Notification 2011-222

Dear Madam/Sir, The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations and experts to contribute their views and relevant information to an online discussion forum at http://www.cbd.int/island/forum/, which was established to facilitate input to the in-depth review of implementation of the Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity (POWIB) by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its sixteenth meeting, scheduled to take place from 30 April to 4 May 2012. The review will measure progress in the implementation of the programme of work on island biodiversity (annex to decision VIII/1) and will focus on (i) the extent of implementation; (ii) status and trends of island biodiversity and drivers of change; (iii) constraints to implementation; (iv) activities and views of relevant organizations; and (v) key responses and suggestions to maximize the contribution of the programme of work to the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan of the Convention and its goals and targets. The success of this process depends largely on the input of Parties and relevant organizations. To this end, island Parties and Parties with islands, as well as relevant organizations and experts, are invited to use this online discussion forum to submit additional information to supplement and/or update the information in their voluntary reports http://www.cbd.int/island/reports.shtml or fourth national reports. Specifically, this online discussion forum aims to better understand: • How the POWIB has contributed to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on islands; • How the POWIB contributes/could contribute to the needs of island Parties and Parties with islands; • The POWIB as a way to leverage funding to implement the CBD; • The role of the POWIB in capacity-building efforts; • Ways to improve or facilitate implementation of the POWIB. The online discussion forum will be open for comments between 21 November and 9 December 2011. This forum, and the review process it is part of, is arguably the best opportunity for island Parties and Parties with islands to highlight progress and challenges on issues of most concern to them prior to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, 8 - 19 October 2012. I urge you to support this process to the best of your ability. Further information on the in-depth review of the programme of work on island biological diversity can be found, as it becomes available, at http://www.cbd.int/island/review.shtml. Please do not hesitate to contact oliver.hillel@cbd.int for further information. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD and SBSTTA Focal Points and relevant organizations