CBD

Distr. GENERAL

5 November 2019

ENGLISH ONLY THEMATIC WORKSHOP ON AREA-BASED CONSERVATION MEASURES Montreal, Canada, 1-3 December 2019

INFORMATION NOTE FOR PARTICIPANTS

QUICK LINKS: (Control + click on icons for web page)

INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS Visa Information (pages 3, 7)

1. OPENING AND REGISTRATION ...... 2

2. VENUE ...... 2

4. DOCUMENTS ...... 2 Meeting Documents (page 2) 5. GENERAL INFORMATION ON ACCESS

TO THE SOUTH SHORE, LA PRAIRIE ...... 2

6. VISA INFORMATION ...... 3 ANNEX A – COUNTRY LISTING ...... 7 Hotel Information (pages 4, 8) 7. HOTEL INFORMATION ...... 4

ANNEX B – HOTEL LISTING ...... 8

10. WEATHER AND TIME ZONE INFORMATION ...... 5

Weather Information (page 5)

Currency Information (page 6)

1 1. Opening and registration

The Thematic Workshop on Area-based Conservation Measures will be held in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada, from Sunday, 1 December to Tuesday, 3 December 2019.

The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, 1 December and registration will take place at the venue of the meeting at 8:30 a.m. the same day.

2. Venue

The meeting will be held at:

Plaza Rive-Sud / Plaza South Shore 500 Ave du Golf La Prairie, Quebec Tel: +1-514 877-5525

This venue is located outside of Montreal in the city of La Prairie an area called the South Shore or Rive Sud (in French). Map of the venue is at the following link: https://www.google.com/maps/search/Hotels/@45.4392229,- 73.4820918,14z/data=!4m12!2m11!3m6!1sHotels!2sEspace+Rive- Sud,+500+Ave+du+Golf,+La+Prairie,+QC+J5R+0A5!3s0x4cc90efd559faac1:0x687f2e3493dbae 72!4m2!1d-73.4784182!2d45.4247327!5m3!5m2!1s2019-09-17!2i4

3. Working language

The meeting will be held in English.

4. Documents

In order to minimize the environmental footprint of the meeting and in line with the UN policy towards greener meetings, participants are kindly reminded to bring their own copies of the meeting documents, or to use paperless versions, as there will be no extra copies made available on site during the meeting. Documents are available on the following web page:

https://www.cbd.int/meetings/POST2020-WS-2019-09

2 5. General information on access to the South Shore, La Prairie

The South Shore, La Prairie is serviced by Montreal- P.E. Trudeau International Airport (15 km from downtown). Public transit to the South Shore is limited to the Saint-Jean-sur- Richelieu line, busses Nos. 321 or 96L. You can go to Longueuil Metro station (yellow line) and take the 96L (stop ID no. 9010) or the Bonaventure station (orange line) and take the 321 which stops 300m from venue bus stops at corner.

Taxis and a bus (No. 747) are available at the airport. The information on rates is as follows.

Bus: One way trip Montreal-Trudeau CAD $10 Airport/Downtown (several (Fares can be purchased from the automated locations) STM Express bus dispensers at the international arrivals level. No. 747 (runs 24 hrs a day) The $10 fare can also be paid in cash with exact change in coins only on board the bus and is valid for bus and metro for 24 hours. More information: http://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/bus/shuttle /more-about-747-aeroport-p-e-trudeau-centre- ville-shuttle) Taxis: CAD $41 Fixed rate Montreal-Trudeau to Downtown

6. Visa information

Participants from countries listed in annex A below require an entry visa for Canada and are strongly advised to contact the nearest Canadian diplomatic or consular mission as soon as possible in order to secure the required entry visa in a timely manner, prior to departure. Please note that airline companies will not allow boarding in the absence of a valid visa.

Information on visa procedures, including a list of relevant Canadian diplomatic/consular missions abroad, is available on the web site of Immigration and Citizenship Canada at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) from visa exempt countries

Travellers from visa-exempt countries must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada. If you have a valid eTA, you will not be required to provide biometrics. Travelers are required to have an eTA before they can board a flight to Canada. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travelers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA.

Applying for the eTA is an online process which takes only a few minutes to complete. The eTA will be valid for 5 years or upon expiry of your passport. There is a fee of CAN $7.00 for the electronic travel authorization (eTA). 3

The eTA link is as follows: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Countries requiring Visa and Biometrics

Countries requiring visa and biometrics are listed in annex A below, information on Biometrics can be found at the following link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp.

