Notification 2006-087

Dear Madam/Sir, In paragraph 5 of decision VII/12 on sustainable use, the Conference of the Parties (COP) requested the Executive Secretary to convene a series of technical expert workshops on ecosystem services assessment, financial costs and benefits associated with conservation of biodiversity, and sustainable use of biological resources. I have the pleasure to inform you that, with financial assistance from the Government of the Netherlands, the Secretariat is organizing the African Regional Workshop on Sustainable Use, to complement previous workshops in Moscow (30 May to 2 June 2005) and Buenos Aires (13 - 16 September 2005). The workshop is scheduled to take place at the premises of the United Nations Environment Programme, in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11-15 December 2006. Consistent with decision VII/12, the workshop will address: • Ecosystem services assessment; • Financial costs and benefits associated with conservation of biodiversity, and sustainable use of biological resources. Moreover, it will provide a forum for government officials and practitioners to enhance their awareness and understanding of the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity as well as other relevant CBD guidelines, and promote the use of these guidelines in an integrated manner, as a contribution to facilitating the achievement of the 2010 target, sustainable development and poverty alleviation. The workshop will in particular focus on the applicability of the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines to agricultural biodiversity in Africa as a contribution to the review of the work programme of the Convention by SBSTTA 13. Further, the workshop will facilitate and promote exchange of experiences among government officials and practitioners through the review of case studies provided by invited experts. In light of the above, I invite you to nominate, at your earliest convenience but no later than 30 September 2006, a technical expert to participate in this meeting, taking into account the topic of the workshop and the focus on agriculture as outlined above. To ensure an adequate stakeholder balance, Parties may consider nominating experts from the private sector and/or civil society as well as government officials. Owing to the limited financial resources available the participants will be selected based on expertise required at national and local levels in addressing the issues on the agenda, taking into account gender balance and equitable distribution amongst the continent’s sub-regions. Each participant in the workshop will be requested to present a case study on the sustainable use of biological resources in his/her country, taking into consideration the topic and focus of the workshop on agriculture. Guidelines for the drafting of the case study will be provided to selected candidates, along with further instructions on methodology and proposed outcomes. Nominations should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae that clearly indicates the areas of expertise of the nominee and his/her complete coordinates. I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and your continued support to the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points from Africa