Notification 2014-107

Dear Madam/Sir, While adopting the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, the Conference of the Parties, in its decision X/2, paragraph 3 (e), urged Parties and other Governments, among others, to monitor and review the implementation of their national biodiversity strategies and action plans in accordance with the Strategic Plan and their national targets making use of the set of indicators developed for the Strategic Plan as a flexible framework and to report to the Conference of the Parties through their fifth and sixth national reports and any other means to be decided by the Conference of the Parties. Earlier, the Conference of the Parties, in its decision VIII/14, paragraph 10, requested the Executive Secretary to establish an on-line reporting facility through the clearing-house mechanism. The fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group of the Review of Implementation of the Convention, in its recommendation 5/2, paragraph 11, recommended that the Conference of the Parties at its twelfth meeting adopt a decision concerning the processes under the Convention along the following line: With a view to enabling the Conference of the Parties, at each of its meetings through 2020, to review progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in line with paragraph 3 (e) of decision X/2, invites Parties and other Governments, on a voluntary basis, to make available, information on progress towards the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and related national targets and on indicators and approaches towards assessing progress, including through use of the online reporting tool of the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention. In the same recommendation, the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation also requested the Executive Secretary to complete the development of the on-line reporting system and make it operational as part of the website of the Convention. I am pleased to inform you that the pilot-phase development of the on-line reporting system has been completed. In preparation for the operationalization of the system, I wish to invite you to confirm or nominate to the Secretariat the details of the person(s) who will be allowed to submit national information through this online reporting system. In particular, we wish to draw your attention to the following two possible roles: 1) National Report Focal Point (CHM-NR-NFP): This role could be assigned to ONE person per country by the CBD National Focal Point (CBD-NFP) and gives the nominee the authority to: (a) submit to the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) national information that will be automatically published online, and (b) validate and publish online (or edit it before publishing) national information submitted to the CHM by National Authorized Users (CHM-NAUs, whose roles are specified below). The National Focal Point for the Convention can also act as National Report Focal Point; 2) CHM National Authorized Users (CHM-NAU): This role could be assigned without limitation to national assistants, by the CBD National Focal Point (CBD-NFP), and/or the National Report Focal Point (CHM-NR-NFP), and gives the nominee(s) the authority to submit to the CHM national information that will be accessible only to the CHM-NR-NFP and other CHM-NAUs pending validation from the CHM-NR-NFP. Please provide the above information by completing, signing and sending the attached form by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int or by fax to +1 514 288 6588, before 22 September 2014. Once the designated users are registered in the system, relevant information including guidance for using the system will be sent to them to allow them to access and use the system. I believe that the on-line reporting system will allow countries to provide information on a more regular basis for reviewing progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets at each meeting of the Conference of the Parties until 2020. I look forward to receiving your information and thank you in advance for your support. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points