Notification 2012-146

Dear Madam/Sir, The Conference of the Parties, in its decision X/10, requested Parties to submit their fifth national report by 31 March 2014. In the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to facilitate the provision of support to developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small islands developing states, for the preparation of the fifth national reports. Through decision X/2, the Conference of the Parties decided that the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-4) shall be prepared to provide a mid-term review of progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, including an analysis of how the implementation of the Convention and its Strategic Plan has contributed to the 2015 targets of the Millennium Development Goals. In recommendation XVI/2, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice recommended inter alia that GBO-4 should draw on available information provided by Parties and address the possible policy responses that could be effective in contributing to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Accordingly, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with the generous support of the Governments of Japan and the Netherlands, is organizing a regional workshop for African Least Developed Countries, to be held from 28 January to 1 February 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The purpose of the workshop is to strengthen capacities of these countries for preparing their fifth national reports so that they can submit the reports by the deadline. Specifically the workshop aims to strengthen countries’ capacities in assessing the status and trends of biodiversity, reviewing implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and more importantly measuring progress towards the 2020 Aichi targets. The workshop also aims to strengthen these countries’ capacities in monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the Convention at national level and to assess the consequences on biodiversity of the implementation of a range of policy options. In light of the above, I am pleased to invite your government to nominate two representatives to participate in this workshop. The nomination should be in the form of an official letter addressed to the CBD Executive Secretary signed by yourself, or a senior government official, and should contain the nominees’ names and full contact information, including email addresses. This letter can either be scanned and emailed to secretariat@cbd.int or faxed to the Secretariat at + 1 514 288 6588, no later than 12 December 2012. In submitting nominations, Parties are requested to note that one participant should be directly involved in the preparation of the fifth national report and will ensure that the process of preparing the fifth national report will be initiated in time to allow for the submission of the fifth national report by the deadline. The other participant should be involved in the development and implementation of biodiversity policies. The Secretariat will provide financial support for both representatives from your Government for their participation. Once the nomination letter is received, necessary arrangements will be made and detailed information concerning the workshop will be communicated in due course. I look forward to receiving your early nominations. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe