Latest CBD Notifications http://www.cbd.int/notifications.aspx Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ As per Notification 2008-088 (Ref.: SCBD/SEL/OH/cr/64300) dated 22 July 2008, and thanks to the generous financial contribution of the government of Spain, I am pleased to inform Parties of the selection of representatives of indigenous and local communities to receive financial assistance in order to participate in the second workshop, with a focus on islands in the Pacific region. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-136-tour-en.pdf Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, at its first meeting held on 4th October 2008 in Barcelona, Spain, has reviewed the decisions of the ninth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-9) with a view to assessing the funding requirements for the execution of the decisions over and above what has been approved by COP-9 in it core budget and voluntary (BE) Trust Fund. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-135-budget-en.pdf Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Further to my notification reference, SCBD/BS/MPDM/ABw/64638 dated 5 September 2008, I am pleased to inform you that the deadline for nomination of experts to the Open-ended Online Expert Forum on Risk Assessment and Risk Management has been extended to 31 October 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-134-bs-en.pdf Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that after careful consideration of all nominations, the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties have approved the list of experts for the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on biodiversity and climate change. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-133-cc-en.pdf Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the September 2008 issue of the Monthly Bulletin of Activities (MBA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity is now available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/mba/2008/mba-2008-09-en.pdf. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-132-mba-en.pdf Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the "Online Conference on Capacity-building in Environmental Risk assessment and Post-Release Monitoring of LMOs" will be held from 3 to 14 November 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-131-bs-en.pdf Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT In decision IX/1 of the Conference of the Parties, a number of paragraphs called upon Parties, other Governments and relevant organisations to supply information on subjects as listed below. You are kindly invited to provide this information to the Executive Secretary as it becomes available. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-130-agro-en.pdf Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT At its fourth meeting, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP), in its decision BS-IV/15, invited Parties to make submissions on a strategic plan for the Protocol and requested the Executive Secretary to present a draft strategic plan on this basis for its consideration at its fifth meeting in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-129-bs-en.pdf Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to invite you to nominate experts from your organization who are actively involved in risk assessment and risk management, to participate as observers in this Open-ended Online Expert Forum on Risk Assessment and Risk Management. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-128-bs-en.pdf Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) invites Parties, other governments and relevant organizations to submit examples of best practices for addressing the risks associated with the introduction of alien species as pets, aquarium and terrarium species, and as live bait and live food (COP decision IX/4, paragraph 8 and 9). http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-127-ias-en.pdf Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT The ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) convened an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on biodiversity and climate change through its decision IX/16. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-126-cc-en.pdf Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands acts as the CBD's lead implementation partner on wetland issues. This is implemented through the CBD/Ramsar Joint Work Plan. The current (4th) plan was endorsed by the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) -- para 4 of decision IX/19 -- and by the Ramsar Standing Committee, and is available in the annex to document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/13/5 at https://www.cbd.int/doc/?mtg=sbstta-13 . http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-125-water-en.pdf Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT In paragraph A 21 of decision IX/18, the Conference of the Parties requested " Parties to designate a national focal point for the programme of work on protected areas in support of the Convention's national focal point to facilitate the effective and coordinated development and implementation of national and regional terrestrial and marine protected area strategies and action plans, taking into account the Convention's programme of work on protected areas and other relevant programmes of work and decisions". http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-124-pa-en.pdf Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Reference is made to decision BS-III/14 of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP/3), which requests Parties to submit their first regular national reports on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as called for under Article 33 (Monitoring and Reporting) of the Protocol. In the same decision, the Executive Secretary was requested to prepare an analysis of the first national reports for the Parties to consider at their fourth meeting. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-123-cpb-en.pdf Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT At its ninth meeting, the Conference of the Parties (COP) concluded a comprehensive review of the implementation of Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, and adopted decisions IX/11 and IX/31 to guide further implementation of the funding provisions of the Convention. The full text of the two decisions is available on the Convention's website at: http://www.cbd.int/decisions/. