Africa Regional Meeting in preparation of Ramsar COP10, Cameroon, 26-30 November 2007

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971)

Ramsar COP10
"Healthy wetlands, Healthy People"

African Regional Preparatory Meeting
Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon 26-30 November 2007

With Financial Support of UNEP, Switzerland, Sweden and Cameroon

Sponsored by

DRAFT - Provisional Programme

SUNDAY - 25.11.07

Arrival of participants at Meumi Palace Hotel, Bastos, Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon.

Registration in the evening from 16:00 to 21:00 at the Hotel.

MONDAY - 26.11.07

Chair: Representative of the Government of the Republic of Cameroon
Head Rapporteurs: Ramsar Secretariat and Government representative

Morning
08:00 - 09:00 - Participants' Registration (C'd)

09:00 - 10:00- Welcoming session

• Keynote address by host country relevant authorities (By: Cameroon Ramsar Administrative Authority)
• Keynote address by Regional Representative of Central and North Africa in the Standing Committee of the Convention (By: Gabon)
• Welcome and opening address by the Mayor of Yaoundé
• Welcome address by the Secretary General, Ramsar Convention Secretariat
• Opening Speech (By: Cameroon Minister of Environment and Nature Protection)

10:00 - 10:15 - Tea break

10:15 - 10:30 - Presentation of the meeting objectives (Ramsar Senior Advisor for Africa) and adoption of the agenda

10:30 - 10:45 - Presentation of working groups' terms of reference and room allocations on subregional basis (By: Ramsar Secretariat)

10:45 - 11:00 - Pre-working group sessions (election of chairs, reporters, working method, etc.)

11:00 - 12:00 - Effective national preparation for, participation in & conduct of multilateral negotiations (By Elizabeth Mrema, Senior Legal Officer, UNEP)

12:00 - 13:30 - Lunch break

Afternoon

Session I: Working group sessions on problems and challenges that face the implementation of the Convention in the Africa subregions.

13:30 - 17:00 - Working group sessions

• West Africa
• Central Africa
• Southern Africa
• Indian Ocean and Small Islands
• Northern Africa
• East and Eastern Africa

17:00 - 18:40 - Plenary - Groups' reports and discussions

19:30-20:30 Cocktail offered by the Government of Cameroon (TBC)

TUESDAY - 27.11.07

Session II: Problems and challenges that face the implementation of the Convention in Africa since last COP

Morning

09:00 - 09:15 Short summary of the conclusions of the discussions from the previous day

09:15 - 09:45 Overview of the problems and challenges that face the implementation of the Convention in the region (Secretariat's perspective).
(By: Senior Advisor for Africa at the Ramsar Secretariat)

09:45 - 10:45 Discussions

10:45 - 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30 Presentation and discussions on Regional Initiatives (NigerWet, ChadWet, WacoWet, RAMCEA and CongoWet, etc.)

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch break

Afternoon

Session III: Priorities for Next Triennium 2008-2011

14:00 - 15:00 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities
Scientific and technical priorities for the region
Introduction

-Presentation of the Work Plan of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel. Edgar Kaeslin, STRP Officer, Ramsar Secretariat
-Status and key issues for the region. Abou Bamba, Senior Advisor for Africa, Ramsar Secretariat
- Suggestion to reorganize and motivate STRP NFPs in the region, Edgar Kaeslin.

15:00 - 16:00 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities
Wetlands and poverty reduction - Implementation of COP9, Resolution IX.14 (Wetlands International)

16:00 - 16:15 Coffee break

16:15 - 17:15 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities
Wetlands and human health

17:15 - 17:45 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities
Article 3.2 of the Convention and changes in the ecological character of African Ramsar sites

17:45 - 19:00 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities
Mining and extractive industries, threats and challenges for African wetlands

WEDNESDAY - 28.11.07

Morning

FIELD TRIP TO SITE TOURISTIQUE D'EBOGO, 1 HOUR FROM YAOUNDE

Departure from the hotel at 07:00 AM

Afternoon

14:00 - 15:00 Presentation of the Wings Over Wetlands Project, UNEP-GEF African-Eurasian Flyways Project

THURSDAY - 29.11.07

09:00-09:10 Short summary of the conclusions of the discussions from the previous day

Session IV: Priorities for Next Triennium 2008-2011

9:20-10:20 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities (African Water Facility /AfDB+ Ramsar)
Sources of funding for wetlands-related projects in Africa + Countries with arrears + SGF Contact Group of Subgroup on Finance document

10:20-10:40 Coffee Break

10:40-11:40 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities
Special Program on Africa Transboundary Wetlands

11:40-12:30 Thematic Discussion on regional priorities
Wetlands and Climate Change

Report of the Secretariat on climate change and wetlands

12:30-14:00 Lunch Break

Session V: Preparation for COP10

14:00 - 15:00 Presentation of COP10 draft Program + New National Reporting Format
(Mr. Anada Tiega. Secretary General, Convention Secretariat)

Discussions on issues of interest to the region in COP10 Agenda

15:00 - 16:00 Presentation of draft Strategic Plan 2009-2014
(Mr. Anada Tiega. Secretary General, Convention Secretariat)

16:00 - 16: 15 Coffee break

16:15 - 17:00 Proposed Resolutions and Recommendations from African Contracting Parties to COP10.

17:00-18:30 Simulation Exercises on Coordinating positions on a specific Ramsar issue to be debated in COP 10 (Led by Elizabeth Mrema, Senior Legal Officer, UNEP)

18:30-19:00 Discussion on the African representatives on the next Standing Committee + New National Report format

FRIDAY - 30.11.07

Chair: Representative of the Government of the Republic of Cameroon
Head Rapporteurs: Ramsar Secretariat and Government representative

9:00-9:20 Conclusions and recommendations from previous day.
Presentation by Ramsar Secretariat Rapporteur

09:30-10:00 Discussion on the African representatives on the next Standing Committee + New National Report format

10:00-11:00 Feedback on the outcome of the Regional Meeting including the multilateral negotiation and exercise component (Led by Abou Bamba, Ramsar Secretariat and Elizabeth Mrema, UNEP)

11:00-11:10 Coffee Break

11:10-12:10 Any other business and outstanding issues

12:10 - 14:00 Lunch break

Afternoon

14:00 - 15:00 Closing ceremony

SATURDAY - 01.12.07

Validation of the Training Modules for French Speaking countries Ramsar NFPs

9:00-10:30 Introduction and presentation (Naik Faucon, ATEN)

10:30-10:45 Coffee Break

10:45-12:45 Discussion and validation

12:45-13:00 Closure

13:00-14:00 Lunch