Philosophy

Philosophy of the National focal point

Many National focal points for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD NFPs) are located within national administrations. In Belgium, the mandate is carried out by a scientific institution, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS). This situation provides Belgium with an unusual framework for action. One of its main advantages is that the RBINS is well placed to encourage links between the scientific community and decision-makers, therefore helping to bring first-hand biodiversity information to the forefront of policy discussions. The NFP is helped in its work by in-house expertise through its daily interactions with the biodiversity researchers of the RBINS as well as with the Communication, Education and Informatics Departments.

RBINS also carries out the mandates of three thematic focal points: those for the Scientific Technical and Technological Affairs (SBSTTA), the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) and the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI). Briefly explained, the SBSTTA is an international committee providing advice on scientific and technical issues (as opposed to political issues), the CHM is the Convention’s information sharing mechanism and the GTI is a programme of work created to provide the taxonomic information and expertise needed to support biodiversity conservation.

The multiplicity of functions has for consequence that the RBINS plays a diversified role in the implementation of the CBD in Belgium. It undertakes activities in a wide range of fields such as the exchange of biodiversity information, the support to the policy process and the undertaking of international cooperation for biodiversity.

In order to carry out its numerous activities coherently and efficiently, the RBINS has set up an operational team that is specifically in charge of the follow-up of the CBD. The operational team is generally referred to as the ‘CBD Focal Point’ or even more broadly as the ‘Biodiversity Focal Point’. Although this generic term encompasses different mandates, all activities are highly inter-related and contribute to the general goal of conserving biodiversity.

The NFP undertakes all its missions in close cooperation with the other biodiversity focal points in Belgium and with other Belgian initiatives and programmes for biodiversity. It is important to highlight that, without all these partners and without the financial support coming from different sources, its role in the national coordination and implementation of the CBD would not be possible.