Online Discussion Forums

Expert workshop on scientific and technical guidance on the use of biogeographic classification systems and identification of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction in need of protection

Ottawa, Canada, 29 September – 2 October 2009

At its ninth meeting, the Conference of the Parties (COP) decided to convene an expert workshop to provide scientific and technical guidance on the use and further development of biogeographic classification systems, and guidance on the identification of areas beyond the national jurisdiction which meet the scientific criteria in annex I to decision IX/20 (decision IX/20, paragraph 19). Pursuant to this decision, the expert workshop is being organized by the Secretariat, with the financial support from the Governments of Canada and Germany. It will be held in Ottawa, Canada, from 29 September to 2 October 2009.

To facilitate effective preparation for the expert workshop, the Secretariat is organizing this electronic forum, inviting Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations as well as relevant experts, in particular those who were involved in the development of scientific criteria, in the CBD marine expert workshop held in Azores, Portugal (October 2007), and the biogeographic classification system of global open oceans and deep seabed (UNEP/CBD/COP/9/INF/44).

The results of this electronic forum will be compiled and submitted for the information of Ottawa workshop participants.

The main purposes of this electronic forum are:

1. to clarify expectations for the outputs of the workshop;
2. to facilitate compiling and synthesizing background information as an input to the workshop
3. to facilitate brainstorming on anticipated scientific opportunities, uncertainties and challenges related to workshop discussion; and
4. to invite existing/potential users/regulatory agencies at regional and national levels, to articulate their specific needs, goals, and challenges in applying scientific criteria and biogeographic classification system

DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE: 31 August 2009

Questions/Issues for the Electronic Forum

(1) Biogeographic classification systems of global open oceans an deep seabed (refer to paragraph 6, Decision IX/20)

Question 1.1

How do we envision scientific and technical guidance on the use and further development of biogeographic classification systems, in terms of its content, format, target users, relevance to policy and management, applicability, etc? Please provide any example documents, if available.

Question 1.2

Please submit information on sectoral, regional and national experiences with the use of the biogeographic classification system.

Question 1.3

How can policy makers use biogeographic classification systems in their efforts in identifying marine areas in need of protection? What other uses have they made of biogeographic classification systems?

Question 1.4

Describe any anticipated scientific opportunities, uncertainties and challenges related to the workshop discussion on biogeographic classification systems.

Question 1.5

Please provide any relevant documents, reports, scientific articles, and other information, which can be background information to the workshop discussion on biogeographic classification systems.

(2) Scientific criteria for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in need of protection (refer to Annex I, Decision IX/20)

Question 2.1

How do we envision scientific and technical guidance on the identification of areas beyond the national jurisdiction, which meet the scientific criteria in annex I of decision IX/20, in terms of its content, format, target users, relevance to policy and management, applicability, etc? Please provide any example documents, if available.

Question 2.2

Please submit information on existing sectoral, regional and national progress on the identification of areas beyond national jurisdiction which meet the scientific criteria.

Question 2.3

What lessons have been learned from the application of scientific criteria in marine waters within national jurisdiction?

Question 2.4

How do we apply lessons learned from the application of scientific criteria in marine waters within national jurisdiction, to identification of areas beyond national jurisdiction which meet the scientific criteria?

Question 2.5

Please describe any anticipated scientific opportunities, uncertainties and challenges related to the workshop discussion on the identification of areas beyond the national jurisdiction, which meet the scientific criteria.

Question 2.6

Please provide any relevant documents, reports, scientific articles, and other information, which can be background information to the workshop discussion on the identification of areas beyond the national jurisdiction, which meet the scientific criteria.