Ripple Effects:
Convention on Biological Diversity

Enriching Knowledge about Dams and Inland Water Species

Whatever the country, or geographic region, inland waters create some of the most biologically rich ecosystems in the world, and according to global experts, the role of dam impacts on these ecosystems needs to be much better understood.

Enter the World Commission on Dams.

WCD Senior Advisor Jamie Skinner presented the WCD's ongoing work process to the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP) in Nairobi, Kenya from 15-26 of May 2000.

That work, in turn, was of keen interest to the representatives from more than 150 countries, international agencies and NGOs who attended.

Among its 29 decisions, the COP requested the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to consider the recommendations contained in the WCD's forthcoming report and, where appropriate, recommend that the COP introduce suitable elements into the work programme on the biodiversity of inland water ecosystems at its sixth meeting in Montreal in February 2001.

The COP also formally requested its Executive Secretary to include the findings and recommendations of the WCD Report in the Conventions work on biodiversity of inland water ecosystems.