About the Convention

Programme of work in marine and coastal biodiversity

The Jakarta Mandate: from Global Consensus to Global Action…

As part of the Ministerial Statement from the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in 1995, the Jakarta Mandate represents a global consensus on the importance of marine and coastal biological diversity. It signifies Parties’ recognition of the critical need to address the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biological diversity. This recognition resulted in the adoption 1998 of the Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity in 1998.

This multi-year work programme is founded upon the guiding principles of the Ecosystem Approach, the Precautionary Principle, the Importance of Science, the use of Technical Expert Advice, and the Involvement of Local and Indigenous Communities. Additionally, the programme of work is to be implemented at the national, regional and global levels. At the global level, coordination with the partner organizations, such as those involved in the UN Atlas on the Oceans, is essential to accomplish the objectives of long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.

The Parties to the Convention have divided the programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity into key programme elements:

Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management;

Marine and Coastal Living Resources;

Marine and Coastal Protected Areas;

Mariculture;

Alien Species and Genotypes.

Within each of these programme elements, the Parties have identified particular operational objectives, and delineated a number of specific activities to facilitate the implementation of the programme of work at the national, regional and international levels. Most recently, the Parties have integrated issues related to Coral Reefs into programme element 2, Marine and Coastal Living Resources, and have implemented a specific work plan on coral bleaching. Upcoming meetings are currently planned for ad hoc technical expert groups on marine and coastal protected areas and mariculture. These meetings will provide Parties sound scientific advice on the further development of activities on these important issues, and influence the future decisions of Parties on the marine and coastal programme of work.