From bionet2@igc.org Tue Jun 5 13:15:57 2001 Date: Mon, 4-Jun-2001 17:35:20 GMT From: Stas BurgielTo: biodiv-conv@igc.topica.com Subject: Pacific Regional Global Biodiversity Forum PACIFIC GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FORUM Global Forces and their Impacts on the Pacific's Biodiversity: Towards Local and Regional Response Strategies 1st Regional Session of the Global Biodiversity Forum for the Pacific 25-28 September 2001 East-West Center, 1601 East-West Rd., Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601, USA Organizers: Asian Development Bank (ADB) Bureau to the Ramsar Convention College of Indigenous Australian Peoples Conservation International (CI) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Government of Switzerland (SDC) Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Network (IPBN) International Marinelife Alliance (IMA) IUCN - The World Conservation Union Marine Aquarium Council Pacific Science Association Royal Order of Kamehameha I (Hawaii) Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) The Bishop Museum The East-West Center (EWC) The Nature Conservancy (TNC) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Bank (WB) World Resources Institute (WRI) The 1st Regional Session of the Global Biodiversity Forum for the Pacific (GBF-Pacific) will be convened in Honolulu, Hawaii, on 25-28 September 2001. The Forum will include four parallel workshops addressing: Climate Change, Biodiversity and Livelihoods on Small Islands: Understanding and Mitigating Impacts; Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Resource Management and Biodiversity: Issues, Practices, and Policies; The Impact of Trade in Marine Commodities on the Pacific's Biodiversity: Strategies for Sustainability and Equity; and Invasive Species in the Pacific: Strategies for Countering the Threats. THE PURPOSE OF THE GBF The Global Biodiversity Forum (GBF) provides an independent, open and strategic mechanism to foster analysis, dialogue and debate among all interested parties to address significant ecological, economic, institutional and social issues related to the options for action to conserve biodiversity and use biological resources sustainably and equitably. It contributes to the further development and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other biodiversity-related instruments at the international, regional and national levels. It complements intergovernmental processes by: 1) providing a broad spectrum of perspectives, proposals and experiences from all stakeholders; 2) building diverse partnerships among stakeholders (including governments, indigenous groups, local communities, NGOs and the private sector); and 3) identifying key issues and areas that require further development and attention. Background to the GBF The Forum concept was initially proposed by the Global Biodiversity Strategy (WRI, IUCN, UNEP, 1992). The following sessions of the Forum have been held: GBF1-Gland, October 1993 prior to the ICCBD1 GBF2-Nassau, November 1994 prior to CBD COP1 GBF3-Jakarta, November 1995 prior to CBD COP2 RBF-Latin America (Colombia), May 1996 GBF4-Montreal, August 1996 prior to CBD SBSTTA2 RBF-East Africa 1 (Kenya), September 1996 GBF5-Buenos Aires, November 1996 prior to CBD COP3 GBF6-New York, April 1997 in association with CSD GBF7-Harare, June 1997 prior to CITES COP10 GBF8-Montreal, August 1997 prior to CBD SBSTTA3 RBF-East Africa 2 (Kenya), November 1997 GBF9-Kyoto, December 1997 during the Climate Change Convention COP3 RBF-Asia (China), March 1998 prior to Asian CBD COP4 preparatory session GBF10-Bratislava, May 1998 prior to CBD COP4 GBF11-Buenos Aires, November 1998, during the Climate Change Convention COP4 GBF12-Dakar, December 1998, during the Desertification Convention COP2 NBF-Moscow, May 1999 GBF13-San José, May 1999 prior to Ramsar COP7 GBF14-Montreal, June 1999 prior to CBD SBSTTA4 RBF-South and Southeast Asia (Sri Lanka), October 1999 RBF-East and Southern Africa 3 (Kenya), February 2000 GBF-15-Nairobi, May, 2000 prior to CBD COP5 (GBF - global sessions; RBF - regional sessions; NBF - national sessions) THEME AND RATIONALE FOR GBF-PACIFIC The theme for the Regional Session of the GBF for the Pacific (GBF-Pacific) is "Global Forces and Their Impacts on the Pacific's Biodiversity: Towards Local and Regional Response Strategies." The Pacific is a vast and widely dispersed region made up of numerous small island states and thousands of communities, many of them isolated from one another, and from the rest of the world. The region is rich in biodiversity, including a high percentage of endemic species. Hence, the Pacific region possesses great cultural and biological diversity, a wealth of traditional knowledge about biodiversity and important traditional systems for managing and utilizing biological resources. Global forces, such as climate, trade, and economic policies, over which Pacific Islanders have little control threaten the