Notification 2013-080

Dear Madam/Sir, I have the pleasure to announce that, with the generous financial assistance of the Government of Japan (through the Japan Biodiversity Fund), the CBD Secretariat is organizing, as part of a series, a capacity-building workshop for the Pacific on ecosystem conservation and restoration to support achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets to be held from 25 to 29 November 2013 in Suva, Fiji. The aim of the workshop is to support Parties in: (a) The development of national targets and plans for ecosystem conservation and restoration within the framework of Aichi Biodiversity Targets 5, 11 and 15; (b) The integration of these targets and plans into updated NBSAPs and mainstreaming into broader national policies, plans and programmes (in particular for PoWPA action plans with respect to decision X/31 (paragraph 1 (c)); and (c) Using appropriate assessment, policy and planning tools to promote ecosystem conservation and restoration at appropriate levels. The provisional agenda and other meeting documents will soon be available on the CBD website at http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=WSCBECR-PAC-01. Aichi Biodiversity Targets 5, 11 and 15 set quantitative global targets to reduce the loss of natural habitats, restore degraded areas and improve protected area networks. Target 5 calls for the rate of loss of natural habitats to be at least halved; Target 11 calls for the protection of at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland waters and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas; and Target 15 calls for the restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems. There is a need for a coherent approach to the achievement of these targets which will also contribute toward achieving many other Aichi Targets (e.g. targets 7, 12, 13, and 14). The Secretariat plans to offer capacity-building to Parties within an integrated, participatory, approach to promote holistic planning and implementation at landscape level. The overall approach includes providing background information to Parties to facilitate work prior to and during sub-regional workshops as well as facilitating follow up support to Parties with the cooperation of partner agencies and initiatives. These capacity-building activities respond to multiple requests from the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Executive Secretary including: paragraph 10 of decision XI/24 which requested the continued support for implementation of national action plans for the programme of work on protected areas (PoWPA), including through workshops and making available relevant tools; and paragraph 5 of decision XI/16 wherein the COP requested the Executive Secretary, making use of information documents UNEP/CBD/COP/11/INF/17, 18 and 19, to conduct capacity-building workshops on ecosystem restoration. Further, these activities will enable the Secretariat to report to the twelfth meeting of the COP on progress by Parties in integrating PoWPA action plans into revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and into relevant sectoral plans and budgets as invited in paragraph 1 (c) of decision X/31. I am pleased to invite your government to nominate two representatives, at your earliest convenience, but not later than 1 October 2013, to participate in the workshop. The Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of two representatives from eligible Parties. Parties are requested to use the following criteria when submitting their nominations: (a) Delegates should have complementary experience in spatial planning for biodiversity such as the protected area focal point and/or persons responsible for forestry, agriculture or marine spatial planning, or persons responsible for updating the NBSAP; (b) All delegates must be in a position to translate the knowledge gained into concrete actions; and © All delegates must be capable of reporting on current status of achieving the area-based Aichi Targets, providing an assessment of needs, and liaising with key partners to facilitate support for follow up actions. In the weeks leading up to the workshop, the participants will be provided background information and data and asked to submit information on the status of restoration and conservation activities in their countries. Participants will also be offered the opportunity to benefit from online modules on key workshop themes, including protected areas. Capacity gained can be shared with staff in country who may also take these modules. Nominations of the two delegates must include full contact details (except in the case of CBD or protected area focal points) and be accompanied by a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the complementary areas of expertise of the nominees. CBD national focal points should provide the name and contact details of their nominees 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). This workshop will be held in English. I look forward to receiving your nominations and I thank you for your cooperation and continued support for the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points of the following countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu