Notification 2016-122

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to invite Parties, other Governments and relevant regional organizations and initiatives from countries in the Wider Caribbean and Central America to participate in the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Capacity Building Workshop to be held from 20 to 24 February 2017, in San José, Costa Rica. TThe workshop is being convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica and various other partners, including the Cartagena Convention Secretariat and UNEP's Caribbean Environment Programme, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, the North East Pacific Regional Seas Programme, the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission and other relevant regional and international organizations and initiatives. The organization of this workshop is being financially supported by the Government of Japan, through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, and the Government of France, through the French MPA Agency (Agence des aires marines protégées). The workshop seeks to enhance the capacity of countries in the region to conserve and sustainably use marine and coastal biodiversity in order to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. It will focus on experiences and approaches in the region to support integrated marine and coastal area management toward achieving Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in particular Targets 6, 10 and 11, in a holistic manner, including through the use of scientific and technical tools such as the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), environmental impact assessments and strategic environmental assessments, and marine spatial planning. It also aims to facilitate cross-sectoral, multi-agency scientific, technical and financial partnerships to support the effective implementation of various management tools and approaches. The Sustainable Ocean Initiative is a global platform that aims to build partnerships and enhance capacity to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas. Its implementation is being coordinated by the CBD Secretariat in collaboration with various SOI partners. SOI was created to respond to the urgent need for training and capacity-building of developing country Parties with regard to marine conservation and management, pursuant to decisions X/29, XI/17, XI/18, XII/22 and XII/23. Further details about SOI activities can be found in the SOI Action Plan for 2015-2020 (available at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/mar/soiom-2014-02/official/soiom-2014-02-actionplan-en.pdf). Submission of nominations from Governments Parties from the region are invited to nominate two experts to participate in this workshop. Specifically, nominations should include one expert involved in marine biodiversity conservation, such as marine protected areas or other area-based conservation measures, and one expert involved in sustainable fisheries management. The Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of two experts from each Party eligible for funding. Nominations must include: i) an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, signed by the national focal point, indicating the name and full contact details of the nominees; ii) the attached completed nomination form and iii) the curriculum vitae of the nominees, clearly indicating their areas of expertise and experience. 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 an official signed letter addressed to the Executive Secretary. Nominations must include: i) the attached completed nomination form and ii) the curriculum vitae of the nominee, clearly indicating the areas of expertise and experience. All nominations must be received as soon as possible but no later than 30 November 2016 (scanned and attached to an e-mail addressed to secretariat@cbd.int; or faxed to +1 (514) 288-6588). Workshop materials will be forwarded to the selected experts and posted on the CBD website in due course. The workshop will be conducted in English and Spanish. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter and your 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 in Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panamá, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, indigenous peoples and local communities, the Caribbean Environment Programme, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, the North East Pacific Regional Seas Programme, the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission, and other relevant global or regional organizations/initiatives