Notification 2013-006

Dear Madam/Sir, The purpose of this notification is to provide information on a meeting of "Friends of the Convention on Biological Diversity" to be held in Bogis-Bossey, Switzerland, on 11-12 February 2013. With the generous support of the Government of Switzerland, the meeting of the "Friends of the Convention" will bring together the members of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, the Chair of the SBSTTA, as well as a small number of experts, from governmental, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders, which enjoy a broad experience of the Convention’s work and expertise in environmental issues generally. The need to ensure a fair geographic representation and gender balance was also borne in mind in the selection of participants. A list of participants is attached for information. In essence, the meeting of the "Friends of the Convention" is intended to be a brainstorming session on the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity in an informal setting. Participants will be invited to reflect on accomplishments and exchange views on how best to approach the current challenges with a view to making further progress towards the objectives of the Convention and the Biodiversity Strategy 2011-2020. The process established under the Convention has produced an extensive body of decisions over the years in the form of "principles" and "guidelines" to assist Parties in the pursuit of the Convention’s objectives, as well as three subsidiary agreements in the form of protocols. This process culminated, in 2010, with the adoption of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity targets, as well as the declaration by the General Assembly of the United Nations Decade for Biodiversity, and more recently with the adoption of a decision on resource mobilization. With the finalization of these agreements and decisions, the Convention has entered a new stage in its implementation. Thus, participants in the meeting will be invited to reflect on past and future operations of the Convention and to take a fresh look at its work, including on such issues as: how the organs established under the Convention − including the Conference of the Parties, its subsidiary bodies and the Secretariat − can most effectively assist Parties in achieving the Biodiversity targets at this juncture; how to mainstream biodiversity into the development agenda and in economic policy-making at the national level; and how the Convention can work most effectively with other Conventions and organizations to maximize synergies. A summary-record of the discussions will be made available to the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation for information. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points