The Deadline for the CEPA Fair has been extended to the 14th of April.

Communication, education and public awareness is central and essential to the implementation of the Convention. It is for this reason that Article 13 encourages the promotion of the importance of, and the measures required for, the conservation of biological diversity through the media and the inclusion of relevant topics in educational programmes. The importance of CEPA to the mainstreaming of biodiversity into a variety of sectors is also reflected in the Strategic Plan. With this in mind, a fair on experiences and best practices in Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) will be held at the margins of COP-9, in the Federal Ministry of Transport Building. The Fair, which will be organized jointly with the Government of Germany as the host of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, will include displays and presentations on the following themes:

1. National CEPA strategies and their contribution to implementation;
2. Mobilization of the media for communication of messages on the importance of biodiversity for human well-being and of the Convention and its objectives;
3. Integration of biodiversity considerations into education including formal and informal contexts, and inter alia primary, secondary, university, and professional training;
4. Best practices in raising public awareness, including communicating with stakeholders and major groups, including business and other important economic sectors.

Parties and organizations will have the opportunity to present their materials in a variety of formats. The following are suggested:

• Presentation of posters
• Display of printed materials
• Display of CD-ROMs
• Presentation of videos
• Events and presentations

To ensure maximum flexibility in presentations, and to take into account the different resource capabilities of Parties, it will also be possible to mount a display for only some of the days of the COP. Participants will be expected to have a resource person on hand at the fair during the entire time of their display. The Secretariat invites Parties, other Governments, development agencies, research institutions, and other relevant organizations and initiatives to register their interest to showcase their CEPA projects and activities with the Secretariat at their earliest convenience, but no later than 26 March 2008. In order to facilitate the organization of the Fair, indications of interest should include a short description of the proposed activities (one page maximum), presentations and/or material to be showcased, including any audio-visual requirements. The dates for display and/or presentations should also be indicated. It is important to note that, due to restricted room capacity, only a limited number of exhibitors can be offered the opportunity to showcase their work. The Secretariat reserves the right to select the exhibitors. Also note that limited support will be provided for PC-based materials and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Parties are therefore encouraged to provide their own laptops. Internet access will be made available. A large screen, with audio system will also be available for the display of films and presentations. Expressions of interest can be sent to secretariat@cbd.int


Note regarding the main event and parallel events:
The ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) will be held at the Maritim Hotel in Bonn, Germany, from 19 to 30 May 2008. COP 9 will include a high-level ministerial segment organized by the host country in consultation with the Secretariat and the Bureau. The high‑level segment will take place from 28 to 30 May 2008 at the World Conference Center Bonn. COP 9 will also coincide with the International Biodiversity Day, on 22 May 2008. The Conference of the Parties will be invited to hold a special plenary session to celebrate this event.  The registration of side events for COP 9 is now closed due to the high number of requests already received.

International Youth Summit 2008: Go 4 Biodiv, 16 – 31 May 2008, Bavarian Forest National Park and Bonn, Germany. Young adults all over the world are committing themselves with great motivation and enthusiasm to the conservation of biological diversity. They experience biodiversity, and the loss of it, first hand. It is the young generation who will have to bear the consequences of the international community’s current actions. Meet the participants.