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-122-fin-en.pdf Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks to the generous financial support from the Packard Foundation, and in collaboration with the United Nations Traditional Knowledge Institute (UNU-TK), and Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education), an international expert meeting on Potential Impacts of "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) on Indigenous and Local Communities", will be held in Baguio, Republic of the Philippines (venue to be confirmed), from 12-14 November, 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-121-tk-en.pdf Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties, other Governments, international organizations, indigenous and local communities, and relevant stakeholders to submit views and proposals, including operational text, for further elaboration and negotiation of the international regime on access and benefits-sharing in preparation for the seventh meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing, which will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, on 2-8 April 2009. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-120-abs-en.pdf Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties and relevant organizations to provide inputs into the in-depth review of implementation of the programme of work on the biological diversity of inland waters by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its fourteenth meeting, tentatively scheduled to be held in May/June 2010 in Bonn, Germany. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-119-water-en.pdf Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that a regional workshop for countries of the Caribbean region on Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA), including media training, will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from 3 to 6 November 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-118-cepa-en.pdf Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the August 2008 issue of the Monthly Bulletin of Activities (MBA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity is now available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/mba/2008/mba-2008-08-en.pdf. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-117-mba-en.pdf Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT In its decision IX/12, paragraph 11, the Conference of the Parties decided, inter alia, to establish a group of technical and legal experts to further examine the issue of compliance in order to assist the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing in the elaboration and negotiation of the international regime on access and benefit-sharing. Following the kind invitation of the Government of Japan, the group of legal and technical experts will meet in Tokyo, Japan, on 27-30 January 2009. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-116-abs-en.pdf Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have the pleasure to inform you that, with the generous financial support of the Government of Netherlands, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is organizing an expert workshop on integrating protected areas into wider land- and seascapes from 2 to 4 November 2008 at the International Academy of Nature Conservation, the Island of Vilm, Germany. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-115-pa-en.pdf Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT The first meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on biodiversity and climate change will be held from 17 to 21 November 2008 in London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I am pleased to invite organizations actively participating in issues related to biodiversity and climate change, to provide the Secretariat with the name, coordinates and curriculum vitae of a nominated expert via an official letter. The nomination should be sent to the Secretariat by fax to +1 (514) 288-6588 or scanned and attached to an email addressed to: secretariat@cbd.int and should reach the Secretariat by 22 September 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-114-cc-en.pdf Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT I would like to draw your attention to decision BS-IV/10 of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Biosafety Protocol where Parties, other Governments and relevant international organizations were invited to provide the CBD Executive Secretary with guiding questions for an online conference on paragraph 3 of Article 18. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-113-bs-en.pdf Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the fourth issue of the newsletter on Biosafety entitled Biosafety Protocol News issued for the Fifth Anniversary of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has been posted on the CBD website at the following addresses: http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-03-04-high-en.pdf http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-112-bs-en.pdf Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT As announced in the notification of 21 July 2008 (2008-087), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is currently developing outreach materials and publications for the celebration of the 2009 International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD), under the theme of invasive alien species. We invite all interested individuals and relevant organizations to share digital photos (amateur or professional) relevant to the theme of invasive alien species and biodiversity, for possible use for IBD 2009 related materials. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-111-ibd-en.pdf Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT At its fourth meeting, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP) established an open-ended online forum on specific aspects of risk assessment through the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) as well as an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Risk Assessment and Risk Management. The Executive Secretary was requested to convene ad hoc online discussion groups, two AHTEG meetings and at least one real-time online conference per region prior to each of the two AHTEG meetings. To fulfil this request, an Open-ended Online Expert Forum on Risk Assessment and Risk Management will be established through the BCH where experts will have an opportunity to take part in the online discussion groups and the real-time online conferences. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-110-bs-en.pdf Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Reference is made to my earlier Notification dated 22 July 2008 with respect to the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on biodiversity and climate change, to be held from 17 to 21 November 2008 in London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland available at http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-091-cc-en.pdf. I would like to remind those Parties that have not yet done so, to provide the Secretariat with the name, coordinates and curriculum vitae of the nominated representative of their government via an official letter. The nominations should be sent to the Secretariat by fax to +1 (514) 288-6588 or scanned and attached to an email addressed to: secretariat@cbd.int and should reach the Secretariat no later than 15 September 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-109-cc-en.pdf Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT The ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9), through paragraph B.13 of decision IX/16, requests Parties to submit views on ways to integrate biodiversity considerations in climate change related activities. These views will also serve to provide relevant input into the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on biodiversity and climate change, as convened in paragraph B.12 of the same decision. Accordingly, I am pleased to request that you submit your views to the Secretariat by 1st October 2008, either electronically to secretariat@cbd.int or via fax to +1 (514) 288-6588. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-106-cc-en.pdf Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that a regional workshop for countries of the Caribbean region on capacity-building for national biodiversity strategies and action plans, mainstreaming of biodiversity and the integration of climate change will be held in Trinidad and Tobago, from 3 to 7 November 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-105-nbsap-en.pdf Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT In its decision IX/12, paragraph 11, the Conference of the Parties decided, inter alia, to establish a group of technical and legal experts to further examine the issue of concepts, terms, working definitions and sectoral approaches in order to assist the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing in the elaboration and negotiation of the international regime on access and benefit-sharing. Following the kind invitation of the Government of Namibia and with the generous financial support from the Government of Canada, the group of legal and technical experts will meet in Windhoek, Namibia, on 2-5 December 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-104-abs-en.pdf Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT It is my pleasure to inform you that the joint Quarterly Report of the Convention covering the period 1 January to 30 June 2008 has been prepared in accordance with decision IV/17 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The report is available at the following link on the website of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity: http://www.cbd.int/doc/quarterly/qr-40-41-en.pdf. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-103-qr-en.pdf Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that a regional workshop for countries of South, East and Southeast Asia on capacity-building for the preparation of the fourth national report will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from 2 to 4 December 2008. Thanks to the generous technical and financial support of the government of Japan, this workshop is being organized by the Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the Japan Wildlife Research Center. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-102-nr4-en.pdf Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the July issue of the Monthly Bulletin of Activities (MBA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity is now available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/mba/2008/mba-2008-07-en.pdf http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-101-mba-en.pdf Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT I invite you to submit information on experiences on the development and application of tools relevant to the sustainable production and use of biofuels as well as relevant information from research on, and monitoring of, the positive and negative impacts of the production and use of biofuels on biodiversity and related socio-economic aspects, including those related to indigenous and local communities to the Secretariat (secretariat@cbd.int or fax +1-514-288-6588) at your earliest convenience, but no later than 31 March 2009. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-100-biofuel-en.pdf Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The workplan for preparing GBO-3 has been discussed at the second Technical Partners meeting of the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership held from 25 to 26 June 2008 in Montreal (see report at www.twentyten.net). An updated preparation schedule is being maintained at www.cbd.int/gbo3/production.shtml. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-099-gbo3-en.pdf Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The GEF Evaluation Office is currently conducting an online survey as part of the mid-term review of the RAF. I am pleased to forward to you herewith a message from the GEF Evaluation Office, which contains a link to the online survey (http://www.surveymk.com//s.aspx?sm=aEMrnMQ2Q38exsvL_2fuE0vg_3d_3d) and a copy of the Microsoft Word version (http://www.cbd.int/doc/external/gef/gef-raf-review-2008-en.doc), which should be completed and returned, as an e-mail attachment, directly to: RAFevaluation@thegef.org . http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-098-gef-en.pdf Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT As you are aware, 11 September 2008 will mark the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. I therefore have the honour to invite you to celebrate the anniversary, use the occasion to further promote awareness of the Protocol, and mobilise different stakeholders to support its implementation. