Notification 2018-056

Dear Madam/Sir, The Executive Secretary has selected experts to participate in the informal advisory group for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), based on nominations submitted by Parties, relevant organizations, and indigenous peoples and local communities in response to notification 2017 058, dated 21 June 2017. I am pleased to attach herewith, as an annex to this notification, the list of the selected experts. The selection process took place in line with the criteria outlined in the above-mentioned notification, in consultation with the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, taking into account the need to ensure geographical distribution and gender balance. In paragraph 11 of decision XI11/l2, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to establish an informal advisory group for EBSAs, subject to available financial resources, to facilitate implementation of the voluntary practical options referred to in paragraph 9 and annex II of the same decision. The informal advisory group will provide scientific and technical advice to the Executive Secretary as elaborated in the terms of reference, as contained in annex III of decision XIII/12. The informal advisory group is expected to work through different modalities, including e-mail communications, virtual meetings (e.g., teleconference and videoconference) and periodic in-person meetings, including in conjunction with other meetings (e.g., meetings of the SBSTTA and the Conference of the Parties). The first meeting of the informal advisory group on EBSAs will take place from 30 June – 1 July 2018, in Montreal, Canada. The Secretariat will finance the participation of selected experts from eligible Parties to attend this first meeting. Letters of invitation to this meeting have been sent to the selected experts. Further information and documents is being made available on the website of the Convention at: https://www.cbd.int/meetings/EBSA-OM-2018-01. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter and your continued support for the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. ANNEX Selected experts to participate in the informal advisory group for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas Africa Egypt Mr. Moustafa Fouda South Africa Ms. Kerry Sink Guinea Mr. Alkaly Doumnouys Mozambique Mr. Salomao Bandeira Asia and the Pacific China Mr. Yu Weiwei India Mr K. Sivakumar Philippines Ms. Marie-Antoinette Juinio-Meñoz Republic of Korea Mr. Yongrock An Central and Eastern Europe Azerbaijan Mr. Mehman Ahundov Slovenia Mr. Borut Mavrič Turkmenistan Ms. Shirin Karryeva Latin American and Caribbean Group Brazil Ms. Ana Paula Leite Prates Ecuador Ms. Alba Katherine Calles Procel Jamaica Ms. Mona Kay Webber Mexico Ms. Elva Escobar Western Europe and Others Developed Countries Group Australia Mr. Piers Dunstan Canada Ms. Nadine Wells Japan Mr. Yoshihisa Shirayama Sweden Ms. Pia Norling Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Indigenous Peoples and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCAs) Ms. Vivienne Solis Rivera Other Governments and Organizations Ocean Biogeographic Information System Mr. Ward Appeltans Global Ocean Observing System Mr. Nic Bax Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation in West Africa (PRCM) Mr. Mallé Diagana Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) Mr. David Obura Food and Agriculture Organization of UN Mr. Kim Friedman Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission Mr. Jorge Paramo Granados BirdLife International Ms. Carolina Hazin Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative Mr. David Johnson Duke University/USA Mr. Pat Halpin IUCN Mr. Guiseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, and Marine and Coastal Biodiversity National Focal Points; relevant organizations; and indigenous peoples and local communities