Notification 2022-011

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to invite Parties, other Governments and relevant regional organizations and initiatives from countries in the Wider Caribbean and Central America to participate in the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Capacity-Building Workshop for the Wider Caribbean and Central America on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures in the Marine Fishery Sector, to be held virtually from 20 to 21 April 2022 (Part 1) and from 27 to 28 April 2022 (Part 2). The workshop is being convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in collaboration with various partners, including the Cartagena Convention Secretariat and the Caribbean Environment Programme, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission, the UNDP/GEF PROCARIBE+ PPG Coordination Unit, and the Fisheries Expert Group of the IUCN-Commission on Ecosystem Management. The organization of this workshop is being financially supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The workshop seeks to enhance the capacity of countries in the region to identify, designate and report on “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) in the marine fishery sector. The concept of OECMs emerged from Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 (https://www.cbd.int/aichi-targets/target/11), which focused specifically on area-based conservation. At its fourteenth meeting, in 2018, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD adopted a definition, and criteria for the identification, of OECMs. In the same decision, the COP requested the CBD Secretariat to provide capacity-building, including training workshops, to enable the application of the scientific and technical advice and guidance on OECMs (decision 14/8 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-08-en.pdf)). OECMs are also being discussed in the context of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which is presently being developed under the CBD, and are specifically mentioned in draft target 3 under the framework. As such, it is expected that OECMs will play an important role in achieving the goals of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which is expected to be adopted at the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD. SOI is a global platform that aims to build partnerships and enhance capacity to achieve the global goals and targets on marine and coastal biodiversity. Its implementation is being coordinated by the CBD Secretariat in collaboration with various partners. SOI was created on the margins of the tenth meeting of the COP to respond to the need for training and capacity-building of developing country Parties with regard to marine conservation and management, as emphasized by the COP in decision X/29 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-10/cop-10-dec-29-en.pdf). Submission of nominations from Governments Parties from the region are invited to nominate two experts to participate in this workshop. Specifically, nominations should include one expert involved in marine biodiversity conservation, such as marine protected areas or other area-based conservation measures, and one expert involved in fisheries management. Nominations must include: i) an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, signed by the national focal point, indicating the name and full contact details of the nominees; ii) the completed nomination form, attached; and iii) the curriculum vitae of the nominees, clearly indicating their areas of expertise and experience. Submission of nominations from relevant organizations Relevant regional organizations and initiatives are invited to nominate one expert to participate in this workshop. Nominations must include: i) an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, signed by the head of the organization/initiative, indicating the name and full contact details of the nominee; ii) the completed nomination form, attached; and iii) the curriculum vitae of the nominee, clearly indicating their area of expertise and experience. All nominations must be received as soon as possible but no later than 25 February 2022 (scanned and attached to an e-mail addressed to secretariat@cbd.int). Workshop materials will be forwarded to the selected experts and posted on the CBD website in due course. The workshop will take place virtually and will be held in English, Spanish and French. I 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.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points in Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant global and regional organizations/initiatives