The French biodiversity agency and the French Embassy in Canada at the forefront of ocean protection at IMPAC5

The French biodiversity agency (OFB), the French Embassy in Canada, the Alliance Française and marine protected area managers from mainland France and the overseas territories are meeting until February 9, 2023 in Vancouver, Canada for the International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5). Organized every four years, this scientific and technical congress brings together more than 1,300 marine protected area managers from around the world to implement international objectives to protect and restore these threatened areas.

In the continuity of the historic agreement adopted at the COP15 on biodiversity in Montreal in December 2022, in which the States committed to achieve the goal of 30% of protected areas by 2030 and the restoration of 30% of degraded ecosystems, the IMPAC5 conference aims to support and strengthen the efforts of marine protected area managers to implement these objectives.

A major congress ahead of UN negotiations on the protection and management of the high seas

Among the challenges on the agenda of the international community is the expansion and strengthening of the existing network of marine protected areas and the better protection and management of ecosystems in the high seas, the maritime space beyond national jurisdictions. These exchanges will be even more important in the run-up to the fifth session of negotiations on the agreement for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in the high seas (the so-called BBNJ), which will be held from February 20 to March 3 at the United Nations in New York.

Promoting French commitments at the heart of the national strategy for protected areas

As the main manager of marine protected areas in France, the OFB will animate, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Canada and the Alliance française in Vancouver, the stand "The French Corner" with high level political meetings, round tables and animations. In addition to the official program, the OFB will also participate in the Marine Protected Areas Agencies Summit, which brings together the agencies of various States in charge of marine biodiversity protection.

A high political segment will close the congress on February 9 in the presence of:

• Denis Charissoux, Acting General Director of the OFB;
• Cyrille Barnerias, Director of International and European Affairs of the OFB;
• Gilles Simeoni, President of the Marine Natural Park of Cape Corsica and Agriates and representative of the presidents of marine natural parks;
• Michel Miraillet, French Ambassador to Canada.