Notification 2009-126

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decision IX/14 on technology transfer and cooperation, paragraph 6, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary, in cooperation with relevant partner organizations, to: (a) identify options for activities to be included in a prospective Biodiversity Technology Initiative as well as for the structure, functioning and governance of a Biodiversity Technology Initiative; and to (b) complete, as necessary, the list of criteria for selecting the host institution of the Biodiversity Technology Initiative, bearing in mind the possibility of the Initiative being hosted by the Secretariat of the Convention; and to submit the options and the list of criteria to the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention at its third meeting for its consideration. The attached document has been prepared pursuant to this request. Please refer to section 2. of the document for additional background information. Relevant partner organizations are kindly invited to review the attached document and provide comments and input at their earliest convenience but no later than 13 November 2009. Comments and inputs received will be taken into account in the revision of the document, which will be submitted to the third meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 24-28 May 2010 for its consideration. I thank you for your cooperation and continued support to the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: Relevant partner organizations