Notification 2012-059

Dear Madam/Sir, In decision X/29, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity requested the Executive Secretary to organize a series of regional workshops, with a primary objective to facilitate the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas through application of scientific criteria in annex I of decision IX/20 as well as other relevant compatible and complementary nationally and intergovernmentally agreed scientific criteria, as well as the scientific guidance on the identification of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, which meet the scientific criteria in annex I to decision IX/20. The COP further requested that the Executive Secretary work with Parties and other Governments as well as competent organizations and regional initiatives, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), regional seas conventions and action plans, and, where appropriate, regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), in organizing the above regional workshops. Pursuant to this request, I have the pleasure to inform you that, with financial support from the Government of Japan, the Secretariat is convening an Indian Ocean regional workshop, in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to facilitate the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), which will take place from 30 July to 3 August 2012, in Mauritius. These dates will include one day of training (30 July) on the application of EBSA criteria and a four-day workshop (31 July to 3 August). I invite you to nominate, at your earliest convenience but no later than 31 May 2012, an expert who can participate in this workshop and provide scientific information in support of the workshop objectives prior to the workshop. The selection of experts will be based on scientific expertise and experience, taking into account the guidance of COP in its decision X/29, and will be carried out using the following criteria: - Good scientific knowledge related to, and research experience in describing ecologically or biologically significant marine areas through application of scientific criteria in annex I of decision IX/20 as well as other relevant compatible and complementary nationally and intergovernmentally agreed scientific criteria; - Good scientific knowledge related to, and experience in the application of scientific guidance on the identification of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, which meet the scientific criteria in annex I to decision IX/20; and - Good scientific knowledge related to, and experience in developing and applying biogeographic classification systems of open-ocean waters and deep-sea habitats Draft terms of reference for the workshop are annexed to this notification for your reference. Meeting documents will be forwarded to the selected experts and posted on the CBD website in due course. The meeting will be conducted in English. CBD primary focal points should provide the name and contact details of their nominee via official signed letter addressed to the Executive Secretary by the deadline (faxed to +1 (514) 288-6588, or scanned and attached to an email addressed to secretariat@cbd.int). Nominations must include full contact details and be accompanied by a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the areas of expertise and experience of the nominee. The Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of one expert from each eligible Party. I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and your continued support of the work of the Convention.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points in the Southern Indian Ocean region: Australia, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, United Kingdom; competent organizations and regional initiatives