IUCN has released the report of the second Meeting of Europe Overseas Roundtable on Biodiversity and Climate Change, which evaluated progress on biodiversity and climate change in EU Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).
Thematic discussions included the issue of better integration of Europe Overseas in EU Marine Policies focusing on an AAMP/IUCN Project reviewing overseas marine conservation in regional, EU and global context.
May 2012: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released the report of the second Meeting of Europe Overseas Roundtable on Biodiversity and Climate Change. The meeting aimed to evaluate progress on biodiversity and climate change in the EU Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) since the last meeting held in June/July 2011, plan for the work ahead in 2012, reflect on the theme of marine issues, and agree on a joint way forward to address biodiversity and climate change issues in Europe overseas.
Held at the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy (DG Region) on 14 February 2012, in Brussels, Belgium, the meeting was held under the auspices of the IUCN EU ORs and OCTs Programme. It brought together representatives of EU Member States, EU ORs and OCTs, the European Commission, funding organizations and NGOs.
The meeting report provides an update on: preparatory action for the Voluntary Scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of the EU ORs and OCTs (BEST); and thematic discussions on Europe overseas and EU Marine Policies. Participants also discussed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) In-Depth Review (IDR) of the Island Biodiversity Programme of Work (IBPoW), with an update on: the draft IDR report; preparations for the 16th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the CBD and the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 11); and opportunities of Europe overseas engagement in the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA).
Thematic discussions included the issue of better integration of Europe Overseas in EU Marine Policies focusing on an Agence des aires marines protégées (French Marine Protected Areas Agency – AAMP)/IUCN Project reviewing overseas marine conservation in regional, EU and global context. The project will identify priorities in marine resource management and protection of marine ecosystems, and collate data on conservation and resource management to identify gaps and best practice, among other tasks. [Publication: Europe Overseas Roundtable on Biodiversity and Climate Change – Report of the 2nd Meeting]