Notification 2009-062

Dear Madam/Sir, In paragraph A15 of decision IX/18 the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) requested the Executive Secretary to convene regional and sub-regional capacity-building and progress-review workshops for the programme of work on protected areas (PoWPA). In paragraph A25 of the same decision, the COP, while deciding on the process for preparation of in-depth review of the PoWPA at the tenth meeting of the COP, requested the Executive Secretary to prepare the in-depth review using inter alia information contained in the fourth national reports, relevant global and regional data bases and the results of the above-mentioned regional and sub-regional workshops and to propose ways and means for strengthening the implementation of the PoWPA for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA). Accordingly, the Executive Secretary, with the generous financial assistance of the European Commission, has planned a Regional Workshop for Asia and the Pacific on the Review of Implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas to be held from 14 to 16 October 2009 in Dehradun, India in collaboration with the Government of India and the PoWPA Friends Consortium. The objectives of the workshop are twofold: (i) to review the progress in implementation of the PoWPA, and (ii) to propose ways and means for strengthening the implementation of the programme of work post-2010. The provisional agenda and other meeting documents will soon be available on the Secretariat website. The COP, in paragraph A21 of decision IX/18, requested Parties to designate a national focal point for the PoWPA in support of the Convention’s national focal point. To date, 49 Parties have nominated a PoWPA focal point, and we await nominations from the remaining countries. I am pleased to invite you to nominate one representative of your government, at your earliest convenience, but not later than 10 July 2009, to participate in the workshop. The Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of one representative from eligible Parties to the Convention in the region. Parties are requested to use the following criteria while submitting the nominations: • The country representative should be involved in the implementation of the PoWPA; • After the workshop, the representative should be in a position to translate the knowledge gained into concrete actions; and • The representative should be in a position to participate in the exchange of information in the workshop on the status of implementation of the PoWPA and to propose ways and means for strengthening the implementation of the PoWPA post-2010. Unless the nominee is the current PoWPA Focal Point, all nominations must include full contact details and be accompanied by curriculum vitae that clearly indicate the areas of expertise of the nominee. Please provide the name and coordinates of your nominee via official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary which should reach the Secretariat no later than 10 July 2009 (faxed to +1 (514) 288-6588, or scanned and attached to an email addressed to: secretariat@cbd.int). The in-depth review of the PoWPA is based inter alia on information contained in annex III of the fourth national reports. The nominees of those countries that have not submitted their fourth national reports, are required to submit annex III by 30 July 2009, well in time to prepare the documentation for the regional workshop. We look forward to receiving your reports and nominations. I thank you in advance for your cooperation and your continued support for the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD Focal Points and PoWPA Focal Points in Asia and the Pacific