Notification 2009-113

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 its tenth meeting, 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 of the CBD, with the generous financial assistance of the European Commission, the Netherlands and Germany, has planned a Regional Workshop for Central and Eastern Europe on the Review of Implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas to be held from 27 November to 1 December 2009 at the International Academy for Nature Conservation on the Isle of Vilm, Germany, in collaboration with the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and WWF. The objectives of the workshop are: (i) to strengthen the skills and knowledge of protected area functionaries and others who implement the programme of work through an exchange of experiences, sharing of tools, available resources and capacity-building in two aspects of the PoWPA,(a) integration of protected areas into wider land and seascapes, and (b) governance; (ii) to review the progress in implementation of the PoWPA; and (iii) to propose ways and means for strengthening the implementation of the programme of work post-2010. The provisional agenda is attached 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, 103 PoWPA focal points have been nominated (https://www.cbd.int/doc/lists/nfp-cbd-powpa.pdf) and we await nominations from the remaining Parties. I am pleased to invite you to nominate one representative of your government, at your earliest convenience, but not later than 30 September 2009, to participate in the workshop. The workshop organisers will be in a position to finance the participation of one representative from eligible Parties to the Convention in the region. A second participant can be nominated, but must be fully financed by the nominating country. 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. The representative would normally be the current PoWPA focal point and, as such, would not require submission of curriculum vitae. In the case that the PoWPA focal point is unable to attend, other nominees must include full contact details and be accompanied by curriculum vitae that clearly indicate the areas of expertise of the nominee. In either case, please provide the name and coordinates of your nominee via signed official letter from the CBD primary focal point addressed to the International Academy for Nature Conservation, Isle of Vilm, faxed to +49-38301-86-117, or scanned and attached to an email addressed to: judith.jabs@bfn-vilm.de, with copy to secretariat@cbd.int or fax: 1 514 288 6588, which should arrive no later than 30 September 2009. As stated above, in para A25 of decision IX/18, the COP determined the basis for the in-depth review of the PoWPA. In para A10 of the same decision, the COP requested the Executive Secretary in consultation with Parties and with support from UNEP-WCMC, IUCN, among others, to develop as part of national reporting on biodiversity a streamlined reporting process through standardized information gathering. Accordingly, the Secretariat with the above partners developed such a formatting framework to aid in the preparation of a comprehensive, objective review. Party representatives should complete the framework prior to the workshop as it would de discussed during the workshop. Information on the framework will be relayed directly to the nominated delegates. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and your continued support for the work of the Convention and look forward to receiving your nominations. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. Regional Workshop for Central and Eastern Europe on the Review of Implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas from 27 November to 1 December 2009, Isle of Vilm, Germany PROVISIONAL AGENDA 1. Opening of the meeting. 2. Strengthening capacities for: (i) integration of protected areas into wider land and seascapes, and (ii) governance 3. To review progress made in the implementation of the programme of work on protected areas at national, sub-regional and regional levels for the in-depth review. 4. Inputs to the fourteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical and Technological Advice to be held in May 2010 on the in-depth review of the programme of work on protected areas. 5. Other matters. 6. Adoption of the report and closure of the meeting.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and PoWPA Focal Points in Central and Eastern Europe