1. National Committees compromises for the implementation of Madrid Action Plan Wednesday 4th 2. Report on Network Work Commissions

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE XIIIth MEETING OF THE MAB COMMITTEES NETWORK AND BIOSPHERE RESERVES OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN AND IInd MEETING OF THE IBEROMAB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IBEROMAB APANECA-LLAMATEPEC, EL SALVADOR FEBRUARY 2-5, 2009 Monday 2 nd Meeting of the National Committees of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and the MAB Committees of Latin America and the Caribbean, held at the Sheraton Hotel, San Salvador. It was considered that there were points of rapprochement and interest within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and Biosphere Reserves of the Mesoamerican Region. An agreement or covenant to start sharing efforts and to establish the cooperation between them shall be made as a result of the meeting. The Work sessions of the XIIIth Meeting of the MAB Committees Network and Biosphere Reserves of Latin America and the Caribbean -IBEROMaB took place in the meeting hall of the Hotel Alicante, in the Sierra Apaneca-Llamatepec Biosphere Reserve. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Sergio Guevara, President of the IberoMAB Network. See annex I for the adjoined list of attendants. Before starting the work session, the Chair mentioned Alicia Toribio, a member of the Argentinean MAB Committee who passed away suddenly on December 29, Alicia had been an excellent workmate, a tireless promoter of IberoMAB, and whose constant participation will be unforgotten. There was a minute s silence in memory of her. The Chair welcomed all the participants and thanked them for attending this meeting. Then, the Chair put into the consideration of the presents the agenda to follow as planned in the general agenda of the Meeting. Tuesday 3rd 1. National Committees compromises for the implementation of Madrid Action Plan Wednesday 4th 2. Report on Network Work Commissions Thursday 5th 3. IInd Meeting of the Network Executive Committee

2 Not arising any objections thereof, the first point was dealt. 1. NATIONAL COMMITTEES COMPROMISES FOR THE ADOPTION OF MADRID ACTION PLAN (MAP). The Chair reminded that at the end of October, 2008 a questionnaire was sent to all the Committees and MAB Focal Points, regarding the adoption of Madrid Action Plan (MAP), approved by the 3rd. World Congress of Biosphere Reserves. The MAP contains goals and actions to be achieved by In order to make easier the creation and processing of the information, a practical and simple questionnaire was made in which the countries had pointed out what actions they deem can be carried out. This questionnaire was sent to all the National Committees and MAB Focal Points within the Network in October, 2008, together with a schedule to be followed, so that in November 30 Mr. Pedro Araya, representative of Chile, who had kindly volunteered to review and summarize all the information, was able to have any relevant information. Mr. Pedro Araya reported then that only 5 countries had completed the questionnaires (Chile, Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico). For this reason the report referred only to those countries. After the report was stated, the Chair thanked and congratulated Mr Pedro Araya for his excellent work and, after a discussion between the participants, it was agreed that each of the countries represented thereof stated which reasons and/or difficulties did they have not to complete the questionnaire, in order to analyze the reasons and try to find the way to help them moving forward. Finally, the Chair proposed the date of March 2 as deadline to receive the completed questionnaires still pending. The forms will be delivered to Mr. Pedro Araya with attached copy to the Secretariat. MAB Secretariat needs to have the widest information available for the next ma Meeting of the International Co-ordinating Council of the MAB Programme (MAB-ICC) to take place in Jeju, South Korea in May. This information is paramount to see how the Network is placed and moves forward in the global framework. Then, the Chair explained the importance of that information, since many of the countries, i.e. Mexico, are not capable to answer to all the information required. The Chair made two proposals in this regard: First: That any information request is addressed to MAB Secretariat, the Chair deciding on the importance and priority thereof in order to notice the committees. Second: that the consultations are addressed directly to the Committees, to avoid the BRs getting distracted from their work. The purpose of this proposal is to put order and to avoid confusions, as it happened on occasion of the MAP form sent by IberoMAB Chair and the form sent by UNESCO regarding the implementation of Seville Strategy. 2

