INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, TOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY WORKSHOP SERIES: NEW INFORMATION AND WEB-BASED TECHNOLOGIES PACIFIC ISLANDS WORKSHOP Apia, Samoa, 3-5 November 2008

OVERVIEW 1. CBD Biodiversity and the Convention Role of the Secretariat Relevant CBD decisions 2. WORKSHOP Specific objectives Expected results Outcomes of the previous workshop

BIODIVERSITY IS... Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the result of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend.

BIODIVERSITY IS... 1)Variety of species 2)Genetic differences 3)Variety of ecosystems

WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND THE WORLD? Protecting biodiversity is in our self interest, providing the goods and services that sustain our lives including: Provision of shelter and building materialsProvision of shelter and building materials Stabilization and moderation of the Earth's climateStabilization and moderation of the Earth's climate Purification of air and waterPurification of air and water Provision of food, fuel and fibreProvision of food, fuel and fibre Cultural and aesthetic benefitsCultural and aesthetic benefits etcetc

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FACING BIODIVERSITY? Species have been disappearing at up to 1000 times the natural rate An estimated 34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species face extinction, including one in eight birds and one third of all amphibians 20% of known bird species have already disappeared 41% of mammals are in decline and 28% are under direct threat 45% of the Earth's original forests are gone. Forest areas of about four times the size of Belgium are being lost every year. Human activities are creating the greatest wave of extinction since the natural disaster that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago

The Convention on Biological Diversity Opened for signature in Rio in 1992 (Earth Summit) First global, comprehensive agreement to address all aspects of biological diversity: genetic resources, species, and ecosystems It recognises - for the first time that the conservation of biological diversity is 'a common concern of humankind' and an integral part of the development process. Ratified by 191 countries (including the European Union)

The CBD is an international governmental agreement The Parties are the primary audience The CBD Secretariat has a specific mandate : To service CBD meetings To report to the Conference of the Parties (COP) To coordinate with relevant international bodies To perform functions requested by the COP

Interactions at various levels InternationalCBD, other conventions UN Agencies IGOs and Regional Organizations NationalMinistry of Tourism Ministry of Environment Ministry in charge of ILCs National NGOs LocalTour service providers and managers Business owners and managers Local NGOs

The Convention on Biological Diversity → The conservation of biological diversity The sustainable use of its components The equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources Objectives (Article 1):

Governments acknowledged in the Preamble: The close dependance of many indigenous and local communities on biological resources and the desirability of sharing equitably benefits of traditional knowledge, innovation and practices relevant to the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. The Convention on Biological Diversity and Traditional knowledge

Article 8(j) Traditional Knowledge Parties have undertaken to: Respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and Promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and Encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices

Other relevant CBD programmes of work Indigenous and Local Communities (ILC) Article 8(j) Tourism Islands Invasive and alien species Protected Areas Information and Communication Technologies

Why a Workshop on ILC, TOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY : NEW INFORMATION AND WEB-BASED TECHNOLOGIES In paragraph 7 of decision IX/13 E, on Article 8(j) and related provisions, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to convene, subject to the availability of financial resources, further regional and sub-regional workshops on community- friendly communication tools on traditional knowledge related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 1)development and management of biodiversity-friendly tourism activities; 2) new information and web-based technology capacity of ILC tourism operators; 3) marketing and development of the culturally and biologically sustainable aspects of indigenous tourism products and experiences via the Internet; 4) develop network and exchange information; 5) use successful tools from the first workshop

The participants are expected to 1) improve their web-based technological capacities, thereby increasing their ability to market and develop their sustainable tourism products; 2) more effectively portray to their target market through their website their understandings of and unique connections to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; 3) use their websites as internal communication and management tools within their local communities and to connect them with broader stakeholder networks;

Feedbacks from the Arctic “This is more than timely for me: the tools for our web site will be shared and presented to my board; we will create a focus group on what needs to be done.” “Biodiversity goes hand in hand with ethnodiversity” “The workshop demonstrates the aboriginal communities can bring to the world and can be source of inspiration to non- indigenous.”

*concrete tools/improved websites *web portal for the region *exchange of services *networking and partnerships *a scientific and collective paper on the workshop methodology *knowledge and vision sharing within the region and with other regions PRACTICAL OUTPUTS

Why work with the CBD (and 8(j) and Tourism PoWs)? Contributions from National GovernmentsContributions from National Governments Framework for NGOs and trade associations, “Neutral”, living/open process (ex. Award)Framework for NGOs and trade associations, “Neutral”, living/open process (ex. Award) Clear targets and indicators (2010)Clear targets and indicators (2010) CBD tools and links available (Tourism guidelines, Akwe kon guidelines,sustainable use, transboundary, invasives, climate change, ecosystems – forests, islands, inland waters, etc)CBD tools and links available (Tourism guidelines, Akwe kon guidelines,sustainable use, transboundary, invasives, climate change, ecosystems – forests, islands, inland waters, etc) Linked to other MEAs, UN bodies, NGOs, research/database managersLinked to other MEAs, UN bodies, NGOs, research/database managers Participate in international negotiations (ILC voluntary fund)Participate in international negotiations (ILC voluntary fund)

THANK YOU!