Negotiation Toolkit

Warren Baverstock

This page provides policy specific information to support CBD Parties as relates to the inclusion of coral reefs in the Global Biodiversity Framework and its monitoring framework.

OEWG 5 and COP 15

The 5th meeting of the Open Ended Working Group will meet 3-5 December 2022 in Montreal, Canada immediately before COP 15 part 2, which will take place at the same venue 7 – 19 December 2022.  In Montreal, CBD Parties will need to deliver three actions on behalf of coral reefs in the negotiations. These are derived from the 2020 ICRI Recommendation.  Many elements are in place in the composite text. The information provided on this page aims to support negotiators in realising a GBF that will deliver a positive outcome for coral reef ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.


  • ICRI guidance note for OEWG 5: This is a document for negotiators, highlighting text formulations in the composite draft that support the ICRI Recommendations for the GBF (link to Word document).
  • An overview of the coral reef indicators recommended by ICRI can be downloaded here (link to PDF file).

Supporting information

ICRI contacts in Montreal: Francis Staub and Thomas Dallison

OEWG 4 Nairobi, June 21-26 2022 and Technical Expert Group 29 June – 1 July 2022

ICRI will be on the ground in Nairobi for the Open Ended Working Group 4 meeting and the Technical Meeting on indicators for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, Bonn 29 June – 1 July 2022 to discuss the monitoring framework, continuing to support Parties to realise the ICRI recommendations for the inclusion of coral reefs in the GBF.  To successfully deliver positive outcomes for coral reef ecosystems, the framework must prioritize vulnerable ecosystems, protect remaining ecosystems while restoring those around them, adopt global indicators of success, and engage developing nations in this conversation. These are our asks #ForCoral

A dive into the rationale behind the key asks for the resumed meetings, calls to action and some initial ideas for text proposals. We will share updates on drafting ideas as the discussions in Geneva evolve. [pdf]

  •  The ICRI Recommended Indicators Table (PDF file).
  •  In 2021, “The GCRMN published an assessment of methods and data for monitoring coral reefs at the national level. This assessment includes consideration of the ICRI recommended indicators for 30 countries, representing 90% of the worlds coral reefs 
  • Application of the Red List of Ecosystems to coral reefs in the Western Indian Ocean (Obura et al., 2022).  The RLE approach is a measure of ecosystem integrity, that draws on several of the ICRI recommended indicators
  • ICRI Contact in Nairobi for OEWG 4: Emily Corcoran ([email protected]); ICRI Expert for the technical discussions on the monitoring framework: David Obura
Resumed sessions of SBSTTA-24, SBI-3 and WG2020-3 March 14-29 2022

To be successful for coral reef ecosystems, the framework must prioritize vulnerable ecosystems, protect remaining ecosystems while restoring those around them, adopt global indicators of success, and engage developing nations in this conversation. These are our asks #ForCoral.

A dive into the rationale behind the key asks for the resumed meetings, calls to action and some initial ideas for text proposals. We will share updates on drafting ideas as the discussions in Geneva evolve. [pdf]

The ICRI Recommended Indicators Table (PDF file), updated for the resumed meetings of SBSTTA 24, SBI3 and OEWG 3.

ICRI Contact in Geneva: Emily Corcoran ([email protected])

Side Event #4209 at the resumed session SBSTTA-24, SBI-03 and WG2020-03, Wednesday, March 16 2022 @ 13:15

The side event Three Ways to Save Coral Reefs through the GBF: An informal exchange with coral reef champions was convened by ICRI at the resumed sessions of SBSTTA-24, SBI-3 and WG2020-3 (Geneva, March 2022). It was co-organised with WCS and the following Parties: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Maldives, Monaco, Myanmar,  Seychelles and South Africa, United Kingdom. The Summary and high level video remarks are available here.

OEWG 3 August 23 - September 3 2021
  • Download the ICRI statement to the 3rd Meeting of the CBD Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG3) on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Agenda Item 4) (PDF version or Word Version).
  • Download the ICRI Response to the CBD Post-2020 GBF 1st Draft (PDF version or Word Version) as relates to the ICRI Recommendation on the inclusion of coral reefs and related ecosystems.
  • The ICRI Recommended Indicators Table (PDF file), updated for the OEWG3, inline with the ICRI Response to the Post-2020 GBF 1st Draft described above, to be considered with the ICRI recommendation.

Technical resources for SBSTTA 24 formal sessions (May - June 2021)

Key points relating to working documents and information documents under Agenda Item 3

Download the key talking points for SBSTTA-24 Agenda Item 3: Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (PDF version or Word Version) as relates to the ICRI Recommendation on inclusion of coral reefs and related ecosystems in the CBD Post-2020 GBF.

Response to SBSSTA/24/3/Add.2

See here (PDF) for ICRI’s response to the peer review of SBSTTA24/3/Add.2

Indicator table

Guidance on coral reef indicators to be discussed under Agenda Item 3 at CBD SBSTTA-24:  CBD/SBSTTA/24/3 contains the overview of the updated monitoring framework and draft decision for SBSTTA-24 and CoP15. CBD/SBSTTA/24/3Add.1 is an addendum with the full list of proposed indicators (i.e. the current proposed monitoring framework).

The ICRI Recommended Indicators Table (PDF file) in response to the content of the documents described above, to be considered under agenda item 3 at SBSTTA-24, and the ICRI recommendation, has been superseded by the updated version for the OEWG3 in August/September 2021.

Other resources 

Back to the Post 2020 page