Table of content

Appendix 1: Information concerning reporting Party

Appendix 2: Process of preparation of national report and further sources of information

Preparation of the report was done using the guidelines and format provided at: http://www.biodiv.org/reports/guidelines.aspx .

A task force made up of representatives of the MOE and the Iraqi non-governmental organization Nature Iraq was formed to prepare an initial draft of the report in English, which was completed by the end of March 2010. An Iraqi delegation headed by the MOE attended a regional workshop for Asia and Horn of Africa on the Fourth National Report held in Bahrain from 12-15 April, 2010, which resulted in the development of a second draft of the report. The report revisions, comments, compilation, translations and editing was done by Nahla Mohammed (MOE), Samer Hany (MOE), Anna Bachmann (NI); Nadheer Abood (NI), Virginia Tice (NI), Samad Ali (NI), Mia Fant (Italian consultant to NI), and Allessandra Rossi (Italian consultant to NI).

The draft report was circulated to the National Biodiversity Committee in July of 2010 (members are listed in the Background to this report).

Appendix 3: Progress towards Targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and Programme of Work on Protected Areas

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

1. 
   The ultimate and long-term objective of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation is to halt the current and continuing loss of plant diversity.
   
2. 
   The Strategy will provide a framework to facilitate harmony between existing initiatives aimed at plant conservation, to identify gaps where new initiatives are required, and to promote mobilization of the necessary resources.
   
3. 
   The Strategy will be a tool to enhance the ecosystem approach to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and focus on the vital role of plants in the structure and functioning of ecological systems and assure provision of the goods and services such systems provide.
   
4. 
   The Strategy will also:
   

1. 
   Provide a pilot exercise under the Convention for the setting of targets that relate to ultimate objectives of the Convention;
   
2. 
   Act as a means to develop and implement the thematic programmes of work of the Convention.
   

5. 
   Within the ultimate and long-term objective, a number of sub-objectives can be identified as follows:
   

1. 
   Understanding and documenting plant diversity:
   

1. 
   Document the plant diversity of the world, including its use and its distribution in the wild, in protected areas and in ex situ collections;
   
2. 
   Monitor the status and trends in global plant diversity and its conservation, and threats to plant diversity, and identify plant species, plant communities, and associated habitats and ecosystems, at risk, including consideration of "red lists";
   
3. 
   Develop an integrated, distributed, interactive information system to manage and make accessible information on plant diversity;
   
4. 
   Promote research on the genetic diversity, systematics, taxonomy, ecology and conservation biology of plants and plant communities, and associated habitats and ecosystems, and on social, cultural and economic factors that impact biodiversity, so that plant diversity, both in the wild and in the context of human activities, can be well understood and utilized to support conservation action;
   

1. 
   Conserving plant diversity: Improve long-term conservation, management and restoration of plant diversity, plant communities, and the associated habitats and ecosystems, in situ (both in more natural and in more managed environments) and, where necessary to complement in situ measures, ex situ, preferably in the country of origin. The Strategy will pay special attention to the conservation of the world's important areas of plant diversity, and to the conservation of plant species of direct importance to human societies;.
   
1. 
   Using plant diversity sustainably:
   

1. 
   Strengthen measures to control unsustainable utilization of plant resources;
   
2. 
   Support the development of livelihoods based on sustainable use of plants, and promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of plant diversity;
   

4. 
   Promoting education and awareness about plant diversity: Articulate and emphasize the importance of plant diversity, the goods and services that it provides, and the need for its conservation and sustainable use, in order to mobilize necessary popular and political support for its conservation and sustainable use;
   
5. 
   Building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity:
   

1. 
   Enhance the human resources, physical and technological infrastructure necessary, and necessary financial support for plant conservation;
   
2. 
   Link and integrate actors to maximize action and potential synergies in support of plant conservation.
   

The following are the Global targets for 2010 and information on progress made in Iraq towards achieving these targets:

These 16 targets provide a framework for policy formulation and a basis for monitoring. National targets developed within this framework may be modified in Iraq, according to national priorities and capacities, and differences in plant diversity.