Final Report on the Framework Agreement for 2008–2009

Global

GEF/TWAP meeting attended: •

DEWA A1 Reports and notes on the state of the environment for global and regional intergovernmental bodies, such as the UN General Assembly, UNEP governing bodies, Multilateral Environmental Agreements, regional ministerial fora and the Environmental Management Group (EMG) to enable them to carry out informed decision-making processes. DEWA B3 Up-to-date, coherent and complementary information systems, databases and services including early warning and alert services, using state-of-the-art information and communication technology, public-private partnerships, earth observations and scientific findings for assessment practitioners and decision makers to enhance their capacity to analyse environmental challenges.

Paris in March 2008 and contributed to the preparation of the Medium Scale Project Proposal. • Working group meetings to develop methodology for the assessments of oceans. • Inception meeting (June 2009) in Denmark. Importance of assessing benthic marine systems highlighted and included as part of the assessment needs. GRID Arendal is working with partners to develop and refine a project concept to respond to this expected output to develop a tool for on Marine Benthic Habitat mapping. This has, to date, been presented to UNEP and also to GEOHAB at their meeting in Sitka, Alaska in May 2008. Methods for phase 1 (production of geomorphology map) is under development. Project organization and funding possibilities for implementation discussed in conjunction with the 8th annual GEOHAB meeting in Trondheim May 2009. Dr Peter Harris from Geoscience Australia visited GRID Arendal in August 2009 to discuss the production of additional atlas geomorphology map layers. This work is continuing. Benthic Atlas template completed. Fifty-four scientists committed to providing benthic habitat examples, using the template, for inclusion in the Benthic Atlas publication. Web page developed showing map location (including Google Earth version) and brief description of these benthic areas. Outline of Benthic Atlas completed and accepted for publication by Elsevier. Draft of first 3 introductory chapters completed. Geoscience Australia has contributed AUS$ 5,000, plus in-kind support to produce one layer of the geomorphology map. Seafloor Geomorphology for Fisheries Management concept note submitted to Ausaid. Partners identified in the Pacific - Service des Mines et de l'Energie, New Caledonia.

Global

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Accepted (Fall 2009) on the organising committee for the June 1-4, 2010 expert work session on the “Design of Marine Protected Areas for Hydrothermal-Vent and Cold-Seep Ecosystems Potentially Threatened by Human Activities the Deap Sea. B3. Assessment of knowledge and scientific gaps, and emerging issues, related to climate change impacts on oceans and coasts including the assessment of socioeconomic and environmental impacts.