Notification 2017-086

Dear Madam/Sir, Through this notification, Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations are invited to nominate scientific and technical experts to participate in an expert workshop to develop options for modifying the description of areas meeting the criteria for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), for describing new areas, and for strengthening the scientific credibility and transparency of the EBSA process, to take place in Berlin from 5 to 8 December 2017. Pursuant to paragraph 10 of decision XIII/12, the objectives of the workshop are: (a) To develop options, for cases both within and beyond national jurisdiction, regarding procedures within the Convention to modify the description of areas meeting the EBSA criteria and to describe new areas, while fully respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal States reaffirmed in paragraph 3 of decision XIII/12; and (b) To develop options for strengthening the scientific credibility and transparency of the EBSA process, including by enhancing the scientific peer review by Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations. The workshop will be hosted by the Government of Germany, through the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, and organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with financial support from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy of the Government of Sweden. The EBSA process was initiated in 2011, pursuant to decision X/29. Since 2011, 13 regional workshops have been held, and the outcomes of the first twelve were reviewed by the COP at its eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth meetings (decisions XI/17, XII/22 and XIII/12). The current process for describing areas meeting the EBSA criteria is set out in paragraphs 26, 36, 42 and 43 of decision X/29; paragraphs 6, 12 and 18 of decision XI/17; and paragraphs 3 and 7 of decision XII/22. This workshop will build on the discussions of the Conference of the Parties at its thirteenth meeting and continue the work set out in paragraph 10 of decision XII/22 and SBSTTA recommendation XX/3, as requested in decision XIII/12. The report of this workshop will be made available for subsequent peer-review by Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations and will be made available for consideration by the twenty-second meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. A maximum of six experts will be selected per region on the basis of nominations by Parties as well as the availability of financial resources, and a limited number, less than the total number of experts from Parties, of participants from other Governments, relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities will be selected to participate as observers. Nominated experts must meet the following criteria: (a) Significant scientific knowledge and experience related to the application of the EBSA criteria, including experience demonstrated during the CBD regional workshops to facilitate the description of EBSAs, and experience in the application of other relevant compatible and complementary nationally and intergovernmentally agreed scientific criteria; (b) Significant experience in the implementation of the CBD programme of work on marine and coastal biodiversity, particularly relating to the procedures within the Convention on the description of areas meeting the EBSA criteria, both within and beyond national jurisdiction. The Secretariat will finance the participation of selected experts from eligible Parties who meet the above criteria. Please note that the workshop will be conducted in English. Nominations should include the name and full contact details of nominee and should be submitted via an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary and signed, respectively, by the National Focal Point or head of the organization/initiative. All nominations must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the areas of expertise and experience of the nominee, considering the above selection criteria. Nominations should be submitted to the Secretariat immediately, but no later than 9 October 2017, by e mail to secretariat@cbd.int or by fax to +1 514 288 6588. 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, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, relevant United Nations/international organizations, Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, Regional Fisheries Bodies, IPLCs and other relevant organizations