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-097-bs-en.pdf Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT In Notification 2008-039 of 4 April 2008, I invited Parties to share information about the activities organized in their countries to celebrate this year's International Day for Biological Diversity. To date we have received submissions from 26 countries. In order to finalize the report on the celebrations and, for the countries that have not done so, the Secretariat would appreciate receiving a report of the activities undertaken at your earliest convenience and no later than 12 September 2008, after which it will proceed with the issuance of the report. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-096-ibd-en.pdf Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties and relevant organizations to provide information on (i) status and trends of, and threats to, marine and coastal biological diversity; and (ii) progress made in the implementation of the programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its fourteenth meeting, tentatively scheduled to be held in May/June 2010 in Bonn, Germany. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-095-marine-en.pdf Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT In response to COP decisions IX/13 E 7, VIII/5 D 6(a), and VIII/5 B 13, the Secretariat is continuing a series of training workshops to support indigenous management of biodiversity and tourism products. As described in Notification 64300 of 22 July 2008, these workshops aim to reinforce the sustainable use of biodiversity in tourism through bolstering the web-based capacities of indigenous tourism operators. The CBD Secretariat, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Programme (SPREP) and the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) of Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is planning an indigenous tourism workshop focusing on islands, to be held in Samoa from 3 to 5 November 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-094-tourism-ndc-en.pdf Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT In response to COP decisions IX/13 E 7, VIII/5 D 6(a), and VIII/5 B 13, the Secretariat is continuing a series of training workshops to support indigenous management of biodiversity and tourism products. As described in Notification 64300 of 22 July 2008, these workshops aim to reinforce the sustainable use of biodiversity in tourism through bolstering the web-based capacities of indigenous tourism operators. The CBD Secretariat, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Programme (SPREP) and the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) of Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is planning an indigenous tourism workshop focusing on islands, to be held in Samoa from 3 to 5 November 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-093-tourism-sids-en.pdf Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT As you may be aware, at its 32nd meeting in November 2007, the Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) requested the GEF Evaluation Office to undertake an independent mid-term review of the GEF Resource Allocation Framework (RAF). The findings of the Review will be presented to the GEF Council at its November 2008 meeting. I wish to invite you to actively participate in the survey and provide feedback on your experience with the RAF and your views on how it could be improved in order to enable the GEF to more effectively support the implementation of the Protocol. The deadline for completing and submitting the survey is Friday, 29 August 2008. In your response, please clearly indicate if you are a Cartagena Protocol focal point or a BCH focal point. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-092-bs-en.pdf Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on biodiversity and climate change will be held from 17 to 21 November 2008 in London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-091-cc-en.pdf Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties and relevant organizations to provide information on (i) status and trends of, and threats to, mountain biological diversity; and (ii) progress made in the implementation of the programme of work on mountain biological diversity for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its fourteenth meeting, tentatively scheduled to be held in May/June 2010 in Bonn, Germany. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-090-mountain-en.pdf Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT At its session in May 2008, the Standards Committee Working Group (SC-7) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) reviewed and approved seven draft International Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) for member consultation (20 June - 30 September 2008). These ISPMs are particularly relevant to the CBD's programme of work on invasive alien species. The complete set of draft ISPMs and the templates for submitting comments are available for downloading in English, French and Spanish at the following link: https://www.ippc.int/id/201049?language=en. You are kindly requested to submit comments on the ISPMs to the IPPC Secretariat through your country's National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), or Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO) contact point. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-089-ias-en.pdf Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT In decision IX/13, E7 on Article 8(j) and related provisions, the Conference of Parties (COP) requested the Executive Secretary to convene, subject to the availability of financial resources, further regional and sub-regional workshops on community-friendly communication tools on traditional knowledge related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-088-tourism-en.pdf Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is pleased to announce that the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) on 22 May 2009 will be: "Biodiversity and Invasive Alien Species" http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-087-ibd-en.pdf Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT At its fourth meeting, held from 12 to 16 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany, the COP-MOP adopted a number of decisions requesting action from relevant organizations engaged in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety process for their consideration. Please find attached herewith a summary list of the requests and decisions addressed to relevant organizations together with the submission dates where appropriate. Please refer to the report, for the full text of the requests and decisions. