Notification 2007-142

Dear Madam/Sir, Pursuant to paragraphs B.II.13 and C.6.(a) of Decision VIII/5, as well as paragraphs 3.(c).(ii) and 8 of Decision VII/14, I have the honour to inform you that the Secretariat has received, to-date, a total of US$ 70,091.30 from donors in support of the participation of indigenous representatives in the Arctic Region Workshop on Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Biodiversity: New Information and Web-based Technologies, to be held in Quebec City, Canada, on 19-22 November 2007. Invitations to nominate participants in the workshop were sent to countries of the Arctic region and Mongolia. I am pleased to inform Parties that the selection of representatives of indigenous and local communities to receive financial assistance in order to participate in the above-mentioned workshop has been completed. Funding has been allocated to the participants listed in Annex 1 according to the following criteria: Participants are indigenous leaders in tourism as entrepreneurs, policymakers or advisors, and active in existing and functioning associations of indigenous people and tourism operators; The tourism products they manage include areas with significant biodiversity (parks, community or private protected areas); Participants, or their constituents or representatives, should have access to internet and worldwide web-based tools for information, marketing, and networking purposes; and Participants are from a country of the Arctic region and Mongolia. Funded participants will be contacted directly by the Secretariat with regards to travel arrangements. You will also find in Annex 2 a list of self-funded participants. Further information about the workshop, including the provisional agenda, will be available soon on the CBD website at the following address: http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=WSTOURIDG-01. As indicated in Notification SCBD/SEL/OH/JS/CR/59168, dated 2 August 2007, building on the experience of this first workshop, and pending the availability of funds, additional workshops will be organized in other regions and ecosystems. I look forward to hearing about your interest in contributing to this global initiative and upcoming workshops. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points