Notification

Membership of and nominations to the CEPA Oversight Panel 2025-2028

Date: 18.08.2025

To: Heads of Administrative Authorities and National Focal Points
 
Following the adoption of Resolution XV.6 on Communication, capacity building, education, participation and awareness (CEPA) at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15), and Decision SC66-05 of the Standing Committee, the Secretariat would like to inform Parties of the membership of the CEPA Oversight Panel for the 2025-2028 triennium and invite nominations for specific membership categories.
 
 
Panel composition
 
As informed by Resolution XV.6, the Panel should include:
  • The Chair or Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee;
  • Contracting Parties (one per region separate from any regional representation from the members listed below);
  • Two CEPA Government Focal Points;
  • Two CEPA NGO Focal Points;
  • The Vice-Chair of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (or an STRP representative);
  • One representative of the International Organization Partners, who is selected to act as the liaison between the Panel and the six IOPs;
  • A youth representative;
  • A representative of Indigenous Peoples;
  • A representative of local communities; and
  • A representative of the Secretariat of the Convention (ex officio).
Contracting Party members
 
The Standing Committee at its 66th meeting, in Decision SC66-05, elected France as Chair of the Panel, and the regional Contracting Party membership as follows:
  • Africa region – Ghana
  • Asia region – India
  • Latin America and the Caribbean region – Antigua and Barbuda
  • Europe region – Ukraine
  • Oceania region – Vanuatu
  • North America region – Canada
In addition, Japan and Thailand expressed interest in participating as observers.
 
STRP and IOP members
 
The Secretariat will liaise with the IOPs and the STRP to identify their respective representatives.
 
Contracting Parties are invited to nominate individuals for the following positions:
 
The Secretariat requests that Parties submit nominations for the following membership categories by 29 August to secretariat@ramsar.org using the attached nomination form:
  • CEPA Government Focal Points;
  • CEPA NGO Focal Points;
  • A youth representative;
  • A representative of Indigenous Peoples; and
  • A representative of local communities.
The regional CEPA representatives listed above and the Chair of the Panel will meet virtually to review a summary prepared by the Secretariat of the nominations received for these membership categories. They will prepare a list of recommendations for membership of the Panel, with an alternative for each position in case of non-endorsement of the primary recommendation. The list will then be provided to the Standing Committee for endorsement.
 
For any questions, please contact the Secretariat at: secretariat@ramsar.org.
 
 
Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands
28 rue Mauverney, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 999 0170

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