Preparatory Experts' Meeting for an Intergovernmental Meeting on
Great Apes and GRASP
From 26-28 November 2003 at UNESCO in Paris, France, a preparatory experts'
meeting for an intergovernmental meeting on great apes and GRASP was convened.
Here for the first time ever, representatives from 17 of the 23 great ape
range states, 7 donor governments, 7 UN agencies and intergovernmental bodies,
the European Commission, international NGOs and other GRASP partners met to
agree upon a global great ape conservation strategy, a five-year work plan
and draft set of rules to govern the activities of the GRASP Partnership.
These documents will come before the intergovernmental meeting for formal
approval.
At the meeting, an Interim Executive Committee (IEC) with Uganda as the
Chair, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Indonesia representing
the other great ape range states, was established to provide executive guidance
to the GRASP secretariat. The work of the Committee was strengthened in late
2004 with the subsequent establishment of an Interim Scientific Commission
to assist on scientific matters of relevance to the GRASP Partnership. These
interim bodies are assisting the GRASP secretariat with preparations for the
Intergovernmental Meeting on Great Apes (IGM) and 1st GRASP Council Meeting,
as agreed at the preparatory experts' meeting.
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Documents arising from the Preparatory Experts Meeting for an Intergovernmental
Meeting on Great Apes and GRASP
a) Final Report of the preparatory experts meeting for an Intergovernmental
Meeting on Great Apes and the Great Apes Survival Project. [PDF]
b) Global Strategy for the Survival of Great Apes. [PDF]
c) Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP) Partnership Outline Work Plan Outline
Work plan 2003-2007. [PDF]
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Meeting Venue
The Intergovernmental Meeting on Great Apes and the first GRASP Council
Meeting will be held at the Grand Hotel, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, 5-9 September 2005.
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Aims & Objectives
The primary objective of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for the
23 great ape range states, along with all other GRASP partners and global
stakeholders, to assemble in order to:
• Raise the global profile of the plight facing the great
apes and their habitat
• Deepen their knowledge of and discuss substantive issues relating to great
apes and their conservation
• Develop, where appropriate, common approaches to the problems faced, such
as assessment and enforcement of legislation;
ameliorate the impact on great apes of extractive industries; develop sustainable
projects benefiting people living in or near great ape habitat
• Share their experiences through the presentation of existing national
and regional actions to protect the great apes and their habitat to the
international community
• Produce commitments from all stakeholders recognizing the importance of
great apes and engaging all humanity to ensure their survival
• Encourage the international community to give increased support to national
and regional efforts to protect great apes, within the context of national
environmental action plans, sustainable development or poverty reduction
strategies and GRASP programmes and priorities
• Adopt the various key GRASP documents to facilitate the work of the Partnership
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Expected Outputs
The anticipated outputs of the IGM and first GRASP Council meeting include:
• Adoption of the High-level Declaration on the Importance of Great Apes
• Adoption of the Global Great Ape Conservation Strategy
• Adoption of a GRASP Partnership Work plan
• Adoption of the Rules for the Organization and Management of the GRASP
Partnership
• Establishment of the GRASP Executive Committee
• Significant commitment of resources by the international and donor community
(governments, agencies, non-governmental organizations and private sector)
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Participation
In order to achieve the aims, objectives and expected outputs, participation
at the IGM and first GRASP Council meeting is anticipated from the following:
• High level dignitaries, including Ministers and GRASP Patrons
• Great ape range state environment, forestry or tourism ministries and
departments
• National wildlife and parks agencies
• Donor government officials and other non-range state representatives
• Secretariats of the relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
• Regional initiatives, intergovernmental & UN bodies and donor institutions
• International and local non-governmental organizations
• The great ape scientific community
• Local community representatives
• The private sector, including ecotourism and timber companies
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Host Country
In February 2005, at the Central African Heads of State Summit in Brazzaville,
Republic of Congo, His Excellency the President of the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Mr. Joseph Kabila, announced that his country would host the
Intergovernmental Meeting on Great Apes and first GRASP Council Meeting from
5-9 September 2005 in Kinshasa, DRC. This meeting will be attended by key
stakeholders with an interest in the long-term survival of viable populations
of great apes in the wild, in particular range state governments.
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IGM Support
The European Commission, along with the governments of the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Germany and the host country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and the Convention on Migratory Species are providing the financial support
for the meeting. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Mission
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) along with a number of non-governmental
organization partners are assisting with logistical and security support.
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List of documents
Participants are kindly reminded to bring their copies of the pre-session
documents as well as the information documents downloadable from this site.
The Meeting documents include:
Invitation of delegates
The GRASP Secretariat invites all interested parties to attend the meeting
and help shape the future of the great apes and the forest habitat on which
they depend.