3 The Chair stated that the IberoMAB website should be used more often and that it might be important for that purpose that everyone engages and enters documents in the website, so that it becomes a useful source of information for all. This website contains plenty of information about IberoMAB documents, such as the minutes of the meetings and MAP documents, and also the BRs index cards of the Latin American Biosphere Reserves book and the complete book itself (2nd edition published in the year 2008 upgraded and amended). Mr. Terry Raymond, representative of Dominica, said that they, the representative of English speaking countries, have communication problems due to the language barrier, since all the documents are written in Spanish, so it is necessary to find the way to settle this problem (for it is understood that the IberoMAB includes also the Caribbean). Mr. Miguel Clüsener answered that UNESCO does not have enough funds to meet these needs but once these funds are available the IberoMAB website will appear also in English language. Then the Chair remarked that the MAB Committees in different countries are part of different governmental institutions, be it Secretaries or Ministries. This situation hinders communication and information between Networks, Committees and Governments. On the other hand, the Committees are linked to the Biosphere Reserves in several ways which also hinders the information flow and the decision-making. It is suggested that the UNESCO Office, by means of a consultancy establishes a guideline taking into account the characteristics of each country in order to set up the Committees. Mr. Miguel Clüsener explained that UNESCO has published in their website some guidelines for setting up the MAB National Committees and that the Seville Strategy and the Statutory Framework and, now, the MAP are enough guidelines to set up the National Committees. UNESCO might advise and guide regarding the way to set up the Committee, in fact, UNESCO has already engaged a technical assistant to advise the countries that need it, as the case has been of Dominican Republic, where a person was already performing this duty. The Chair proposed that every country and every Committee draws a chart showing how it is placed inside the Government of each country and how the National Committee and the Biosphere Reserves management committees were set. This will make possible to identify the achievements and weaknesses of each country, thus helping to improve communication. February 4th 2. WORK COMMISIONS NETWORK REPORT At the XIth IBEROMAB Meeting, held in Maitencillo, Valparaíso, Chile it was agreed to create work commissions relating to important issues for the organization and development of IBEROMAB. The following commissions were proposed: 3

4 Communication Commission: With the purpose of spreading IBEROMAB labour between the social, political, business and academic sector in Latin America and in the whole world in general. The interested committees in taking part were: Cuba, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Mexico. Investigation Commission: Its main goal is to promote research on biosphere reserves. The interested committees so far are Spain, Ecuador and Mexico. Qualification Commission: Its purpose is to train managers and staff to work in the reserves and the committees in common issues of management. The interested committees are Argentina, Spain, Jamaica, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay. The Chair, as coordinator of the Investigation Commission, reported that some contacts and rapprochements with these International Organizations had already been made so that IberoMAB had enough resources to research on those matters which are incumbent on it: - Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER) Programme, in September last year, in order to take part in the Environmental Monitoring Program in the long term. BRs are a proper setting for this program to include them in their projects. - Mesoamerican Biological Corridor Program, in meeting held on Monday morning at San Salvador, being present some of the members of the IberoMAB Network. This group showed open and concerned and considered that there were points of rapprochement and interest within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and Biosphere Reserves of the Mesoamerican Region. An agreement or covenant shall be drawn in order to start sharing some of the efforts and to establish the collaboration between both of them. - Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) 1, the most active and open organisation, working with the greatest number of major gardens. It is a mighty ally for the biosphere reserves and carries out a series of activities that can be linked to the biosphere reserves in a very interesting way. They expect us to propose them a joint meeting to see what could be done. Other activities performed were: Organization of a Symposium on Biosphere Reserves, arranged within the framework of the Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) in July, Participation in a Symposium organized by the Ecological Society of America in which philosophers, sociologists and natural scientists took part in order to discuss investigation, ethical, and developmental issues. Attendance of students (Mexican, American, Brazilian) of different educational levels to the meeting, to learn in situ the different aspects of the biosphere reserves. 4 1 In English in the original document