region's biodiversity, its knowledge about biodiversity and how to manage it. As a set of isolated ecological systems, the Pacific is particularly vulnerable to global forces and its capacity to mitigate such forces depends heavily on coherent and coordinated approaches and strategies locally, regionally, and globally. The purpose of GBF-Pacific is to better understand these forces, analyze their impacts, and formulate local and regional strategies that respond effectively to the significant impacts these forces have on biodiversity and on the livelihoods of the Pacific Islanders who depend on that biodiversity. GBF-Pacific will address four priority issues: Climate Change Trade in Marine Biological Resources Invasive Species Protecting and Using Traditional Knowledge The first three topics deal with threats to the Pacific's biodiversity that originate in global processes beyond the region, but are having profound regional impacts - many of them negative. The fourth topic concerns development of strategies, tools and models for conserving and using both biological resources and traditional knowledge in the face of global trends, including the analysis of conservation strategies, such as "protected areas", that may not be appropriate in the Pacific context. WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS GBF-Pacific will run for three days and include four parallel workshops in addition to opening and closing plenary sessions as described below and in the general agenda section. A background paper for each workshop is being prepared by workshop organizers and will be sent electronically to all pre-registered participants prior to the Forum. In addition, the background papers and other relevant information will be posted on the GBF web site (www.gbf.ch) as of 30 June 2001. Participants interested in a particular workshop are encouraged to contact the workshop focal contact directly (details are provided below). Climate Change, Biodiversity and Livelihoods on Small Islands: Understanding and Mitigating Impacts Organizers: IUCN, East-West Center, SPREP, others to be invited Pacific Island nations face the most immediate and severe potential impacts of climate change, despite the region's minuscule contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Sea level rise, coral bleaching, changes in abundance and behavior of fish stocks, and increases in storm severity threaten small island biodiversity and livelihoods. Small Island Developing States are particularly vulnerable because of their dependence on coastal resources and the lack of alternatives to sustain their livelihoods. There is an urgent need for the nations and peoples of the Pacific to formulate adaptation response strategies to mitigate these impacts. Pacific Island nations need to take advantage of the opportunities within the FCCC, CBD, and other fora to address the region's predicament. This workshop will discuss climate change, biodiversity and livelihood issues in the Pacific, and identify opportunities to further adaptation efforts in the region. Focal contact: Brett Orlando, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Rue Mauverney 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland, Tel: (+41-22) 999-0290, Mobile: (+41-79) 416-7240, Fax: (+41-22) 999-0025, Email: brett.orlando@iucn.org Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Resource Management and Biodiversity: Issues, Practices, and Policies Organizers: College of Indigenous Australian Peoples (Southern Cross University), SPREP, IMA, IPBN, WRI, and CI. In the Pacific, the control of most forest, coastal resources and coral reefs is subject to customary laws and practices of local communities and indigenous peoples. Worldwide, there is growing recognition of the important role of traditional knowledge, innovation, and practices relating to access, use and management of biological resources for their conservation and sustainable use, and of the intrinsic, social, cultural, spiritual, environmental and economic value of such knowledge. The CBD Article 8(j) highlights the importance of protecting traditional and indigenous knowledge related to biological and genetic resources, and a CBD working group on Article 8(j) has been established by the Parties to the Convention. Further, the South Pacific region is currently developing model legislative measures for the protection of traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, based upon respect for customary law and practice. At the same time, traditional authority and customary laws may be undermined where permits for access to and exploitation of resources are granted at the national or provincial levels, leading to increasing conflicts between national legislation and customary rights. This workshop will discuss the range of issues linking traditional knowledge with the use and conservation of biological and genetic resources, including: the role of customary law and practice for securing the protection of traditional knowledge, and conservation and sustainable use of resources; the interface between national regulation and customary law; the impacts of the global intellectual property rights regime on traditional knowledge and biodiversity in the Pacific; strategies for Pacific adaptation and application of the evolving international legal and policy structure for the protection of traditional knowledge related to biodiversity; and emerging models for using traditional resource management practices for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources at the community level. Focal contact: Brendan Tobin, International Marinelife Alliance, Stangenwald Building, Suite 610, 119 Merchant Street, Honolulu, Hawaii. Tel: (+1-808) 523-0143 to 0145, Fax: (+1-808) 523-0140; Email: brendantobin@yahoo.co.uk. The Impact of Trade in Marine Commodities on the Pacific's Biodiversity: Strategies for Sustainability and Equity Organizers: IMA, WRI, others to be invited Marine resources, particularly biodiversity-rich coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems, are essential to the nations and peoples of the Pacific, and the region contains the greatest concentration of marine biodiversity on the planet. Over the past decade, the Pacific has been increasingly targeted as a key source region for the booming international trade in marine commodities, including coral reef organisms (corals, live reef aquarium and food fish, and invertebrates), shark fin, and various commercial fish stocks. While this trade may be a potentially longer term source of livelihood for some Pacific Island communities and countries, it poses significant threats to marine ecosystems through the use of destructive capture methods, overfishing, and competition with local subsistence fisheries and dive tourism operations. This workshop will: assess the extent and impacts of the trade in marine commodities in the Pacific; discuss examples of community-level methods for minimizing threats and maximizing potential benefits; analyze key policy and management issues facing governments; and explore possibilities for strengthening regional cooperation in monitoring and managing the growing trade in marine commodities. Focal contact: Charles Barber, World Resources Institute, 14 Cabbage Street, Valle Verde 5, Pasig, Manila, Philippines, Tel: (+63-2) 631-0421, Fax: (+63-2) 631-0406, Email: cvbarber@attglobal.net Invasive Species in the Pacific: Strategies for Countering the Threats Organizers: Bishop Museum, SPREP, and IUCN. The issue of invasive alien species has become a major global concern. While the Pacific has long suffered from this problem, growing international concern may offer new opportunities for fostering the support which will be needed to address the threat. The draft Invasive Species Strategy for the Pacific Islands Region prepared by SPREP offers a sound foundation upon which to build, and the Global Invasive Species Programme (a collaborative effort of IUCN, CABI, UNEP, and Diversitas) is keen to expand work in the region. Under the CBD, Article 8(h) deals directly with invasive alien species, and the 6th meeting of the CBD's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) held in Montreal in January 2001 addressed this article in considerable detail. This session will: further define the levels of threat (both biological and economic) for the Pacific; explore ways of building broader public interest and support; build partnerships among those who are working on the issue (or interested in doing so) in the region; discuss ways of linking science, management, and policy; consider cultural and social aspects of invasives; and identify major investment opportunities. This session should be of interest to biologists, anthropologists, Pacific peoples, government agricultural and natural resources agencies, NGOs, and donor agencies. Focal Contact: Jeffrey McNeely , Chief Scientist, IUCN - The World Conservation Union, Rue Mauverney 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland, Phone: ++41 (22) 999-0284, Fax: ++41 (22) 999-0025 e-mail: jeffrey.mcneely@iucn.org. CALL FOR PAPERS, CASE STUDIES, PRESENTATIONS, AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS Interested individuals from all sectors of society are invited to submit 1-2 page abstracts of contributions by 15 July 2001 for possible presentation at one of the workshops of GBF-Pacific. Presentations may be summaries of more conventional academic papers, may take the form of case studies, and/or oral or audio-visual presentations of a more diverse and informal nature, appropriate to the backgrounds and cultures of the potential speakers. Please note that the GBF is not an academic seminar, and at least 50 percent of the time in workshops will be devoted to open discussion. All written material received will be posted on the GBF Web site and made available to GBF participants. A limited number of papers/presentations will be chosen for formal presentation by Workshop Organizers on the basis of relevance to the topic, quality, balance among sectors, and geographical balance. All individuals that have made submissions will be notified in due course. Please use the attached Pre-Registration and Presentation Submission Form and send in your contribution to Ms Laurence Christen, by e-mail if possible (e-mail: laurence.christen@iucn.org/ fax: +41 22 999-0025). Participation at the GBF The GBF-Pacific is open to all who have an interest in biodiversity. While the selection of speakers/presenters is normally based on experience that could be useful to forum discussions, participation in GBF sessions is not restricted in any way. Inherent in this principle is that during the organization of each GBF session, a wide range of stakeholders should be targeted and actively encouraged to participate. To have an estimate of the number of GBF participants so as to best prepare the facilities to accommodate participates, we request that you use the enclosed Pre-registration and Presentation Submission Form to notify the Organizers of your intent to participate. Please send the form to Ms. Laurence Christen (e-mail: laurence.christen@iucn.org/ fax: +41 22 999-0025) by 30 August 2001. REGISTRATION Registration for GBF-Pacific will begin on 25 September 2001 at 13:00 at the East-West Center and will continue until 27 September at 12:30. A registration fee of US$ 25 will be collected from all GBF participants during registration. The registration fee is used to offset costs for the provision of documents for participants as well as for the production of the GBF-Pacific report, which will be made available to GBF participants free of charge as soon as possible after the GBF meeting. General Agenda Day 1 13:00 - 17:00 Registration 18:00 - 20:00 Opening Reception and Welcoming Remarks Day 2 09:00 - 10:30 OPENING PLENARY 10:30 - 11:00 Coffee/Tea Break 11:00 - 12:30 Workshop Session 1 (Workshops in parallel) 12:30 - 14:00 Lunch 14:00 - 15:30 Workshop Session 2 (Workshops in parallel) 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee/Tea Break 16:00 - 17:30 Workshop Session 3 (Workshops in parallel) Day 3 09:00 - 10:30 Workshop Session 4 (Workshops in parallel) 10:30 - 11:00 Coffee/Tea Break 11:00 - 12:30 Workshop Session 5 (Workshops in parallel) 12:30 - 14:00 Lunch 14:00 - 15:30 Workshop Session 6 (Workshops in parallel) 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee/Tea Break 16:00 - 17:30 Workshop Session 7 (Workshops in parallel) Day 4 09:00 - 10:30 Workshop Session 8 (Workshops in parallel) 10:30 - 11:00 Coffee/Tea Break 11:00 - 12:30 Workshop Session 9 (Workshops in parallel) 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch 13:30 - 16:00 CLOSING PLENARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Limited financial assistance for travel and/or per diem may be available for developing country participants chosen to make presentations or otherwise contribute substantively to the Forum. Please send your requests for financial assistance to the focal contact of the workshop you are interested in contributing to. Participants requiring financial assistance are also urged to also seek travel support from the local offices of international donor organizations. HOTEL RESERVATIONS Participants are requested to make their own hotel reservation for GBF-Pacific. A list of hotels is attached for your reference. If you need assistance, please contact Cathy Hirano, East-West Center, phone: +1 808 944-7159; fax: +1 808 944-7170; e-mail: hiranoc@eastwestcenter.org. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Visas. Participants are responsible for acquiring their own visas, if necessary, for entrance into the United States. Formal invitation letters will be sent to participants on request to the GBF Secretariat, if necessary for obtaining a visa. Participants should inquire to the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate concerning visa requirements, and make sure to leave ample time for visa processing. Airport. Honolulu International Airport is approximately 10 km from downtown Honolulu (and the GBF venue). Taxis cost approximately $20-25. Busses are available, but do not accept passengers with bulky baggage. Time zone. Honolulu is GMT -10:00. Language. GBF-Pacific will be held in English. Currency. The official currency is the US dollar. Currency exchange facilities and ATMs are widely available the airport and in Honolulu. Weather. Honolulu weather is mostly warm and sunny. Rain is possible but not frequent. Credit cards. Major credit cards are widely accepted. Electricity. 110 Volts, using two-prong flat US plugs. For further information on GBF-Pacific, please contact: Charles Barber, GBF-Pacific Coordinator, World Resources Institute, 14 Cabbage Street, Valle Verde 5, Pasig, Manila, Philippines, Tel: (+63-2) 631-0421, Fax: (+63-2) 631-0406, Email: cvbarber@attglobal.net PLEASE ALSO VISIT THE GBF WEB SITE (www.gbf.ch) AS OF 30 JUNE 2001 LIST OF HOTELS IN HAWAII Participants are requested to make their own hotel arrangements. All of the hotels listed are in Waikiki and are about a 15 minutes taxi ride to the East-West Center where GBF-Pacific will be held. ** 30 rooms have been blocked at the Waikiki Terrace Hotel to provide GBF participants a discount rate of US$ 88 instead of US$ 150-180. When booking, please mention that you are part of the "GBF Pacific Planning". These rooms are available on a first come first served basis. (Key: Hotel, Estimated price in US$, Address, Phone, Fax, e-mail) Waikiki Terrace Hotel, 4 star, $88 2045 Kalakaua Ave., Hono, 96815 t: 1 808 955-6221 f: 1 808 955-7749 Ala Moana, 4 star, $140-180 410 Atkinson Drive Hono HI 96814-4722 t: 1 808 955-4811 f: 1 808 944-2974 e: Tulinh.amh@verizon.net Hilton Hawaiian Village, 5 star, $179 2005 Kalia Road Hono HI 96815 t: 1 808 949-4321 f: 1 808-947-7914 e: www.hnlhvhh.res@hilton.com Aston Waikiki Sunset, 3 star, $180-215 229 Paoakalani Ave, Hono, Hawaii 96815 t: 1 808 922-0511 f: 1 808 923-8580 e: Susan.osborn@aston-hotels.com Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Princess Kaiulani, $160-330 120 Kaiulani Ave, Hono, Hawaii 96815 t: 1 808 922-5811 Moana Surfrider, $265-530 2365 Kalakaua Ave, Hono, Hawaii 96815 t: 1 808 922-3111 Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, $280-490 2365 Kalakaua Ave., Hono, Hawaii 96815 t: 1 808 922-4422 Royal Hawaiian Hotel, $420 2259 Kalakaua Ave, Hono, Hawaii 96815 t: 1 808 923-7311 GBF-Pacific PRE-REGISTRATION AND PRESENTATION SUBMISSION FORM PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM BY FAX or EMAIL TO: Laurence Christen, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, 28 Rue Mauverney, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (e-mail: laurence.christen@iucn.org; tel: +41 22 999 0281; fax: +41 22 999 0025) Deadline for submission of abstracts/papers/contribution: 15 July 2001 Deadline for pre-registration: 30 August 2001 Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof.: First name: Family name: Organization: Address: Phone: Fax: country code - area code - number e-mail: Http: Do you regular access to the Internet? ( yes ( no Preferred language: ( English ( French ( Spanish Are you submitting an abstract/paper? ( yes ( no Please mark the workshop in which you plan to participate and/or for which you are submitting a presentation: * Climate Change, Biodiversity and Livelihoods on Small Islands: Understanding and Mitigating Impacts * Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Resource Management and Biodiversity: Issues, Practices, and Policies * The Impact of Trade in Marine Commodities on the Pacific's Biodiversity: Strategies for Sustainability and Equity * Invasive Species in the Pacific: Strategies for Countering the Threats The responses to the next section will be used to evaluate the GBF event according to the GBF Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and to register you in the GBF participants database. Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond to all the questions. 1. Have you attended a previous session of the GBF? ( yes ( no If yes, did you use the results of GBF session you attended in your work? ( yes ( no 2. What sector do you primarily represent (tick one): Non-governmental organizations: ( grassroots ( national ( international Government: ( Federal/national ( Provincial/state ( development aid agency IGO ( UN family ( other international governmental org. (please specify)..................... Academia: ( university ( high school Industry: ( pharmaceutical/biotechnology ( tourism ( forestry ( agricultural ( fisheries ( energy ( other - please specify)......................... Civil sector: ( farmer/fisher group ( indigenous peoples group ( local community group ( private individual/researcher 3. What is your primary field of responsibility (please tick one)? ( biodiversity-related policy-making ( implementation of the CBD ( other (please specify).......................... 4. What are your main areas of biodiversity expertise (please choose no more than 3)? ( access and benefit-sharing ( agriculture ( arid and semi-arid ecosystems ( biodiversity assessment/monitoring ( biodiversity planning ( climate change ( economics/finance ( environmental education ( environmental law ( forest ecosystems ( inland water/freshwater ecosystems ( in situ conservation ( Intellectual property rights ( marine and coastal ecosystems ( mountain ecosystems ( protected areas management ( rural development/poverty alleviation ( sustainable use of biodiversity ( trade ( traditional knowledge ( other (please specify):........................... ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://igc.topica.com/u/?aVxieH.aVG5Ly Or send an email To: biodiv-conv-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com This email was sent to: cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================