Notification 2014-087

Workshop on synergies between REDD+ and ecosystem conservation and restoration in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, Douala, Cameroon, 8 to 11 July 2014

Dear Madam/Sir, I have the pleasure to announce that the Secretariat is organizing, in collaboration with the UNEP-WCMC and COMIFAC, a workshop on synergies between REDD+ and ecosystem conservation and restoration in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans to be held from 8 to 11 July 2014 in Douala, Cameroon. Nominations will be sought through a formal invitation process carried out by COMIFAC. The workshop will be held in French. Meeting documents and logistical information will be posted on the CBD website at http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=CBWECR-2014-08 in due course. This workshop, for Central African countries, is part of a series being organized through the generous financial assistance of the Governments of Canada, Germany, Japan (through the Japan Biodiversity Fund), and the Republic of Korea, as well as the European Union. The aims of the workshop are 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) Integrating targets, as well as REDD+ actions, into updated NBSAPs for mainstreaming into broader national policies, plans and programmes; and © Demonstrating the appropriate data gathering processes (such as spatial information), assessments, policies, and other planning tools for implementing a coherent approach to targets and REDD+ actions. Aichi Biodiversity Targets 5, 11 and 15 set quantitative global targets to reduce the loss of natural habitats, improve protected area networks and restore degraded areas. A coherent approach could facilitate the attainment of these area-based targets. In addition, such approach can complement progress towards other targets. Thus through this workshop, the Secretariat plans to offer capacity-building to Parties within an integrated and participatory approach to promote holistic planning and implementation at the landscape level. 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, paragraph 5 of decision XI/16, and paragraph 16 (a) of decision XI/19). Furthermore, these activities will assist the Secretariat to report to the twelfth meeting of the COP in October 2014 on progress by Parties in integrating PoWPA action plans into revised NBSAPs and into relevant sectoral plans and budgets, as invited in paragraph 1 © of decision X/31. In the weeks leading up to the workshop, the representatives will be provided with pre-work questions and asked to submit a case study and 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. The capacity gained can be shared with staff in-country who may also take these modules. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe

2014-06-18

Subject(s): Ecosystem Restoration, Forest Biodiversity