We are also pleased to confirm that the secretariat, with the financial
assistance of the European Commission, will meet the costs of travel and accommodation
for two government nominated delegates from each of the great ape range States
(see list of great ape range States). Although there will be no formal restriction
on the size of delegations, all other participants will have to cover their
own costs. We will, however be happy to provide invitation letters which may
help with visa acquisition.
In order to help us make the necessary arrangements in good time, we would
be grateful if you could confirm your participation at your earliest convenience
by filling out the pre- registration form attached, not later than 8 August
2005 to: Melanie Virtue, GRASP Team Leader, UNEP, PO Box 30552, Nairobi Kenya,
Ph: 254 20 62 3877, Fax: +254 20 62-3926 or 62-4300; email: grasp@unep.org.
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Range state delegates registration form
The two nominated delegates from each range state are requested to fill in
the attached range state delegates registration form and return it together
with their government endorsed nomination letter, not later than 8 August 2005,
to: Melanie Virtue, GRASP Team Leader, UNEP, PO Box 30552, Nairobi Kenya, Ph:
254 20 62 3877, Fax: +254 20 62-3926 or 62-4300; email: grasp@unep.org.
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List of great ape range states
The secretariat with the financial assistance of the European Commission will
meet the costs of travel and accommodation for two government nominated delegates
from each of the 23 great ape range states.
Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial
Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda.
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Local transport
There will be hostesses at the airport to welcome delegates kindly organized
by the government of DRC. The DRC government will also be providing transport
to and from the airport to hotels and the conference venue.
There are also taxis and car hire available at the airport.
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Where to stay
Participants are informed that they have to make their own hotel reservations
as early as possible. To benefit from the special room rates the hotels may
be offering, please indicate that you will be attending the GRASP IGM when you
make your reservation.
Please note that the meeting will be held in the Grand Hotel, situated in Gombe,
Kinshasa, a 45-minute drive from the airport.
List of hotels located in the vicinity of the meeting venue.
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Visa/Customs
Visa: You should obtain your visa through the DRC embassy
in your country using your invitation letter. If you are unable to obtain a
Visa before travel, special arrangements have been made to grant Visas on arrival
in Kinshasa for meeting participants. However, please ensure you pre-register
with UNEP so that your name can be forwarded to the authorities in good time.
For delegates who have not been able to acquire DRC visas, please carry along this letter from the government of DRC together with your GRASP invitation letter. This should enable you board your flight without the visa.
Passport: All foreigners must carry a passport valid for at
least three months after the planned date of entry.
Vaccination: You must have an International Certificate of
Vaccination for Yellow Fever.
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Other information on Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kinshasa
Population: 56 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Kinshasa
Area: 2.34 million sq km (905,354 sq miles)
Major languages: French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba
Major religions: Christianity, Islam
Monetary unit: 1 Congolese franc = 100 centimes
Main exports: Diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil
GNI per capita: US $100 (World Bank, 2003)
Internet domain: .cd
International dialing code: +243
Weather and time zone information: May-October: dry season.
Kinshasa GMT + 1
Five day forecast available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0125
Information extracted from:
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/worldwise/directory/www00055.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1076399.stm#media
Electricity
220 Volts, AC 50 Hz
For more information on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, see:
Country profile:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cg.html
UN news:
http://www.irinnews.org/frontpage.asp?SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC
Voter registration:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=47735&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC
United Nations Mission in DRC:
http://www.monuc.org/Home.aspx?lang=en
Sights and Sounds of Kinshasa:
What to see in Kinshasa:
Although DRC is a beautiful country most destinations are not accessible. There
are several national parks within the country that are World Heritage sites.
While in Kinshasa there are places that are worth visiting, such as the National
Museum of Kinshasa, Beaux Art Museum, the University of Kinshasa and the lake
Ma Vallée.
Where to Wine and Dine:
Kinshasa is the place to be to experience the best of African music. The nightlife
is dominated by the sounds of Lingala.
A Few Travel tips:
The golden rule for any traveller in a new environment is to be cautious.
Every country has a unique security situation and in order for one to experience
the best aspects of a culture it is sensible to be a learned traveller. The
Lonely Planet website gives a few basic travel tips.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/letters/afr/zai_pc.htm
Disclaimer
The GRASP secretariat disclaims all responsibility for medical, accident and
travel insurance, for death or disability compensation, for loss of or damage
to personal property and for any other loss that may be incurred during travel
time or the period of participation. In this context, it is strongly recommended
to secure international medical insurance for the period of participation prior
to departure.
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Download Pre-Registration Forms :
Delegates pre-registration form [ Word ] [ Pdf ]
Range states delegates pre-registration form [ Word ] [ Pdf ] |
Great
Apes Survival Partnership
