Article 6 - General measures for conservation and sustainable use

(20) Both the Flemish and Walloon Region have developed a biodiversity strategy for the CBD-issues belonging to their competences (see below). The Brussels Capital Region did not develop a strategy as such, but strategic priorities are mentioned in various management plans and programmes. At the federal level, strategic actions on biodiversity related themes are stated in the Federal Plan for Sustainable Development. Strategic elements were also mentioned in the First National Report of Belgium to the CBD, published in 1998. At the national level, a national biodiversity strategy is being developed, mainly based on all documents referenced above and aiming to integrate biodiversity considerations into programmes and plans for all concerned sectors. The National Strategy will be published in 2002.

(20 & 21) Flanders - The Environmental Policy and Nature Development Plan (MINA-Plan 2: 1997-2001) is currently being implemented. The overall aim is to enhance integration of nature conservation and environmental policy into other sectoral and cross-sectoral policies. MINA-Plan 2 includes an overall action plan for 13 Themes. Loss of biodiversity is one of the main themes. The Plan indicates specific goals, identifies expected outcomes as well as a timetable and the means to achieve them, and establishes an institutional framework for the implementation. A more detailed action plan is published every year to indicate implementation on a yearly basis. On the level of local authorities a Provincial Environment and Nature Plan by each of the 5 Provinces of Flanders is developed every 5 years. Under the sectoral jurisdiction, specific policy planning documents are being developed; e.g. nature conservation policy plan and action plan, forestry action plan, integrated water policy plan. All of those are integrated in the overall goals and targets of the environment policy plan but also include the detailed planning of the implementation (= action plan) under each sector. The next Environment-Nature Plan (MINA-Plan 3: 2002-2007) is being developed. Reporting on the implementation is published in environment and nature reports: MIRA-1 (1994), MIRA-2 (1996), MIRA-T 1998 (report on the implementation of each of the 13 themes of the MINA-Plan), MIRA-T 1999 and MIRA-S 2000 which describes scenario's for future development for 23 themes. An extensive reporting on nature conservation policy and implementation is published in 1999 in the Nature Report 1. The next report, Nature Report 2, is in preparation.

(20 & 21) Wallonia - The Environmental Plan for Sustainable Development in the Walloon Region (PEDD), adopted by the Walloon Government on 9 March 1995, constitutes the Region's contribution for a Biodiversity Strategy (Book 3, chapter 1 - Biodiversity Conservation). The Region's CBD Action Plan, the 'Nature Conservation Plan', based on the concept of ecological network, is being developed. The Walloon Region has also adopted the following strategic plans and projects that take into account biodiversity issues: the Regional Spatial Development Project (SDER), for which the Walloon Code of Town and Country Planning, Urban Development and Heritage (CWATUP) serves as legal basis, the Walloon Program of Rural Development and finally the Contract for the Future in Walloon Region, which gives orientations for the development of the Region. All these plans are dealing with biodiversity as an important element of Walloon natural heritage.

Decision II/7 and Decision III/9 Consideration of Articles 6 and 8

If a developing country Party or a Party with economy in transition -

Decisions III/21. Relationship of the Convention with the CSD and biodiversity-related conventions

(29) The Belgian Co-ordinating Committee for International Environmental Policy (CCIEP) assures the co-ordination for all international aspects of environmental policy. The CCIEP is composed by representatives of all the federal and regional competent administrations. Several steering committees are operating under the direct authority of the CCIEP. One of these is the Steering Committee 'Biodiversity Convention'. To achieve an efficient co-ordination at this level, the presidents (or their representatives) of other CCIEP-groups concerned by the implementation of the CBD, such as 'Nature', 'Forests', 'Biosafety', 'Agriculture and Environment' and 'Trade and Environment', are invited to each meeting of this Steering Committee. The Nature Group of the CCIEP, chaired by the Nature and Forestry Division of the Walloon Region, is in charge of the follow up of CBD-related nature Conventions, such as CITES, Ramsar, Bern, Bonn, etc. Regarding the preparation of CBD meetings such as SBSTTA and COP, the Nature Group is preparing the Belgian positions concerning Article 8 of the Convention. The Nature Group also co-ordinates the follow-up of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy.