Notification 2021-020

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to invite Parties, relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities to the webinar on “Introduction to Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for Mexico, Central and South America”, jointly organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature - World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on 13 April 2021, at 9:00-10:30 a.m. (GMT-5). Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 explicitly mentions that “…especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures and integrated into the wider landscape and seascape”. The Conference of the Parties (COP), at its fourteenth meeting, adopted the definition of OECMs and welcomed the related scientific and technical advice, including the criteria for identification, to be applied in a flexible way and on a case-by-case basis (decision 14/8 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-08-en.pdf)). However, as the definition was only adopted in November 2018, there is still limited information on the global extent of OECMs or the impact they could have on the elements of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11. Therefore, the webinar aims to enhance understanding of OECMs, and their role as means of in-situ conservation of biodiversity contributing to Aichi Target 11, to facilitate identification, recognition, and reporting. Furthermore, in paragraph 5 of the same decision, the COP encouraged Parties and invited other Governments, relevant organizations, in collaboration with indigenous peoples and local communities, to apply the scientific and technical advice, including by: (a) identifying OECMs and their diverse options within their jurisdiction; and (b) submitting data on OECMs to the United Nations Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) for inclusion in the World Database on Protected Areas. In this regard, to assist Parties in identifying OECMs and in applying the scientific and technical advice, and pursuant to paragraph 9 of the above-mentioned decision, IUCN, through its WCPA Task Force on OECMs, developed technical guidelines for Recognizing and Reporting Other Effective Areas-based Conservation Measures. In view of the above, I strongly encourage Parties and stakeholders to participate in the webinar, by confirming their participation to Mr. Harry Jonas at: harry@futurelaw.org and Ms. Clara Lucia Matallana Tobon at: cmatallana@humboldt.org.co, with a copy to the Secretariat at: secretariat@cbd.int, as soon as possible, and at the latest by 10 April 2021. Kindly note that the webinar will be conducted in Spanish only. Further details on the webinar and necessary links are in the attached annex (available in Spanish only). I thank you for your cooperation and continued support to the Convention, as well as your contributions towards the achievement of Aichi Target 11 and towards the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points; PoWPA Focal Points; relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities from Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, French Guiana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela