Notification 2009-072

Dear Madam/Sir, Goal 1.2 of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) specifically calls for integrating protected areas into broader land and seascapes and sectors to maintain the structural and functional viability of ecosystems. While reviewing the implementation of the PoWPA, the Conference of the Parties (COP), in decision VIII/24, recognized that there was a lack of implementation in goal 1.2 in developing countries due to capacity building constraints. In paragraph 4 (a) of decision IX/18, the COP invited Parties to promote the application of appropriate tools and policy measures including, as appropriate, integrated spatial planning in order to better integrate protected areas into broader land and seascapes and relevant sectors and plans, including aiming at poverty eradication. To address the capacity building constraints and to promote the application of appropriate tools and measures for the integration of protected areas into wider land and seascapes, the Executive Secretary, with the generous financial support from the Government of the Netherlands, organized an expert workshop in November 2008 at the International Academy of Nature Conservation on the Isle of Vilm, Germany, to develop a practical guide on ways and means to integrate protected areas into wider land and seascapes and sectors. Based upon the agreed structure and guidance provided by the workshop participants, a draft guide was prepared and submitted to all the participants in the workshop for comments, additional case studies and examples. A revised version of the draft guide was subsequently prepared incorporating these comments from the workshop participants. This document is now open for a wider peer review and can be downloaded at http://www.cbd.int/pa/doc/pa-draft-guide-peer-review-2009-06-26-en.doc. I would be grateful to receive your comments on the draft guide, at your earliest convenience and no later than 31 July 2009. The finalized version will be published under the CBD Technical Series and will be used in future PoWPA capacity building workshops. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, PoWPA Focal Points and relevant organizations