Notification 2013-085

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 the 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 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), in organizing the above regional workshops. Pursuant to these requests, I have the pleasure to inform you that, with financial support from the Government of Finland, the Secretariat is convening an Arctic regional workshop to facilitate the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), from 3 to 7 March 2014, in Helsinki, Finland. Parties to the CBD, other Governments and relevant regional organizations/initiatives are invited to nominate experts who can participate in this workshop and provide scientific information in support of the workshop’s 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 application of EBSA criteria (annex VI, UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/14/INF/4); 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. Submission of nominations from Governments Parties and other Governments from the region are invited to nominate two experts to participate in this workshop. Nominations should include the name and full contact details of nominees and should be submitted via an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary and signed by the National Focal Point. Nominations must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the areas of expertise and experience of the nominees. Submission of nominations from relevant organizations Relevant regional organizations and initiatives are invited to nominate one expert to participate in this workshop. The head of the organization/initiative should provide the name and contact details of their nominee via official signed letter addressed to the Executive Secretary. Nominations should include full contact details and should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the areas of expertise and experience of the nominee. All nominations must be received at the earliest convenience but no later than 15 November 2013 (scanned and sent to secretariat@cbd.int; or faxed to +1 (514) 288-6588). I thank you for your cooperation and your continued support of the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. Draft Terms of Reference for CBD Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) (paragraph 36, decision X/29) 1. Describe ecologically or biologically significant marine areas through application of the scientific criteria adopted through decision IX/20 and contained in annex I to that decision, 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; 2. Collate, review, analyse and synthesize relevant scientific data/information/maps collected and compiled by the CBD Secretariat, to undertake the above activity in paragraph 1; 3. Produce a regional workshop report on areas meeting EBSA criteria for consideration by SBSTTA; and 4. The regional workshops will be convened by the Executive Secretary in collaboration 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), with regards to fisheries management.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points in the Arctic region: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden, United States of America; relevant Permanent Participants and Working Groups of the Arctic Council; relevant regional seas conventions and action plans; relevant regional fisheries management organizations; and other relevant regional organizations/initiatives