Notification 2014-054

Dear Madam/Sir, I have the pleasure to announce that the Secretariat is organizing, in collaboration with the Government of Germany, a capacity-building workshop for the Europe region on ecosystem conservation and restoration to support achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets to be held from 2 to 6 June 2014 in the Isle of Vilm, Germany. The workshop will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation into Russian. Meeting documents and logistical information will be posted on the CBD website at http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=CBWECR-2014-06 in due course. This workshop 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) The integration of these targets and plans into updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and mainstreaming into broader national policies, plans and programmes (in particular, for action plans on the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) with respect to decision X/31 (paragraph 1 (c)); and (c) The use of appropriate assessments, policy and planning tools to implement ecosystem conservation and restoration strategies at appropriate levels. 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 and paragraph 5 of decision XI/16). 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 (c) of decision X/31. Submission of nominations from Governments I am pleased to invite your Government to nominate one representative to participate in the workshop by 25 April 2014. The nomination must be in the form of an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, signed by the national focal point, sent by fax to +1 (514) 288-6588 or e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int, and must include the nominee’s full contact details, as well as a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the areas of expertise. The selection of the representative should be carried out using the following criteria: (a) Experience in spatial planning for biodiversity and/or be responsible for land-use/spatial planning and/or major restoration programmes as well as be knowledgeable about their countries’ NBSAP (for example the protected area focal point, if one has been designated); (b) Ability of reporting on the current status of achieving the area-based Aichi Biodiversity Targets (5, 11 and 15), providing an assessment of needs, and liaising with key partners to facilitate support for follow up actions; and (c) Ability to translate the knowledge gained into concrete actions. Please note that one participant from eligible Parties will be financed. 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. I look forward to receiving your nominations and I thank you for your cooperation and 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: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland