This official side event at COP15 will showcase the role of regional observatories in Africa, Caribbean, Europe, and Pacific in support of the CBD Parties in the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, serving as regional nodes for monitoring Target 3 (and 1 and 2).

Speakers:

• Welcome: Trevor Sandwith (IUCN)
• Opening remarks:
  1. Carla Montesi (European Commission)
  2. Abhinav Prakash (CBD Secretariat)
• Panel discussion:  (25 min)
  1. Melesse Maryo (Ethiopia)
  2. Afele Faiilagi (Samoa)
  3. Aboubacar Samoura (Guinée)
  4. Hannah St Luce Martinez (Belize)
  5. Chouaibou Nchoutpouen (COMIFAC)
• Conclusions: Trevor Sandwith (IUCN)

Objective:

• Showcase the role existing regional observatories in Africa, Caribbean, Europe, and Pacific play in support of the CBD Parties in the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Showcase the experience of long-established (EEA) and newly established regional centres (Africa, Pacific) serving as regional nodes for monitoring Target 3 (and 1 and 2).
• Demonstrate complementarity with other global reporting and monitoring tools, such as DART and with the Global Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity proposed by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the European Commission and which will be discussed at this COP15 with the Parties.

Expected output of this side event: Raise awareness about existing operational structures that can act as “regional cooperation support centres” in support of the implementation of the new targets adopted in the post 2020 Framework.

Background/key messages about the EEA and BIOPAMA-established Regional Observatories:

The Regional Observatories catalyse and facilitate technical cooperation and technology transfer. They facilitate liaison between Parties and stakeholders and they provide tailored support to Parties’ needs and requirements. The BIOPAMA regional observatories support collation of data on protected and conserved areas and biodiversity, which can make a direct contribution to the monitoring of the Global Biodiversity Framework. For Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, these regional observatories are ideally placed to be advanced options for establishing the proposed “regional cooperation support centers”.

Register here: https://www.cbd.int/side-events/4867