the coordination for the preparation and reporting of the Flemish environmental policy and for the management and the follow up of the policy implementation.</p>Structures for CBD implementation in the Walloon Regiontag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2014-11-25:/implementation/authorities/wallon-structures2014-11-25T16:43:45ZAnton Cupceahdekoeijer<p style="text-align: justify;">The Walloon Region has legislative responsibility for policy on the environment and nature conservation on its territory. It acts to implement this policy with the support of the municipalities. It is therefore in charge of implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on its territory.</p>Structures for CBD implementation in the Brussels-Capital Region tag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2014-11-25:/implementation/authorities/bxl-structures2014-11-25T16:43:45ZAnton Cupceahdekoeijer<p>The Brussels-Capital Region holds a distinct position due to its limited surface area (+/- 160 km<sup>2</sup>), the very high urbanisation level, the high population density (about 1 million inhabitants), the tight infrastructure network and the intense economic activity that takes place. Like the Walloon and Flemish Regions, the Brussels-Capital Region has competences in territorial matters, including the environment, water policy and nature conservation.</p>
<p><strong>Administration</strong></p>
<p>The Ministry of the Brussels-Capital Region is the main tool used by the Brussels Government to implement its policy. However, the bulk of biodiversity-related activities is carried out by a para-regional institution, Brussels Environment (formerly called the Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment, see below).</p>
<p>The Ministry comprises six separate administrations. One of the tasks of the Administration for Urban Planning and Housing is to care for the preservation of listed cultural and natural heritage within the Region, through its <a href="/links/link-be/lnk-bxl/url182075">Direction of Monuments and Sites</a>. For natural heritage, this includes a number of green spaces, which have acquired protection status as 'listed sites'. The Direction takes care of the conservation and restoration of the sites, trees, parks and gardens. It also has for mandate to carry out an inventory of remarkable trees over the regional territory, whether they are located within the public or private domain.</p>
<p>The<a href="/links/link-be/lnk-bxl/url320672" target="_new"> Direction of Roads</a>, of the Administration of Equipment and Transport, is in charge of the management and maintenance of the regional roadway network. It has established a programme for the inventory, monitoring and renovation of the trees and soils bordering the network. It has established a specific website on the issue of <a href="/links/link-be/lnk-bxl/url319443">urban trees</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Public agencies</strong></p>
<p><a href="/links/link-be/lnk-bxl/bxl-bim/bxl-bime" target="_new">Brussels Environment (formerly the Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment</a>) (BIME) is a para-regional institution with the status of a public interest agency. It serves as the environmental administration of the Brussels-Capital Region, and is answerable directly to the Minister of Environment of the Brussels-Capital Region. The BIME is conceived at the same time as an institution for research, planning, advice and information as well as an organisation for monitoring, control and permit delivery. It has competences in the areas of waste, air quality, noise, green spaces, water, soil and energy. Brussels Environment collects and analyses the environmental data, distributes the information, gives advice and draws up plans of action, defines the strategies, intervenes in the fieldwork, promotes the environmental awareness etc.</p>
<p>Within the BIME, the Division Green Spaces, manages the public green spaces (parks, forests, semi-natural areas and nature reserves), develops the blue and green network, and is responsible for the regions' biodiversity (inventory, monitoring, strategy, management, etc.).</p>
<p>The BIME is acting as Belgian Regional Focal Point for the Brussels-Capital Region to the Convention on Biological Diversity.</p>
<p><strong>A</strong><strong>dvisory bodies</strong></p>
<p>A prominent role is played by the <a href="/links/link-be/lnk-bxl/url445638">Environmental Council of the Brussels-Capital Region</a>. Here, both the associative societies and the companies, the social partners and the scientific experts give advice on all environmental matters of regional competence. The Council either meets requests by the Government of the Region, or produces advices on its own initiative. For nature conservation matters, this Council consults the Brussels Higher Council for Nature Conservation.</p>
<p><strong>Associations</strong></p>
<p>The Brussels-Capital Region has a number of associations for the environment, which are members of the federations '<a href="/links/link-be/lnk-ngo/environment-bxl">Inter-Environnement Bruxelles (IEB)</a>' and '<a href="/links/link-be/lnk-bxl/brusselse-raad-voor-het-leefmilieu-bral">Brusselse Raad voor het Leefmilieu (BRAL)</a>'. BRAL is considered by the Regional and Federal Governments to be the official representative advocate of the active residents and residents' groups, and this is why BRAL is member of various official consultation bodies like the Environmental Council and the Regional Development Committee. A number of smaller associations focus their attention in particular on nature conservation in the Brussels area; they are often very site-specific or species-group specific.</p>Distribution of biodiversity-related competences in Belgiumtag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2014-08-08:/implementation/authorities/distribution2014-08-08T10:33:32ZAnton CupceahdekoeijerBelgium, a Federal Statetag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2011-10-10:/implementation/authorities/fed-state2011-10-10T11:11:33ZAnton CupceahdekoeijerContact points for biodiversity-related agreements in Belgiumtag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2011-10-10:/implementation/authorities/contact_points2011-10-10T11:11:33ZAnton CupceaAnne Franklin<p>Are you looking for information on international biodiversity-related conventions? Would you like to contact someone who would be able to help you in this regard? This pointer will lead you to the information you need.<br />
</p>National Focal Point to the Convention on Biological Diversitytag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2011-10-10:/implementation/authorities/pnt7478612011-10-10T11:11:33ZAnton CupceaAnne FranklinNational focal points for thematic and cross-cutting issues under the Convention on Biological Diversitytag:www.archives.biodiv.be,2011-10-10:/implementation/authorities/national-focal-points-thematic-and-cross-cutting2011-10-10T11:11:33Zhdekoeijerhdekoeijer