On-line visa application: Anyone can apply online for a visa to enter Canada. However, you are required to provide biometrics and still need to present yourself at a Visa Application Centre to provide this information. An application will not go forward without the biometric information. The CIC will send you a biometric instruction letter by email through your MyCIC account when they receive your application. Read and print this letter and bring it, along with your passport or other travel document, to a visa application centre (VAC) to give your biometrics. Find your closest VAC.

Important: Please continuously check your MyCIC visa application account for any incoming e-mails, queries, requests for more information, and responses from the visa office.

To facilitate the issuance of visas, the Secretariat will issue upon request invitation letters to be attached to the visa applications.

7. Hotel information

Participants are kindly reminded that they must make their own hotel reservations, and that they should do so as soon as possible.

Below is an indicative list of hotels (Annex B) located in the vicinity of the CBD Secretariat or close to a Metro (subway) station. Note that hotels are offering special room rates. Please see the information provided in the annex.

Further information on hotels in Montreal is available at the following web site:

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Accommodations

8. Transportation and meals

There are several ways to access the venue depending on the location of the hotel.

For participants staying in Montreal

- Take metro, orange line, to Bonaventure metro station. From there go to 1000 de la Gauchetiere – South Shore bus terminal, purchase South Shore bus tickets, go to gate 15 (porte 15) and take the bus No. 321 which will drop you off about 300 metres from the venue. Takes about 30-45 mins. South Shore busses RTL: http://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/en-CA/services/?w=y 4 Bus schedule is attached below.

- Take metro, yellow line, to Longueuil metro station. From there you take the 96L bus which drops you off just across from the venue. The 96L is also accessible from the 1000 de la Gauchetiere South Shore bus terminal. Takes about 30-45 mins. St-Jean Sur Richelieu busses SJSR – No. 96L schedule: https://sjsr.ca/horaires/96.html (exit Du Golf) or trip planner: http://www.zenbus.net/saint-jean?route=96L&direction=0

For participants staying at the hotels on the list in Annex B: A taxi is the simplest way to access the venue.

Lunch will be made available at the venue for a reasonable fee.

9. Payment of the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA)

The DSA will be disbursed to sponsored participants on the first day of the meeting in the form of a prepaid credit card. For identification purposes, these participants are kindly requested to bring their passports and boarding passes. These will be photocopied and returned to participants during the meeting. It is advisable that participants have some cash at hand to cover expenses that may occur between their arrival and the moment at which they are provided with the prepaid credit card from which they will access their DSA. Please note that the DSA at this location South Shore, La Prairie is different from the DSA in Montreal.

10. Official languages

There are two official languages in Canada: English and French. French is the official language of Quebec, however English is widely spoken in Montreal.

11. Weather and time zone information

In November average temperatures in Montreal usually range between a maximum of +4ºC in the daytime and a minimum of -4°C at night. Please bring a warm jacket or coat for cold weather. Current weather conditions in the area can be found at: http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=634.

The standard time zone in Montreal is Eastern Standard Time and is equivalent to GMT/UTC -5 hours.

12. Electricity

The electrical currents are 120 volts, 60 Hertz and the plugs used are shown below.

5 13. Currency

The currency in Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD $). The current exchange rate as at 5 November 2019 is US $1 = CAD $1.31 and € 1 = CAD $1.45 (rates are subject to change, source: www.xe.com).

14. Disclaimer

The CBD Secretariat disclaims all responsibility for medical, accident and travel insurance, for compensation 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, accident and travel insurance for the period of participation prior to departure.

6 Annex A – Country Listing

COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WHOSE CITIZENS REQUIRE VISAS AND BIOMETRICS1 IN ORDER TO ENTER CANADA AS VISITORS (AS LISTED ON THE WEB SITE OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA)

Citizens of the following countries and territories require a visa to visit or transit Canada:

A E (cont’d) M S (Cont’d) Afghanistan Eritrea Madagascar Saudi Arabia Albania Eswatini Malawi Senegal Algeria Ethiopia Malaysia Serbia Angola Maldives Seychelles Antigua and Barbuda F Mali Sierra Leone Argentina Fiji Marshall Islands Somalia Armenia Mauritania South Africa Azerbaijan G Mauritius South Sudan Gabon Micronesia, Fed. States of Sri Lanka B Gambia, The Moldova Sudan Bahrain Georgia Mongolia Suriname Bangladesh Ghana Montenegro Syrian Arab Republic Belarus Grenada Morocco Belize Guatemala Mozambique T Benin Guinea Myanmar Tajikistan Bhutan Guinea-Bissau Tanzania, United Republic Bolivia Guyana N of Bosnia and Herzegovina Namibia Thailand Botswana H Nauru The former Yugoslav Brazil Haiti Nepal Republic of Macedonia Burkina Faso Honduras Nicaragua Togo

