Biodiversity and Climate Change workshop set for June-July 2008
UNDP/UNITAR/KIWC Training Series on Biodiversity
“Biodiversity and Climate Change”
Kushiro, Japan, 29 June – 4 July 2008
Started in 1998, the UNITAR Series on Biodiversity aims at supporting national decision-makers in their efforts to implement an ecosystem approach to biodiversity management. This approach suggests a subtle relationship between conservation, sustainable use and a fair, equitable sharing of the benefits arising from genetic resources. The Series has gained popularity in its integrated approach of focusing on water, and has thus far benefited over 200 experts from Asia and the Pacific.
In
cooperation with the Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund, the 2008 workshop, organized
from 29 June to 4 July 2008 in Kushiro, Japan, will focus on Biodiversity
and Climate Change, in the context of wetlands and water resources management.
Study visits to the two Ramsar sites - Kushiro Wetland and Akan Lake - will provide a unique case study during the training.
The objectives of the workshop are the following:
• Support the sharing of scientific facts and policies on biodiversity, wetlands and climate change;
• Provide analytical knowledge to understand and practically use the overwhelming scientific data and documentation;
• Facilitate exchange of ideas, leading to practical response plans (at national or regional policy levels) to climate change and especially for the purpose of protecting biodiversity and managing wetlands in this context;
• Strengthen the Kushiro/UNITAR network of experts in wetlands, biodiversity and climate change;
• Create a lasting forum for capacity-building and information exchange.
Participants (up to 30) will include national policy-makers and project managers from environmental, climate or water disciplines and working on biodiversity and climate change issues. National representatives could also apply from other related sectors, such as ministries of public works, planning, health or agriculture. A few slots will be made available to representatives of academic institutions, think-tanks and civil society. It is envisaged that participants will reflect a multi-disciplinary mix, involving professionals from legal, policy, economic and scientific backgrounds. As the present workshop will provide a review of the past decade of the Series, up to 10 experts (out of 30) will be selected from among UNITAR Kushiro Alumni (past participants).
We would like to ask you to submit the names of suitable candidates for the workshop, for final selection by an ad hoc selection committee. UNITAR scholarships, given in priority to least developed country participants, will cover tuition fees, travel, accommodation and meals. Candidates from industrialised countries are welcome to apply but are requested to obtain financial support from their own countries/organisation (they will be accorded exemption of the tuition). Number of places being limited, those wishing to apply should send their application package as soon as possible and no later than 5 May 2008. Please refer to the attached leaflet and our website http://www.unitar.org/hiroshima/programmes/kushiro08/ for more information. Should you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hiroko Nakayama at hiroko.nakayama@unitar.org, or Mr. Sergei Shaposhnikov at sergei.shaposhnikov@unitar.org.
We thank you in advance for your assistance in the nomination/information dissemination process.
Nassrine
Azimi
Director
UNITAR Hiroshima Office
For
further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact
the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28,
CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169,
e-mail 
).
Posted 15 April 2008, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.
