Notification 2005-099

Dear Madam/Sir, In the revised Programme of Work on the Biological Diversity of Inland Water Ecosystems (annex to decision VII/4) Parties are requested to provide to the Executive Secretary advice and case studies in relation to activities 1.1.7 and 1.4.2 (see annex I to this notification for further details). In addition, in the same decision, the Executive Secretary is requested to compile information and case studies in relation to activities 1.2.7, 1.1.12(a), 1.1.12(b), 2.1.5 and 2.3.6(a) (see annex II to this notification for further details). To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of case studies and related information on all these subjects (annexes I and II) by Parties, other Governments, international organizations and agencies and other interested stakeholders, as appropriate. I invite you to submit the information to the Secretariat, if suitable under the format attached (annex III), not later than 30 November 2005. It is not necessary to respond to all requests, but only to those where you consider you have useful information to contribute. Submissions should be sent individually for each subject and be referenced by the notification number 50452 followed by the letter (A, B, C etc.) of the subject in question as per annexes I and II (or referenced by topic). __________________________________________________________________________ Annex I Specific requests to Parties for case studies and related information for the programme of work on the biological diversity of inland water ecosystems A: ADVICE ON NATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND APPROACHES TO PROMOTING AND IMPLEMENTING ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, EL NIÑO AND DESERTIFICATION FOR INLAND WATERS Activity 1.1.7 of decision VII/4 (annex), requests Parties to provide to the Executive Secretary advice on national experiences and approaches to promoting and implementing adaptive management and mitigation strategies for combating the impacts of climate change, El Niño and desertification. Activity 1.1.12(c) of the same decision, requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with relevant partners as appropriate, to compile and disseminate, including through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, information provided by Parties in response to activity 1.1.7. To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of advice by Parties on national experiences and approaches to promoting and implementing adaptive management and mitigation strategies for combating the impacts of climate change, El Niño and desertification – as related to inland water ecosystems. B: EXAMPLES OF THE IMPACTS OF INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES AND OF PROGRAMMES USED TO CONTROL THEIR INTRODUCTION AND MITIGATE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON INLAND WATER ECOSYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY AT THE CATCHMENT, WATERSHED AND RIVER BASIN LEVELS Activity 1.4.2 of decision VII/4 (annex) requests Parties to provide the Executive Secretary, as appropriate, with examples of the impacts of invasive alien species and of programmes used to control their introduction and mitigate negative consequences on inland water ecosystems, especially at the catchment, watershed and river basin levels. Activity 1.4.8 of the same decision requests the Executive Secretary to compile this information. To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of examples of the impacts of invasive alien species and of programmes used to control their introduction and mitigate negative consequences on inland water ecosystems, especially at the catchment, watershed and river basin levels. Annex II Specific requests to the Executive Secretary for case studies and related information for the programme of work on the biological diversity of inland water ecosystems C: CASE-STUDIES AND EXPERIENCES TO ASSIST EFFORTS IN ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING PROTECTED INLAND WATER ECOSYSTEMS Activity 1.2.7 of decision VII/4 (annex) requests the Executive Secretary to review and disseminate relevant information and guidance, including through the clearing-house mechanism, on national and transboundary experiences and case-studies to assist efforts in establishing and maintaining protected inland water ecosystems. To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of case studies and experiences on national and transboundary efforts in establishing and maintaining protected inland water ecosystems. Case studies and experiences, where appropriate, should take into account ongoing activities including, inter alia, through the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, the Ramsar Convention strategic framework for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance, the new Ramsar guidelines on management planning for Ramsar sites and other wetlands, adopted by the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention at its eighth meeting, and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere programme, International Hydrological Programme (IHP) and World Heritage Centre. D: CASE-STUDIES, LESSONS LEARNED AND BEST-PRACTICE GUIDANCE ON WAYS AND MEANS TO ADDRESS ALL FORMS OF WATER POLLUTION AT BOTH THE LOCAL AND CATCHMENT SCALES Activity 1.1.12(a) of decision VII/4 (annex), requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with relevant partners as appropriate, to compile and disseminate, including through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, case-studies, lessons learned and best-practice guidance on ways and means to address all forms of water pollution at both the local and catchment scales. To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of case studies, lessons learned and best-practice guidance on ways and means to address all forms of water pollution at both the local and catchment scales. E: EXAMPLES OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION, IRRIGATION, HYDROPOWER, FLOOD CONTROL, NAVIGATION, GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION) THAT