Burundi I Niger Tonga

India Nigeria Trinidad and Tobago C Tunisia Cabo Verde Indonesia O Iran, Islamic Republic of Turkey Cambodia Oman Turkmenistan Cameroon Iraq Israel Tuvalu Central African Republic P

Chad Pakistan U J Palau China Jamaica Uganda Colombia Palestinian Authority Ukraine Jordan Panama Comoros United Arab Emirates Congo, Democratic K Paraguay Uruguay Republic of the Kazakhstan Peru Uzbekistan Congo, Republic of the Kenya Philippines Costa Rica V Kiribati Q Cote d’Ivoire Korea, Democratic People’s Vanuatu Cuba Qatar Venezuela Republic of Kuwait Viet Nam D R Kyrgyzstan Russian Federation Y Djibouti Dominica Rwanda Yemen L Dominican Republic Lao, People’s Democratic S Z Republic of E Saint Kitts and Nevis Zambia Lebanon Saint Lucia Zimbabwe East Timor Lesotho Ecuador Saint Vincent and the Liberia Grenadines Egypt Libya El Salvador Sao Tomé e Principe

Equatorial Guinea

1 As of 31 December 2018, all countries requiring visas will require Biometrics for entry into Canada. 7 Current rate of exchange: US $1 = CDN $1.31 and €1 = CDN $1.45 Annex B – Hotel Listing

LIST OF HOTELS WITH INDICATIVE ROOM RATES FOR 2019 IN CANADIAN DOLLARS

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE THE APPLICABLE TAXES: GST 5% + PST 9.975% and accommodation tax 3.5%

RATES ARE INDICATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE

ROOM RATES IN CANADIAN HOTELS DOLLARS DISTANCE TO VENUE REMARKS (Rates may vary) 1. ALT Hotel Quartier DIX30 Standard room: $174.00 30-40 minutes Rates include: 6500 Rome Boulevard (need 2 busses • High speed Brossard (Quebec) Many room types and rates are internet J4Y 0B6 available, check web site • Breakfast Tel.: +1- 450 443-1030 E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.althotels.com/en/quartierdix30/

2. Best Western Hotel Brossard Standard room: $125 13 minutes Rates include: (1 bus) 7746 Taschereau Boulevard • High speed Brossard, Quebec J4X 1C2 Many room types and rates are internet available, check web link Tel: +1-450-466-6756 • Breakfast Web site: https://www.bestwestern.com/en/brossard 3. Hotel Brossard Standard room: $125 30-40 minutes Rates include: 7365, Marie-Victorin (need 2 busses) • High speed Brossard, Quebec Many room types and rates are internet Tel: +1-514-890-1000, 1-450-671-4949 available, check web site • Breakfast Fax: +1-514-890-6000 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.hotelbrossard.com/en/ 4. Quality Inn & Suites (3*) Standard room: $120 20-30 minutes Rates include: 6680 Taschereau Boulevard (1 bus) • High speed Brossard, Canada, J4W 1M8 Many room types and rates are internet Tel: +1 450 671-7213 available, check web site • Breakfast Website: https://www.qualityinnbrossard.com/en-us 5. Comfort Inn South Standard room: $116 15 minutes Rates include: 7863 boul. Taschereau (1 bus) • High speed Brossard, QC, J4Y 1A4, Many room types and rates are internet Tel: + (450) 678-9350 available, check web site Website: https://www.choicehotels.com/quebec/la-prairie/ 6. Econo Lodge Standard room: $99 30 minutes Rates include: 8350 Boulevard Taschereau (need 2 busses) • High speed Brossard, QC, J4X 1C2 internet Tel: +1-450-466-2186 Many room types and rates are Fax: +1-450-466-3722 available, check web site Website: https://www.choicehotels.com/quebec/brossard/econo-lodge- hotels/cn778?mc=smgocnusell&cid=RLSA%257CEcono%20Lodg e%257CCA%257CQuebec%257CExact%257CCPC%257CDeskto p%257CEN%257CB_G&ag=CA%257CQC%257CBrossard&pmf =CANADA&kw=hotel%20econo%20lodge%20brossard&gclid=E AIaIQobChMI0Ovvu9LT5QIVCoeGCh0u4wtTEAAYASAAEgL8 vPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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