5 The Chair stated that the representatives of Argentina and Costa Rica had been nominated for the post of coordinators of the Qualification and Communication Commissions during the Madrid meeting. The representatives of Costa Rica, Mr. Marco Antonio Corrales, and Argentina, Mr. Guillermo Federico Ligua explained that, unfortunately, they do not have any information about any progress been made regarding these Commissions. As for the issue of the training of Mr. Antonio San Blas, representative of the Isla de La Palma BR in Spain, the Chair mentioned the Travelling Seminars that have been taking place in different countries of Latin America like Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and Brazil, and shall follow with Jamaica, Ecuador and, last, Argentina. He feels that we should go on with this training pattern for the biosphere reserves managers. He goes on stating that we have a challenge to meet regarding the MAP, so, in addition to the Investigation and Communication Commissions, he proposes a new Commission to follow-up the implementation MAP and to dinamize and to support the fulfilment of the MAP. Then, Mr. Pedro Araya noted that it is possible to arrange the Network labour through the commissions, based on Madrid Action Plan. The 67 planned actions under the MAP are grouped in 4 thematic planned areas which, in his opinion, make it possible to create the Commissions in a practical and organized manner depending on the 4 MAP areas which have identified actions to carry out, and that the countries are to include voluntarily at least in one of the commissions. Once the Commissions are set, he proposes that the arranged groups hold a meeting in order to study the relevant actions to take according to each thematic area and a small program, including the actions to be dealt with. Then, the Chair backed Mr. Araya s proposal and suggested to create the said Commissions if everybody agreed. It is agreed to create the following work commission: Commission 1. Management and Zoning Commission 2. Science and Capacity Enhancement Commission 3. MAP follow-up Commission 4. Cooperation, Capacity and Communication Each Commission made up a Program of the activities to perform and a schedule (see annex 2) 3. II MEETIG OF THE IBEROMAB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The following agenda for the meeting was put into consideration: 1. Introduction and approval of the agenda for the II IberoMab Executive Committee Meeting. 2. Reading and approval of the record relating to XIIth Meeting of the Committees Network and Biosphere Reserves of Latin America and the Caribbean, held on February 4, 2008 in Madrid. 5

6 3. Introduction of the Chair Work Plan for the period Introduction of the Report of Activities carried out by IBEROMAB from February, 2008 to February, Addendum to the IBEROMAB Network Regulations: requirements to join the network. 6. General issues: Funds and supports for the functioning of the Red IBEROMaB Relationship between IBEROMAB Network and the theme networks Report on the current condition of La Mancha Húmeda Biosphere Reserve, Castilla La Mancha, Spain Establish the seat to hold the XIVth Meeting of the Committees Network and Biosphere Reserves of Latin America and the Caribbean. 1. INTRODUCTION AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR THE IIth MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THE NATIONAL MAB COMMITTEES OF IBEROAMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. The Chair read aloud the proposed points of the agenda that was already handed out to the participants and which was unanimously approved. 2. READING AND APPROVAL OF THE RECORD REGARDING THE Ist MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THE NATIONAL MAB COMMITTEES OF IBEROAMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, DURING THE XIIth MEETING OF THE COMMITTEES NETWORK AND BIOSPHERE RESERVES OF LATINAMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, HELD IN MADRID ON FEBRUARY 4, Not arising any amendment, it was unanimously approved. 3. INTRODUCTION OF THE CHAIR WORK PLAN FOR THE PERIOD The Chair introduces the Work Plan made by the Chair and the Deputy Chair which is summarised in the adjoining document (Annex III) and was also handed out to the participants previously. The participants discussed the Work Plan and exchanged points of view. The Work Plan includes issues already treated and discussed during the setting of the Work Commissions; reason why some of the participants point out that there is a duplication between the agreements reached and the work plan introduced. 6

