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UNITAR Series on Biodiversity

Training Workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change

Date:  29 June - 4 July 2008

Venue: Kushiro, Japan

Planned so as to coincide with the main topic of the G8 summit (Tohoku Summit) organized in Hokkaido at the same period, the 2008 workshop will focus on Biodiversity and Climate Change, in the context of wetlands and water resources management. Sea-level rises could cause the loss of 22% of the world’s wetlands by the 2080’s. By reducing the total global wetland area, and particularly, by affecting the climatic and water systems to which this semi-arid area contributes, climate change is expected to cause a considerable loss of habitats and species. The mitigating effects that wetlands provide against climate change will also be discussed.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

• 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.

 A set of training methodologies developed by UNITAR will enhance the executive type intensive learning. It is aimed that participants will develop training activities in their own country following UNITAR’s  Training of Trainers (ToT) initiative.

FACULTY AND PARTICIPANTS

UNITAR will work in close partnership with the Kushiro International Wetland Centre (co-organizer), UNDP, and the Secretariats of the CBD and Ramsar Convention, as well as with relevant Japanese authorities/entities. The Faculty for the workshop will comprise of experts contributing to UNITAR programmes along with additional experts from Japan and from the Asia-Pacific region.

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 providing 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).

WORKING LANGUAGE

The working language of the workshop will be English, therefore a strong mastery of spoken and written English is mandatory.

Should you have any questions please contact Ms. Hiroko Nakayama at hiroko.nakayama@unitar.org, or Mr. Sergei Shaposhnikov at sergei.shaposhnikov@unitar.org

*Minimum age 25 and max 60

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