(Agenda item 4 (e))

Conclusions

At its 6th meeting, on 29 October, having considered a proposal by the Chair, the SBSTA adopted the following conclusions:

(a) The SBSTA welcomed the information provided in documents FCCC/SBSTA/2002/MISC.22 and Add.1–2, and FCCC/WEB/2002/12. It took note of document FCCC/SBSTA/2002/INF.11 which the secretariat prepared in accordance with the requirements of an overview and compilation paper identified in the terms of reference (FCCC/SBSTA/2002/6, annex I);

(b) The SBSTA made progress in its consideration of definitions and modalities for including afforestation and reforestation project activities under the clean development mechanism (CDM) in the first commitment period;

(c) The SBSTA requested the secretariat, under the guidance of the Chair of the SBSTA, to prepare option papers, as referred to in the agreed terms of reference and agenda for work contained in the report of its sixteenth session (FCCC/SBSTA/2002/6), based on submissions from Parties and inputs from Parties at the seventeenth session of the SBSTA;

(d) The SBSTA reiterated its request to the secretariat to organize, subject to the availability of supplementary funding, a workshop in early February 2003 to facilitate an exchange of views on the modalities for including afforestation and reforestation project activities under the CDM in the first commitment period. It encouraged Annex II Parties to provide funding for the workshop, including for the participation of developing country Parties and other Parties eligible for such funding under the practice of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);

(e) The SBSTA agreed to continue its work at its eighteenth session in accordance with the work plan laid out in the report of its sixteenth session;

(f) The SBSTA noted the statement made by the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.