7 Regarding the foregoing, some of the participants suggested that, given that on one hand the 4 Commissions had already been set with a work plan based on MAP actions, on the other hand, the countries have established their actions with a view to the implementation of MAP in their BRs, it seems appropriate that the Chair and the Deputy Chair tackle those actions not regarded in the Commissions and that are in the scope of the Chair and the Deputy Chair within the introduced work proposal. The Chair agreed with the foregoing statements and pointed out that the Work Plan being introduced was formulated before the Commissions were set, and that the said Work Plan answered the MAP framework. The Chair agreed on amending the Work Plan for the Chair and the Deputy Chair according to the MAP. Then, the Chair gave turn to a Mr. Miguel Clüsener to explain that the MAB Secretariat is to take a small poll about how the biosphere reserves are anchored in the national law throughout the IberoMAB zone. This is important since many requests from different countries were submitted asking for help in this regard. For this, the Secretariat must find what is happening and which is the most positive figure, which was the most successful, what was it that did not work, and in which countries are not laws at all. The MAB Secretariat shall submit this poll by with attached copy to the Chair and IberoMAB Secretariat. Moreover, he requests that a call is made through IberoMAB Chair to the countries not having the BRs included in their national law to make an effort to incorporate them. He suggested the creation of a publication compiling the most significant examples, so that it is available to whoever needs it. 4. INTRODUCTION OF THE REPORT OF ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY IBEROMAB IN THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY OF 2008 TO FEBRUARY OF The Chair reported on the most important activities performed by the Chair and the Deputy Chair from the last IberoMAB meeting. Annex IV. 5. ADDENDUM TO THE IBEROMAB NETWORK REGULATIONS: REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN THE NETWORK The Chair reported that, as agreed in the previous Meeting, he drew the point to be added to the Regulations, establishing the requirements to join the IberoMAB Network. This addendum and the other documents were handed out to all the participants on occasion of the meeting. After exchanging points of view on this Addendum, it is approved, with the gender amendment proposed by Mr. Wilson Torres, representative of Ecuador. Annex V. 6. GENERAL ISSUES The Chair reported that the Environment Ministry of Haiti had submitted a letter which he reads aloud. It is a request from the newly created Haitian MAB Committee asking to join the IberoMAB Network as a member. 7

8 The Chair was pleased to receive this proposal which was approved by acclamation. Haiti joined then the IberoMAB Network as member country number 22 nd. The representative of Haiti took the floor and thanked all the present for the inclusion of his country in the IberoMAB Network. The representative of Dominican Republic showed her satisfaction for the joining of Haiti, hoping that this becomes a step forward towards in the process to create a cross-border BR between both countries. Relationship between IBEROMAB Network and the thematic networks The Chair mentioned the importance of the thematic networks and explained that these networks created around themes or issues that are common to the biosphere reserves of different regional networks are aimed to integrate experiences and efforts at the inter-regional level and give consistency to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. However, creating subregional networks should be avoided (those network grouping subsets of reserves consisting on a single regional network), given that it should have an adverse impact on the integration and the synergies of the regional networks, given that it would create parallel work systems. Other participants reported also on other thematic networks known by them or in which they take part. It was agreed to make a list of operative thematic networks and/ or those which the participants know or take part in; as is the case of the Argentinean representative on arid lands and coastal zones, and Antonio San Blas on Redbios and Islands. They will send any available information to the Network Secretariat. Report on the current condition of La Mancha Húmeda Biosphere Reserve, Comunidad Autónoma de Castilla La Mancha, Spain. The Chair reported that 2 months ago they received a letter from some environmental NGO acting in Spain (WWF/ADENA, Ecologistas en Acción, GREENPEACE and SEO/Birdlife), asking IberoMAB to study the conservation of La Mancha Húmeda BR (Spain). This BR shows a worrying condition due to the desiccation of the wetlands provoked by the lowering of the water table levels caused by the over exploitation of the aquifers. The Chair reported that the foregoing request shall be answered, since he believes it is the duty of the IberoMAB Network to concern about such matters. In this case it is necessary to analyse the situation in order to be able to propose the BR managers the relevant actions to take. An international group of independent experts will be appointed to make this report. Mr. Wilson Torres said that before issuing any report we should ask for information about this matter to the Spanish Government or to the Spanish MAB Committee to avoid interferences with the country. 8