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-086-mop4-en.pdf Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that a regional workshop for countries of West Africa, Comoros, and Djibouti, on capacity-building for national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and mainstreaming biodiversity into sectoral and cross-sectoral plans and policies at the national and regional level, will be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 29 September through 3 October 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-085-nbsap-en.pdf Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I invite your organization to submit proposals on new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity to the Secretariat (secretariat@cbd.int or fax +1-514-288-6588) at your earliest convenience, but no later than 30 November 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-084-emergingissues-org-en.pdf Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I invite Parties to submit proposals on new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity to the Secretariat (secretariat@cbd.int or fax +1-514-288-6588) at their earliest convenience, but no later than 30 November 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-083-emergingissues-fp-en.pdf Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the June issue of the Monthly Bulletin of Activities (MBA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity is now available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/mba/2008/mba-2008-06-en.pdf http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-082-mba-en.pdf Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have the pleasure to inform you that, with the generous financial support of the Government of Ecuador and the European Union, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is organizing from 23 to 25 September 2008 in the City of Salinas, Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador, a sub-regional workshop on capacity building for the implementation of the CBD programme of work on protected areas. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-081-pa-en.pdf Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT On behalf of the Government of Japan, and in accordance with Decision IX/35 of the Conference of the Parties, I am pleased to inform you that tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) will be held at the International Conference Center in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from 18 to 29 October 2010. The High Level Segment will be held from 27 to 29 October 2010. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-080-cop10-en.pdf Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT On behalf of the Government of Japan, and in accordance with Decision IX/35 of the Conference of the Parties, I am pleased to inform you that fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP MOP 5) will be held at the International Conference Center in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from 11 to 15 October 2010. I also wish to inform you that the COP MOP 5 meeting will coincide with the celebration of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-079-mop5-en.pdf Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT With reference to the notification issued on 26 June 2008, SCBD/BS/CG/jh/64305, informing Parties of the availability of the final report of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety held in Bonn, Germany, 12 to 16 May 2008 (document UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/4/18) on the website of the Secretariat at http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/bs/mop-04/official/mop-04-18-en.pdf, I write to bring to your attention the relevant parts of the decisions that request direct action from Parties and other Governments, as part of the programme of work, over the next biennium. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-078-mop4-en.pdf Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the final report of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held from 19 to 30 May 2008, in Bonn, Germany, is now available as document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29. The English version of the report can be accessed from the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-09/official/cop-09-29-en.pdf http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-077-cop9-en.pdf Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Conference of the Parties (COP) at its ninth regular session, in adopting decision IX/9 on the revision of the Strategic Plan of the Convention after 2010, invited Parties and observers to submit further views on the revision and updating of the Strategic Plan. As suggested by the COP, in preparing their submissions, Parties are encouraged to facilitate dialogue among different sectors of government and society, including scientific and academic bodies, indigenous and local communities and stakeholders. On the basis of the submissions, and other relevant information, the Executive Secretary will prepare a synthesis/analysis of issues relevant to the revision and updating of the Strategic Plan which will be circulated for review by Parties and others in early 2009. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-076-sp-en.pdf Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that a regional workshop for countries of Central Africa on "Capacity-building for National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and Mainstreaming of Biodiversity" will be held in Limbé, Cameroon, from 22 to 25 September 2008. This workshop is being organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in collaboration with the government of Cameroon, and with the technical and financial support of the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC). http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-075-cafr-en.pdf Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT This is to kindly inform you that the report of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP MOP/4) is now made available as document UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/4/18. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-074-bs-mop-en.pdf Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Reference is made to my earlier notifications with respect to the submission of first regular national reports as called for in the relevant decisions of the Parties to the Protocol made in accordance with Article 33 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on monitoring and reporting. I would like to draw your attention to my last reminder in this regard (Notification no. SCBD/BCH/CG/ABw/60746, dated 15 November 2007, available at http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2007/ntf-2007-145-bs-en.pdf). http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-073-bs-nr-en.pdf Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the May issue of the Monthly Bulletin of Activities (MBA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity is now available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/mba/2008/mba-2008-05-en.pdf. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-072-mba-en.pdf Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that, for the first time, the proceedings of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will be webcast live and available for viewing through the CBD website at http://www.cbd.int/cop9/webcast/ http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-071-webcast-en.pdf Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the second issue of the Secretariat's newsletter on Biodiversity for Development and Poverty Alleviation has been posted on the CBD website. It can be downloaded at the following address: http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/news-bd-02-en.pdf http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-070-bd-newsleeter-en.pdf Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the first issue of the Secretariat's newsletter on Biodiversity for Development and Poverty Alleviation has been posted on the CBD website. It can be downloaded at the following address: http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/news-bd-01-en.pdf http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-069-bd-newsletter-en.pdf Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT On behalf of the Government of Germany, the Secretariat is pleased to forward to you, for your kind attention, additional information about the High Level Segment of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held from 28 to 30 May 2008, in Bonn, Germany. This note is also available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/hls-cop-09/other/hlpd-info-note-add-en.pdf. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-068-cop-hls-en.pdf Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT The purpose of this Notification is to inform you that an Addendum to the document "Proposed Budget for the Programme of Work of the Convention on Biological Diversity for the Biennium 2009-2010" (reference: UNEP/CBD/COP/9/27/ADD2) is available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=COP-09. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-067-cop-en.pdf Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT In accordance with goal 3 of the strategic plan of the clearing-house mechanism aiming at developing a network or Parties and partners, and further to the recommendation of the Clearing-House Mechanism Informal Advisory Committee (CHM-IAC), I am pleased to inform you that the Internet domain name chm-cbd.net has been acquired by the Secretariat to promote the national and partner websites of the clearing-house mechanism network. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-066-chm-en.pdf Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the April issue of the Monthly Bulletin of Activities (MBA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity is now available on the Secretariat website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/mba/2008/mba-2008-04-en.pdf. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-065-mba-en.pdf Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am very pleased to announce that the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) is now accessible in all six of the official languages of the United Nations (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish). The translation has been completed for all public pages of the BCH Central Portal (http://bch.cbd.int/). The pages of the BCH Management Centre, only accessible to BCH account-holders to create and manage information, are also expected to be translated, following the revamping of this last section, by the end of 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-064-bch-en.pdf Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT At the initiative of the Environment Committee of the German Parliament, and in collaboration with the Secretariat, a high-level dialogue on Biodiversity and Parliamentarians will be organized on Tuesday 27 May, from 3.00 to 6.00 p.m. Please find enclosed the draft programme of the event. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-063-cop-parliament-en.pdf Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat would like to inform delegates attending the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9) being held in Bonn, Germany, from 19-30 May 2008, that pre-registration of delegates will be transferred from our offices in Montreal to the on-site location of the COP 9 on Monday, 12 May, 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-062-cop-en.pdf Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat would like to inform delegates attending the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 4), being held in Bonn, Germany, from 12-16 May 2008, that pre-registration of delegates will be transferred from our offices in Montreal to the on-site location of the COP-MOP 4 on Tuesday, 6 May, 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-061-mop-en.pdf Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I wish to remind Parties that, in accordance with rule 18, credentials of representatives and the names of alternate representatives and advisers shall be submitted to the Executive Secretary, if possible not later than twenty-four hours after the opening of the meeting. Parties are further reminded that credentials must be issued either by the Head of State or government, or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or in the case of a regional economic integration organization by the competent authority of that organization. Finally, please note that separate and distinct credentials are required for each meeting. