Since its adoption, the programme of work was considered for in-depth review at the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP). This in-depth review revealed that good progress is being made towards the achievement of adequate coverage of protected areas with the exception of the temperate grasslands biome.

The review did reveal that implementation is weak when considering trends in the abundance and distribution of selected species and the status and trends of linguistic diversity, including the numbers of speakers of indigenous languages in dry and sub-humid lands.

Decision VIII/2 of COP 8 calls for increased attention to climate change and governance and highlights the need for more detailed assessments to measure progress towards the achievement of the 2010 Biodiversity Target in dry and sub-humid lands.

A joint work programme with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on dry and sub-humid lands was also adopted by the COP to both Conventions in acknowledgement of the fact that biodiversity loss can be both a cause and a consequence of desertification. The joint work programme seeks to address the multiple and increasing threats to dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity, including climate change.