ABSTRACT
The central role of protected areas has been repeatedly emphasized in the decisions of the Conference of the Parties (COP), which regularly reviews the implementation of the CBD, considers and adopts amendments to the Convention and establishes subsidiary bodies as required. The COP meets on a regular basis, with the fifth regular meeting held in Nairobi in May 2000. Parties to the CBD have consistently identified their efforts to develop and maintain their national protected area system as the central element of their strategy to implement the CBD. The provisions of the CBD and decisions of the COP promote an approach to protected areas that does not ‘lock up’ resources found within the protected area network, but rather promotes their integration into the national economy in a sustainable and equitable manner. Protected areas will be one of three main topics for the seventh meeting of the COP, likely to be in either 2003 or 2004, and as a result will be the focus of work of various subsidiary bodies of the CBD preceding this meeting.