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-060-credentials-en.pdf Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the new issue of the Secretariat's newsletter on Article 8(j): Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices - Pachamama (May 2008, Vol. 2, Issue No. 2) - has been posted on the CBD website. It can be downloaded at the following address: www.cbd.int/traditional. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-059-pachamama-en.pdf Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that the Co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing (WGABS), Mr. Fernando Casas of Colombia and Mr. Timothy Hodges of Canada, will be holding informal consultations in Bonn, Germany, on 17-18 May 2008, on the margins of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will be held in Bonn, on 19-30 May 2008. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-058-abs-en.pdf Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Green Wave has been initiated by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) working with the Office of Environmental Response and Coordination (OERC) of the Republic of Palau. The campaign has received support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and will be coordinated through the CBD Secretariat. The Green Wave will support the CBD programme of work on Communication, Education and Public Awareness. I invite you to visit the website of the Green Wave at greenwave.cbd.int. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-057-greenwave-en.pdf Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT In order to help participants interested in business and biodiversity plan their stay in Bonn, the Secretariat has prepared a Guide to business related events at COP-9. I am pleased to inform you that the Guide is now posted online at: http://www.cbd.int/business/COP-9.shtml. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-056-biz-en.pdf Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat would, once again, kindly like to remind delegates attending the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 4) and the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9), being held in Bonn, Germany, in May 2008, that hotel reservations should only be made through the official hotel partner of the Conference, Tourismus & Congress GmbH. The coordinates for Tourismus & Congress GmbH can be found in the Information Note for Participants, as well as on the Secretariat website at the URL addresses indicated below. Reservations should be finalised by no later than 10 May as the Secretariat has been informed that, past this date, negotiated room rates and availability can not be guaranteed. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-055-cop-hotel-en.pdf Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Please find the audited financial statements (related to the following Trust Funds) for the biennium 2006-2007 ended 31 December 2007 http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-054-rmcs-en.pdf Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Please refer to my earlier notification 2008-031 (Ref.: SCBD/STTM/JM/CV/62913) , dated 27 March 2008, concerning the training workshops for participants in the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-9) to be held from 19 to 30 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-053-cop-en.pdf Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT In accordance with Decision VIII/14, Parties shall submit the fourth national report by 30 March 2009. With less than one year away from the deadline, we encourage all Parties that have not yet done so to initiate the process of preparing the report to ensure its timely submission. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-052-nr-04-en.pdf Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that a new issue of the Secretariat's newsletter on business and biodiversity, Business.2010 (Vol.3, No. 3), has been posted on the CBD website. This general issue on business and biodiversity is released on the occasion of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-9). It can be downloaded at the following addresses: http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/news-biz-2008-04-high-en.pdf (for a high resolution version) and http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/news-biz-2008-04-low-en.pdf (for a low resolution version). http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-051-biz-en.pdf Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT The purpose of this notification is to inform CBD National Focal points, as well as SBSTTA and GTI Focal Points, about the eighth meeting of the Coordination Mechanism for the Global Taxonomy Initiative to be held on 31 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany, at the margins of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9). http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-050-gti-en.pdf Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am pleased to inform you that a revised annotated agenda for the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNEP/CBD/COP/9/1/Add.1/Rev.1) is now available on the Secretariat website at http://www.cbd.int/cop9/doc. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-049-cop-en.pdf Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is pleased to announce the first sporting event organised in the context of a meeting of the COP. The "Naturathlon 2008 -- The Course of the World" is an excellent opportunity to bring together delegates from all over the world to participate with the citizens of Germany in a marathon sharing one common goal - highlighting the importance of conserving our biological treasures. The event will take place on Sunday, 18 May 2008, at 15:00 PM. The Naturathlon is a 10-km-race through Bonn's Rheinaue-Leisure Park. For more information please visit the website www.naturathlon.de. http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2008/ntf-2008-048-cop-en.pdf Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT