Notification 2014-016

Dear Madam/Sir, Reference is made to the notification 2014-009 dated 22 January 2014, regarding the nomination of experts to the CBD Mediterranean Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs), to be held from 7 to 11 April 2014, Málaga, Spain. As indicated in the above notification and pursuant to the requests of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in decisions X/29 and XI/17, this regional workshop is being convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Barcelona Convention/Mediterranean Action Plan, with logistical and technical support provided by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med) and the Regional Activity Center for Specially Protected Areas, and with financial support from the Government of Spain, the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF) of the Barcelona Convention/Mediterranean Action Plan, and the European Commission. In order to allow the Secretariat to prepare necessary scientific input to the above-mentioned workshop in a timely manner, you are invited to provide relevant scientific information in support of the workshop’s objectives, as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, 17 March 2014. Submission of information should be sent to the CBD Secretariat via an e-mail addressed to secretariat@cbd.int and copied to rena.cavoura@unepmap.gr or faxed to +1 514 288-6588 and +30 (210) 7253196. Relevant scientific information can be submitted in two ways: (1) by using the EBSA information template attached as an appendix to this letter, or (2) through another appropriate format, such as scientific articles, documents, datasets, maps or visual and audio information. Information should contribute to the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas through application of scientific criteria in annex I of decision IX/20 (http://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/?id=11663), as well as other relevant compatible and complementary nationally and intergovernmentally agreed scientific criteria. Please note that all of the submitted information will be available only for consideration by the above-mentioned workshop. The information considered by the workshop will be kept in the CBD EBSA information-sharing mechanism, as called for by COP 11 in decision XI/17. I thank you for your continued support of the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points; Mediterranean Action Plan; relevant regional fisheries management organizations; and other relevant global or regional organizations/initiatives