Welcome, objectives and participant introductions

Welcome, objectives and participant introductions

High level opening tbc (5 mins)
IUCN Opening (10 mins)
Events objectives & framing
Showing information radiator from conference (add to it during breaks)

This opening session introduces the objectives of the meeting. A meeting that framed around the role of communities in conservation and restoration, and the challenges that they face. The key objectives central to conservation and restoration efforts in Europe:

• Firstly, it will examine the contributions of various actors to conservation  and restoration initiatives.
• Secondly, the extent to which these contributions can be acknowledged as Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) will be assessed.
• Thirdly, the meeting aims to evaluate the current approach to OECMs at national and regional levels, facilitating a multi-stakeholder dialogue to develop a unified roadmap.
• Finally the meeting will assess what opportunities the recently passed EU Restoration Law will have on OECMs and how it could include the efforts that existing non-state actors are carrying out.