INCORPORATE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONSIDERATIONS, AND WHICH AIM FOR SUSTAINABLE USE AND MAINTENANCE OF ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES Activity 1.1.12(b) of decision VII/4 (annex) requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with relevant partners as appropriate, to compile and disseminate, including through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, examples of water resource development projects (water supply and sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, flood control, navigation, groundwater extraction) that incorporate biological diversity considerations, and which aim for sustainable use and maintenance of ecological processes. To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of examples of water resource development projects (water supply and sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, flood control, navigation, groundwater extraction) that incorporate biological diversity considerations, and which aim for sustainable use and maintenance of ecological processes. F: CASE-STUDIES AND BEST PRACTICES ON THE USE OF INCENTIVE MEASURES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INLAND WATER ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES Activity 2.3.6(a) of decision VII/4 (annex) requests the Executive Secretary to compile and disseminate case-studies and best practices on the use of incentive measures for the management of inland water ecosystem goods and services. To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of case studies and examples of best practices on the use of incentive measures for the management of inland water ecosystem goods and services. Consideration should also be given to examples where perverse incentives have been reduced. G: CASE-STUDIES AND LESSONS LEARNED, INCLUDING THOSE RELATING TO THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, TO ASSIST IN REVIEWING AND FINE-TUNING INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS (PLANS, PROGRAMMES, POLICIES AND LEGISLATIONS) FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF INLAND WATERS Activity 2.1.5 of decision VII/4 (annex) requests the Executive Secretary to identify and make available to Parties, guidance, case-studies and lessons learned, including those relating to the practical application of strategic environmental assessment, to assist in reviewing and fine-tuning institutional frameworks (plans, programmes, policies and legislations) for the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity of inland waters. To this end, the Secretariat is requesting the submission of case studies and related information, including those relating to the practical application of strategic environmental assessment, to assist in reviewing and fine-tuning institutional frameworks (plans, programmes, policies and legislations) for the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity of inland waters. Annex III Suggested general format for the submission of case studies (to be adapted as appropriate for each request) General -Title -Country of location -Status (planned, ongoing, completed) -Start date, completion date -Agency name leading the project and type of agency (governmental, United Nations, Inter-governmental, non-governmental). -Goals and objectives of the project -Stakeholders involved (government, policy makers, civil society, indigenous and local communities). -Biophysical context (forest, grassland, montane, agriculture, irrigation, water resources management, glaciers, dry and sub-humid lands etc.). Specific -Description of activities implemented (e.g., afforestation, reforestation, ecological restoration/revegetation, water resources management/allocation, restoration/rehabilitation of water cycles, ground water, dams etc.). - Description of technologies used that contribute to the implementation of the revised programme of work on the biological diversity of inland water ecosystems (where developed for, or applicable to, the subject in question); for example, policy frameworks, wise use guidelines, participatory approaches, modeling, environmental flows, land management technologies, water pricing, waste-water management, pollution mitigation, ecosystem approach, etc. - Description of any potential or achieved positive effects on biodiversity (e.g., recovery of native fauna and flora, conservation/diversification of genetic resources, conservation of threatened populations, minimization of habitat fragmentation, reduction of sedimentation rates, restoration of ecosystem function) – including downstream and in coastal areas. -Description of any potential or negative outcomes on biodiversity (e.g., competitive displacement of native fauna and flora, increased soil erosion, increased abundance of invasive alien species, reduction of water flows and the water table). -Description of any links and/or benefits with conservation and sustainable use and improvement of community well-being. -Description of tools, instruments and/or technology applied to assess the project, to design appropriate policies or implement policy decisions. -Description of application of decision analytic frameworks prior to project implementation (decision analysis, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis). - Description of the extent to which the example addresses the impacts on downstream users (including the provision of ecosystem services). -Description of any tools and approaches applied for monitoring biodiversity impacts and degree of ecosystem degradation (e.g., criteria and indicators). -Description of any mechanisms for ensuring the participation of indigenous and local communities in the design and implementation of the policy/project. - Description of how international issues/management were addressed in cases where the ecosystem in question is a trans-boundary ecosystem, including where the water resources in question flow into or from another country.

Executive Secretary

To: National Focal Points of CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD, Ramsar Convention, International Agencies, NGOs