At the invitation of the Secretariat of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) the Fourth Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC 4) to the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider Caribbean Region, will be held in Gosier, Guadeloupe, from 2 to 5 July 2008. The STAC 4 Meeting will be preceded on 1 July 2008 by a one-day meeting of the SPAW Contracting Parties experts to finalize the guidelines and criteria for the listing of protected areas under the SPAW Protocol.

Immediately preceding the 4th SPAW STAC, the Meeting to finalize the Guidelines and Criteria for the Evaluation of Protected Areas to be listed under the SPAW Protocol will be held.

Meetings of UNEP-Regional Coordinating Unit of the Caribbean Environment Programme:  Meetings of UNEP-CEP provide participating Governments of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) which are Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention, the forum to discuss matters of regional concern while providing the opportunity for regional cooperation toward the protection and development of the marine environment of the WCR.  The biennial Intergovernmental and yearly Monitoring Committee Meetings oversee CEPs progress, its future activities, as well as its financial and institutional arrangements.

Meetings of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) for the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW Protocol):  The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee for the SPAW Protocol affords Contracting Parties to the SPAW Protocol, regional governments, and relevant organizations, a means through which to cooperate and reach consensus on common issues for the protection of biodiversity in the Region and its sustainable use, in keeping with the objectives of the SPAW Protocol and other relevant treaties and initiatives such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).

 Objectives:

• Review the implemented activities and outputs of the 2006-2007 Workplan and Budget for the SPAW Regional Programme, including activities of the Regional Activity Centre for SPAW (SPAW/RAC) in Guadeloupe;
• Finalize and agree on further action on the “Guidelines and criteria for the evaluation of protected areas to be listed under the SPAW Protocol”;
• Review the Draft Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region, and agree on further action;
• Develop the 2008-2009 Workplan and Budget of the SPAW Programme and the SPAW Protocol for subsequent approval by the Fifth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the SPAW Protocol and Thirteenth Intergovernmental Meeting of CEP in 2008;
• Take note and decide on further action on critical issues to the biodiversity of the Wider Caribbean, such as coral reefs and the celebration of the International Year of the Reef (IYOR), and the status of other important species in the region, and
• Identify synergies and opportunities for collaboration with relevant partners to assist with the further development and implementation of the SPAW Protocol and Programme.

Expected participants:

Government-nominated representatives from the Contracting Parties to the SPAW Protocol, representatives from other governments, non-governmental (NGOs), and partner organizations.