WCC 2020 Res 008 - Activity Report

As noted in the 2022 report, operative statements 3f (support protection and restoration of rivers and their associated ecosystems) and 3g (ensure that all contracts involving major infrastructure projects impacting national waterways include a provision that local stakeholders are included in the initial planning stages and that their concerns are incorporated in further discussions) are important components in enacting Resolution 134 (on Congo river dams and the development of an IUCN intercommissional task force on dams) with which the SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee is involved.

With reference to operative statement 1 (promote the inclusion of river protection and connectivity within the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.6); members of the SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee have been working with IUCN members (eg, TNC, WWF) to ensure rivers are properly included with GBF targets 2 and 3. This included campaigning for inclusion of relevant text in the targets, prior to and at CBD COP 15, campaigning for support from CBD Parties, and production on explanatory documentation (see links below). This also included a first guidance document on assessing extent and types of inland water protection, for target 3 (see link included below). These actions also address operative statements 2d (encourage countries to support protection and restoration of rivers and their associated ecosystems) and 3f (support protection and restoration of rivers and their associated ecosystems)

With reference to operative statement 2b … members of the SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee sit on the Global River Protection Coalition (website link below), which is focused on learning exchanges and development of initiatives, and publication of results of work on durable river protections; and Resolution 008 provides guidance for these actions.