Resolution of the OAS Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development

II Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development. October 13-15, 1999, Washington, DC

Final meeting report

Resolution CIDI/CIDS/RES. 2 (II-O/99)

The Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development,

RECALLING Initiative 31 of the Plan of Action of the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development, which called on the governments of the Hemisphere to take actions to establish an Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN);

RECOGNIZING the preparatory work for the formation of IABIN, and the progress made to date on the issues of governance, pilot projects, capacity building and cooperation activities which are central to the establishment and functioning of IABIN;

NOTING Secretariat document CIDI/CIDS/INF.3/99, "Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN): Progress Report"; and
NOTING ALSO that a proposal for IABIN implementation activities has been submitted by Brazil, with the support of several governments, to the General Secretariat for consideration for FEMCIDI funding for the year 2000,

RESOLVES:

1. To recognize the importance of establishing the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN).

2. To recommend broad participation by the institutions and experts of the member states in IABIN.

3. To encourage that the meeting to launch IABIN be held as soon as possible.

4. To encourage IABIN to seek the views of the Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development concerning the long-term direction for the network.

5. To encourage IABIN to develop a long-term program reflecting the national, regional, and sub-regional priorities of the participants, complementing and consistent with other on-going initiatives.

6. To encourage IABIN to give priority to the development of the technological tools necessary to facilitate information exchange among the participants.

7. To request that the Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment (USDE) enhance efforts to raise funds in support of IABIN, particularly funds for support of project ideas already presented by IABIN participants.

8. To request that the USDE regularly inform the permanent missions of the member states to the Organization regarding the activities of IABIN.

9. To encourage the General Secretariat of the OAS to give all possible support to the implementation of IABIN within the resources available.