Notification 2013-090

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decision X/2, the Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020 and urged Parties and other Governments, with the support of intergovernmental and other organizations and other partners, to implement the Strategic Plan. Section V of the Annex to decision X/2 states that the Strategic Plan will be primarily implemented at national and subnational level with supporting action at regional and global levels. It identifies national biodiversity strategies and action plans as key instruments for translating the Strategic plan to national circumstances and for integrating biodiversity across all sectors of government and society. It recognizes that broadening political support for the Strategic Plan is necessary, including through the incorporation of values of biodiversity and ecosystem services into government decision making. Furthermore, Section V recognizes that partnerships are required at all levels for the effective implementation of the Strategic Plan in order to leverage actions at scale, to ensure mainstreaming of biodiversity across sectors of government, society and the economy. The Summit for Sustainability in Africa was convened and hosted by the Government of Botswana, in May 2012, and was attended by several heads of states, representatives of private companies, multilateral financial and development institutions, non-governmental organisations and others. The Summit concluded with a declaration known as the Gaborone Declaration on Sustainability for Africa, which has been signed by 10 African countries. The Gaborone Declaration aims “to ensure that the contributions of natural capital to sustainable economic growth, maintenance and improvement of social capital and human well-being are quantified and integrated into development and business practice.” The outcomes of the Gaborone Declaration are in line with several of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets namely Targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 19, and achievement of the Gaborone Declaration action items will result in the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020. I am pleased to inform you that the Government of Botswana has pledged its implementation of the outcomes of the Gaborone Declaration towards achieving the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, thereby becoming a champion for the Aichi Biodiversity Targets mentioned above. The pledge by the Government of Botswana can be accessed at the Aichi Biodiversity Champions webpage (see http://www.cbd.int/champions/list/). In that context, the Government of Botswana has requested my support towards the implementation of the Gaborone Declaration. I have assured the Government that the Secretariat stands ready to support the further development and implementation of the Gaborone Declaration. Therefore, I would like to invite Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to promote and support the efforts of the Government of Botswana and the other signatories to implement the Gaborone Declaration in order to ultimately achieve the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, and to undertake and promote such high-level commitments for the effective mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystem services into national development planning. I look forward to further productive cooperation with Botswana and its partners in the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa, and to supporting exchanges between its member-countries and other regional initiatives, towards concrete implementation results for the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and relevant organizations