9 The Chair answers that they are going to seek for cooperation to the Spanish Government and the Comunidad Autónoma [Autonomous Region] of Castilla-La Mancha to receive the necessary support in order to make report. Mr. Francisco Cantos, representative of the Spanish MAB Committee, reported that the MAB Committee has already got a letter from the NGOs seeking to solve the problem with this BR or else that it is no longer a BR. It was agreed that the Committee proposed a deadline to fulfil certain recovery indexes and, if these indexes are not fulfilled, the Committee shall propose to remove this BR, believing that, given seriousness of this BR condition, IberoMAB must offer the chance to make this report, for what they ask for funding to the Spanish and the Autonomous Governments. Mr. Antonio San Blas remarked that this matter has already been discussed several times within the Red de Reservas de Biosfera Españolas (RRBE) [Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves] and added that they believe the action of the MAB Committee and the RRBE is correct, that is, those responsible for this BR must have an action plan to get the BR back to the acceptable levels according to a series of indexes and the fulfilment level for those indexes shall establish whether they keep the BR or not. Therefore, the report sought by the NGOs to IberoMAB strengthens the position of the Spanish MAB Committee trying to look for a solution to a very complex situation; and, under this report, the MAB Committee shall establish whether or not the functions of the BR are fulfilled. Book about the Services of the Ecosystems in IberoMAB BRs. The Chairman reported on the eventual drawing of a new MAB/ UNESCO book about the services of the ecosystems in the Biosphere Reserves of Latin America and the Caribbean. This new book starts from a proposal made by Mr. Pedro Araya and it would be financed by the International Cooperation of the Autonomous Body for National Parks in Spain funds, transferred to UNESCO by means of voluntary contribution. Mr. Pedro Araya remarked that this book will focus on initiatives related to the ecosystem services in the BRs. This issue is soundly based on the Madrid Action Plan itself. To achieve this goal, each country must pick management and ecosystem services recovery cases, thus ensuring that the ecosystems are represented in the region and the joint management thereof. Establishment of the seat for the XIVth Meeting of the Committees Network and Biosphere Reserves of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Chairman reported that there is a Proposal from UNESCO and the Spanish MAB to hold the Ist Congress of Biosphere Reserves of Latin America and the Caribbean which would take place on November 2010 in Mexico, including the XIVth Meeting of IberoMAB Network. Possible issues for the Congress: 9

10 - Evaluation and assessment of the biological and cultural diversity in the biosphere reserves. The challenges of the IberoMAB Network before Global and Ecological Change - IberoMAB Network before current socioeconomic situation - Evaluation of the actions carried out by committees and biosphere reserves of the IberoMAB Network regarding the implementation of MAP 2010 y 2013 The proposal was approved, subject to obtaining the necessary funds to hold the Congress. Funds and supports for the functioning of the IBEROMAB Network. The Chair suggested that the funding of the activities carried out by the Network is one of the major issues in the short term. Having funds would ensure the yearly meetings and performing other activities as workshops, exchanges, publications, etc. So far we have had the generous support of Spanish Government and UNESCO, but we must not think that this support will not last forever. It has allowed us to strengthen the structure and the functioning of the Network; we must use that strength to carry out a campaign to get private and public funds. It is an urgent task. Mr. Miguel Clüsener remarked that considering the economic crisis, they feel that in the next years it will be more difficult to keep on getting the foregoing supports, so we should look for other financial means for the functioning of the IberoMAB Network. Both UNESCO and Spain are concerned and looking for support for the Network. In this regard, he proposed that each MAB Committee or MAB Focal Point reports and asks their Ministry or Body for these funds. Each Committee could ask for seek 5, USD. After a debate between the participants it is agreed that the best way to start these requests would be an UNESCO petition to IberoMAB Chair, the Chair would address through the MAB Committees to the relevant person in each country whose name and position will be noticed to the Chair. Not existing further points to tackle, the Chair finished the XIIIth Meeting of the Committees Network and Biosphere Reserves of Latin America and the Caribbean and the IInd Meeting of the Network Executive Committee. The Chair thanked the Government of El Salvador for their fantastic organization of the meeting, the biggest so far and no doubt one of the most successful. From now on, the agreements reached start a different stage in IberoMAB s life. In Apaneca-LIamatepec, El Salvador, 3 pm, day 5 of February of