FYI, ECOFEMers. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
The following is from Econet, a non-profit electronic network
specializing in environmental information. For more information about
Econet, send a blank e-mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Written Jun 16, 1995 by [EMAIL PROTECTED] in the conference biodiversity
TO: ALL PARTIES INTERESTED IN MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY
FROM: Sheldon Cohen and Lyn Waterhouse, Biodiversity Action
Network (BIONET)
SUBJECT: SOLICITING INPUT INTO BIONET'S MARINE AND COASTAL
BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN
DATE: June 16, 1995
At the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) to
the Biodiversity Convention (CBD) in November 1995 (Jakarta), a
major focus will be the CBD's application to coastal and marine
biodiversity. To contribute to the governmental debate in
November, the U.S.-based Biodiversity Action Network (BIONET) has
established a Marine Working Group which has been developing a
marine and coastal biodiversity campaign. The key elements in this
program are outlined in the following summary. Our goal in
circulating this program is to solicit a wide range of input from
any interested parties, in order to create and carry out a
stronger campaign. In addition, we hope that some of you will
collaborate with us in this effort.
This program is a collaberative effort of some twenty BIONET
member and partner organizations, including, among others:
IUCN-US, Greenpeace, Center for Marine Conservation, Center for
International Environmental Law and World Wildlife Fund-US.
Outlines of the two main documents (see below) are currently under
development. Draft outlines and full drafts of the documents
will be posted on this conference and circulated to reviewers
throughout the world in the coming weeks. We welcome and will take
into consideration your comments and input throughout the drafting
processes.
We will also be posting a draft programme for the proposed
preparatory workshop in Paris (as described below). We are
particularly interested in inviting one or more NGOs from
developing countries to co-sponsor this workshop and collaborate
on developing the program and other aspects; please contact us if
you have a strong interest in this area or specific suggestions.
We have raised most of the necessary funding already for the
campaign. However, we still need to raise some additional funds;
we would also welcome any suggestions for potential funding
sources.
For more information, please contact: Sheldon Cohen, Coordinator
Biodiversity Action Network (BIONET) 424 C Street NE Washington,
D.C. 20002 USA Phone: (202) 547.8902 Fax: (202) 544.8483
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
PROMOTING GOVERNMENTAL ACTION TO CONSERVE
MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY
A joint campaign by members of the Biodiversity Action Network
(BIONET) centered around the November 1995 intergovernmental
meeting of the Parties to the Biodiversity Convention
BACKGROUND
Established in 1993, BIONET supports and catalyze efforts by
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen biodiversity
law and policy. The network is composed of some 100 U.S. NGOs and
directed by a Steering Committee which includes prominent
organizations in the international biodiversity field, such as:
World Resources Institute (WRI), IUCN-US (World Conservation
Union), Conservation International, Center for International
Environmental Law, and National Wildlife Federation. BIONET
focuses on international biodiversity policy and law, and in
particular, on promoting effective implementati on of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Toward this end, BIONET
works closely with many NGOs around the world.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) a response to the
global biodiversity crisis is the first comprehensive
international agreement committing governments to protect and
conserve the Earth s biological resources.The CBD has moved into
its implementation phase, with annual meetings of the "Conference
of the Parties" (COP). At the second meeting of the COP, or COP2
(November 1995, Jakarta), a major focus will be coastal and marine
biodiversity, and how the CBD applies to this area.
This will be an historic opportunity representing the first time
the world's governments will address comprehensively the global
loss of marine biodiversity. To take the fullest advantage of this
opportunity, NGO action is crucial. BIONET has developed an
ambitious marine and coastal biodiversity program during 1995 to
catalyze effective action at the COP2 meeting. The effort is being
lead by a core of BIONET members which include, among others:
IUCN- US, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Center for Marine
Conservation (CMC), and Center for International Environmental Law
(CIEL).
BIONET's 1995 MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM
BIONET's program includes an integrated set of collaborative
projects (outlined below) designed primarily to educate and
mobilize governments. The program's goals are to use the COP2
meeting:
- to inform and educate policy-makers, NGOs and the general
public on marine and coastal biodiversity in general, and more
specifically on how the CBD should be applied to the marine
environment; and
- to catalyze specific governmental action to (a) address a set of
priority issues requiring attention at the COP2 meeting, and (b)
establish an effective long-term intergovernmental process under
the CBD for addressing the marine and coastal biodiversity
crisis.
The written products outlined below should become essential inputs
into the two major official meetings in 1995 under the CBD: (1)
the first meeting of the CBD's Subsidiary Body on Scientific,
Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA1) (September, Paris);
and (2) the COP2 meeting. In carrying out this program, BIONET
will be in communication with NGOs throughout the world; U.S. and
other government officials; intergovernmental organizations
(IGOs); the CBD Secretariat; the Chairman of the SBSTTA meeting;
and others. In particular, BIONET will be actively seeking input
and participation from developing country NGOs.
Nearly all of the substantive work in the areas outlined below
will be carried out by BIONET member organizations; the BIONET
office will coordinate and support the campaign. If funding
allows, BIONET will undertake other efforts, such as a media
campaign around the COP2 meeting.
1. Policy-makers Handbook. BIONET members will produce a short
(30 - 40 pp.), user- friendly handbook for policy-makers on marine
and coastal biodiversity, with a focus on how the CBD applies to
the marine environment. It should become an essential reference
and education tool for government policy-makers as they consider
concrete initiatives to be taken at the COP2 meeting, as well as
future national and international actions to conserve marine and
coastal biodiversity. The Handbook will be widely circulated
before and during the COP2 meeting. If funding allows, Spanish and
French versions of the Handbook will be produced.
2. Issues/Steps Forward Papers. It is imperative that the
governmental debate at the COP2 meeting focus on the priority
issues requiring attention. To help focus the debate, and spur the
governments to move to specific, needed action, BIONET members
will develop and distribute in advance of the COP2 meeting an
Issues Paper (appx. 15 pp. in length) to identify and examine a
set of priority policy issues. The Issues Paper will serve as the
primary background document for guiding the discussions at one or
more preparatory workshops that BIONET will organize (see below).
The final version - a Steps Forward Paper- will take account of
the workshop discussions and comments from other quarters, and
recommend in a more prescriptive way specific decisions and
actions that governments should take at the COP2 meeting. It will
be circulated to COP2 participants and others in advance, most
likely in October. If funding is available, Spanish and French
versions will be produced.
3. Preparatory Workshop. To help governments prepare more
effectively for the COP2 discussions on this topic, BIONET members
will organize a two-day workshop for governments, NGOs, and IGOs
to discuss the key issues before governments at the COP2 meeting,
and to identify concrete initiatives that could be taken.
Participants will have extensive expertise and experience in the
marine biodiversity and related fields. The Issues Paper will be
presented at the workshop and will guide the discussion. A short
summary of the workshop will be disseminated in advance of the
Jakarta meeting to COP2 participants. The venue for the workshop
is yet to be decided, although it will likely be held around the
SBSTTA meeting in September in Paris, which as many as 100
governments and many NGOs worldwide will attend. If funding is
available, a smaller regional Caribbean workshop will be held in
Santo Domingo in late July or early August. A Caribbean workshop
would be smaller and could focus on small island states issues and
others that are more specific to the Caribbean region.
4. Activities at COP2 Meeting. The above activities are all
designed to help shape the debate and influence the outcome of the
COP2 meeting. To help realize this objective, key members of
BIONET's Marine Working Group, and the BIONET Coordinator, will
attend the COP2 meeting to carry out the following activities: (a)
NGO/government roundtable on marine/coastal biodiversity; (b)
briefings for individual governments and small groups of
governments; (c) participation in formal sessions of the COP2
meeting; (d) circulation of materials; and (e) collaboration with
other NGOs on strategy, briefings, joint NGO statements, etc.
5. ON-LINE ELECTRONIC RESOURCES. An electronic conference and a
Worldwide Web home page will be created on marine and coastal
biodiversity, with at least an initial focus on information
directly relevant to the COP2 meeting. These will provide, among
other things, important vehicles for receiving input on drafts and
circulating the final versions of the documents outlined above.
