2. The Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (General Assembly resolution S-19/2, annex) states, in paragraph 115, that national reports on the implementation of Agenda 21 have proved to be a valuable means of sharing information at the international and regional levels and, even more important, of providing a focus for the coordination of issues related to sustainable development at the national level within individual countries; accordingly, in paragraph 133 (b), the Programme states that national reporting should continue through voluntary national communications or reports.

3. Consistent with the agenda established in the Commission’s multi-year programme of work, guidelines for national reporting were prepared by the Secretariat, in consultation with task managers, on the following issues: (a) integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources; (b) sustainable agriculture and rural development; (c) forest; (d) finance; and (e) trade. At the end of May 1999, the guidelines were sent simultaneously in English, French and Spanish, by mail and where possible by electronic mail, to the respective permanent representatives to the United Nations in New York and the focal points of all countries. The deadline requested was 31 August 1999.

5. In its decisions 7/5 of April 1999 and 6/5 of April 1998, the Commission stressed the importance of continuing to take full advantage of the information provided by Governments to the Commission, on a voluntary basis, especially in view of the comprehensive review of the implementation of Agenda 21, to take place in 2002. The Commission emphasized the need to draw more fully on the information contained in those national reports or relevant information submitted to the Commission, and requested the Secretariat to process and compile, on a sectoral basis, the information provided by Governments in accordance with the issues contained in its multi-year programme of work.

6. Consequently, the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Sustainable agriculture and rural development: trends in national implementation" (E/CN.17/2000/5) examines the progress made towards sustainable agriculture and rural development based on the information that Governments provided in their national reports to the Commission in 1997 and by mid-January 2000. The report analyses a total of 133 national reports.

 III. National reporting to the Commission at its ninth session

8. The Secretariat is in the process of preparing guidelines for the ninth session of the Commission. These guidelines, which will refer to reporting on atmosphere/energy (sectoral theme), information for decision-making and participation and international cooperation for an enabling environment (cross-sectoral theme); and energy/transport (economic sector/ major group), should be transmitted to Governments by the end of May 2000 in English, French and Spanish.

10. As mandated in Commission decision 7/5, paragraph 2 (f), the Secretariat is collecting inputs from member States on how to improve the guidelines for the elaboration of national reports after 2002. A report to this effect will be submitted to the Commission in 2001, as part of the preparations for the comprehensive review of the implementation of Agenda 21.

11. As mandated in Commission decision 7/5, paragraph 2 (g), the Secretariat is in the process of preparing country profiles to complement those presented during the five-year review held by the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session in 1997, for submission to the General Assembly for the comprehensive review of the implementation of Agenda 21 to be held in the year 2002.

13. As reported at earlier sessions, the United Nations system-wide sustainable development web site (at http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/ ) contains the information provided by Governments in their national reports to the Commission, on a country-by-country and issue-by-issue basis. The Secretariat continues to update the web site with new information as Governments submit it.

1. The National Information Analysis Unit is in the process of preparing country profiles for 2002 to complement those presented during the five-year review of the implementation of Agenda 21 held by the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session, in 1997.

2. By 2001, draft country profiles will be sent to all reporting countries for their review. Upon their review, the Unit will proceed to finalize and publish the 2002 country profiles series.

3. As reported at previous sessions of the Commission, the Secretariat continues to update the web site with new information as Governments submit it.

4. For queries to the National Information Analysis Unit, please telephone:

Hiroko-Morita-Lou (212) 963-8813

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