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.