Notification 2012-133

Dear Madam/Sir, The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties from coastal West Africa to nominate experts to participate in two workshops: - The Sustainable Ocean Initiative Capacity-Building Workshop for West Africa, 16 to 20 January 2013, Senegal; and - The South-Eastern Atlantic regional workshop to facilitate the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), 25 to 29 March 2013, Namibia. Background At its tenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and Aichi Biodiversity Targets, including targets 6, 10 and 11 directly related to marine and coastal biodiversity. Further, the Conference of the Parties adopted a comprehensive decision on marine and coastal biodiversity (decision X/29). In this decision, the COP urged Parties and other Governments to achieve long term conservation, management and sustainable use of marine resources and coastal habitats, and to effectively manage marine protected areas, in order to safeguard marine and coastal biodiversity, marine ecosystem services, and sustainable livelihoods, and to adapt to climate change. The Conference of the Parties emphasized the need for training and capacity building of developing country Parties, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition, as well as through relevant regional initiatives, and that these training workshops should contribute to sharing experiences related to integrated management of marine resources and the implementation of marine and coastal spatial planning instruments, facilitate the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity, and may address other regional priorities that are brought forward as these workshops are planned (decision X/29, paragraph ). The Conference of the Parties 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. In organizing these workshops, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to 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) (decision X/29, paragraph 36). On the occasion of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) was established by the CBD Secretariat together with the COP Presidency and other partners to address the need for capacity-building. The Initiative is being implemented through the kind financial support from the Government of Japan, through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, and the Agence des aires marines protégées (French marine protected areas agency). The Sustainable Ocean Initiative provides a global platform to build partnerships and enhance capacity to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets related to marine and coastal biodiversity in a holistic manner. Its mission includes facilitating the sharing and exchange of knowledge, information, experiences and practices; enhancing interactive communication among global policy, science and local stakeholders; monitoring progress on Aichi Biodiversity Targets related to marine and coastal biodiversity; working together to achieve a balance between the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity; and promoting flexible and diverse approaches towards this end. Capacity-building Workshop, 16-20 January, Senegal As part of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative, the Secretariat is convening, with the financial support from the Government of Japan through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Capacity-building Workshop in West Africa, from 16 to 20 January 2013, in Senegal. The workshop will showcase regional experiences focusing on West Africa. It will specifically cover: (i) ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), and (ii) integrated marine and coastal area management toward achieving targets 6 and 11 in a holistic manner. The workshop will be implemented in collaboration with various partners, including interested Parties, relevant UN-Ocean members, the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, and relevant regional organizations and initiatives. Training materials will be forwarded to the selected experts and posted on the CBD website in due course. The capacity-building workshop will be conducted in English and French. The Senegal workshop will facilitate preparations by Parties and organizations for the subsequent South-Eastern Atlantic regional workshop to facilitate the description of EBSAs. EBSA Regional Workshop, 25-29 March, Namibia Pursuant to the requests of the Conference of the Parties, the Secretariat is convening the South-Eastern Atlantic regional workshop to facilitate the description of EBSAs from 25 to 29 March 2013, in Namibia. The workshop will be organized in collaboration with Parties and various partners, including relevant regional organizations and initiatives. 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 and French. Submission of nominations Parties from the region are invited to nominate experts to participate in these two workshops as follows: a) One expert to participate in both the SOI capacity-building workshop (16-20 January 2013, Senegal) and EBSA regional workshop (25-29 March 2013, Namibia). It will be very important to ensure the commitment of this expert to attend both workshops and work closely with the Secretariat for compilation and submission of relevant scientific data and information following the first workshop in coordination with relevant national and regional experts. This expert should meet the following criteria, in line with COP-10 guidance: (i) Good scientific knowledge and relevant research experience related to the description of EBSAs through the 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; and (ii) Good scientific knowledge and relevant research experience related to the application of biogeographic classification systems of open-ocean waters and deep-sea habitats; b) One expert to attend only the SOI capacity-building workshop (16-20 January 2013, Senegal). This expert should be involved in integrated marine and coastal area management to address multiple-use needs and conflicts, including the needs for establishing and managing marine and coastal protected areas (Target 11) as well as sustainable fisheries management (Target 6). CBD primary focal points should provide the name and contact details of their nominees via official signed letter addressed to the Executive Secretary at their earliest convenience but no later than 15 November 2012, (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. Nominations should also clearly indicate the workshop/s for which the experts are being nominated. The Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of two experts from each eligible Party in the SOI capacity-building workshop (16-20 January 2013, Senegal) and one expert from each eligible Party in the EBSA regional workshop (25-29 March 2013, Namibia), as described above. I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and 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 of Morocco, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa