Bern II: Second Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

The so-called “Bern Process” seeks to foster dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration between biodiversity-relevant conventions, contributing to the effective and synergistic development and implementation of the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.  

In response to the CBD COP decisions 14/34 and 14/30, the first ‘Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-Related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework’ (Bern I) was held in Bern (Switzerland) on 10-12 June 2019. The consultation was hosted by the Government of Switzerland and co-chaired by Switzerland and South Africa. It brought together more than one hundred and twenty participants, including representatives of parties to the eight global conventions represented in the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions and the two Rio Conventions, as well as representatives and technical experts from the secretariats of relevant organizations, conventions, and other processes. During this meeting, participants discussed areas of cross-cutting importance to the conventions they were representing, possible elements that could be included in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and ways for other MEAs to contribute to the preparation of the framework. The outcomes of Bern I informed the co-chairs of the CBD Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in its first meeting (OEWG-1). The CBD OEWG-1 subsequently welcomed the offer from the Government of Switzerland to host a workshop as a follow-up to Bern I. Responding to requests for further consultation, the ‘Second Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework’ (Bern II) took place from 18 January to 2 February 2021. 

Since the first consultation workshop was held in 2019, the role of the Bern Process has been recognized by a number of MEA governing bodies. Through their decisions, several governing bodies have invited UNEP to build on the Bern Process and continue to strengthen cooperation and coordination among biodiversity-relevant conventions.  

UNEP initiated the preparatory process for the Bern II Consultation Workshop by asking the secretariats of the biodiversity-related conventions to provide their views on the first consultation workshop (Bern I) and how this experience could be built upon. This helped to inform the development of the objectives and agenda for the second consultation. The secretariats were also invited to provide feedback on the consultation background document prepared by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).  

UNEP convened a steering committee to oversee preparations for the consultation, which originally included representatives of UNEP, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the host Government of Switzerland, and UNEP-WCMC. Representatives of two parties to the CBD were invited to co-lead the consultation, and to join the steering committee. These were Anne Teller of the European Union and Somaly Chan of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Recognising the breadth of potential topics and the need to focus discussion, the co-leads prepared a Bern II co-leads paper to help guide discussion. 

Two online briefing sessions were convened, one in March 2020 and the second in September 2020. In each briefing session, the process and background document were presented, together with the views of the co-leads on the organization of the work. Feedback from participants at the online briefing sessions was also taken into account in the completion of the Bern II co-leads paper. 

Participation in the Bern II Consultation Workshop was by invitation and comprised representatives of the parties of MEAs (as nominated by the chairs of respective governing bodies), representatives from secretariats, and invited observers from international organizations and NGOs in a position to provide expert support. In the most part, the representatives of the parties to the conventions were elected officials of the standing bodies of the conventions. Reflecting the party-led process for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, a primary consideration in the choice of this design of participation was to ensure discussion from the perspective of parties and that views and perspectives relevant to the circumstances of each the various conventions would be provided in a balanced manner. Efforts were also made to ensure regional balance among party representatives.  

The following conventions were represented: Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (WHC); Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS); Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention); International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC); International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA); International Whaling Commission (IWC); United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions; and Minamata Convention on Mercury. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was also invited to participate. 

If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with Ms. Diane Klaimi 

The outcomes of the Bern II Consultation, including the summary of the views of the co-leads, were captured in the meeting report available below.  

• February 2021: Report of the Second Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Bern II). 

The presentations delivered at the opening video conference on 18 January 2021 can also be accessed below: 

• Presentation from the Bern II Consultation Workshop co-leads: Bern II (Co-Leads’ Paper) - Moving the synergies agenda forward in the context of the GBF negotiations. 

• Presentation from the CBD Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework co-chairs: Synergies … Bringing it all together … 

• Presentation from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity: Update on Post-2020 Process CBD Processes Bern II. 

• Presentation from the United Nations Environment Programme: Concept, agenda and process and the logistical guidance. 

• Presentation from the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre: Bern II Workshop Background Document.