The Conference discussed and approved a number of major policy documents, including an in depth review of the implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA), which will guide CBD work on protected areas for the next decade. Some agreed wordings are clear and undoubtedly positive (see below). Others still fall short of advancing meaningful change. And some last minutes alterations brought us some sincere disappointment. In all, however, the picture is encouraging even if, as usual... much work simply lies ahead.