Notification 2015-021

Dear Madam/Sir, In decision XII/6, the Conference of the Parties established a Party-led process aimed to support Parties to the biodiversity-related conventions to enhance synergies and improve efficiency among the conventions, with a view to enhancing their implementation at all levels. As the first step in this process, paragraph 6 of decision XII/6 provides for the establishment of: “a regionally balanced informal advisory group, composed of two members per region, selected by the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on the basis of nominations by Parties, to prepare, in consultation with the Secretariat, prior to the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, a workshop with the task to prepare options which could include elements for a possible road map, for Parties of the various biodiversity-related conventions to enhance synergies and improve efficiency among them, without prejudice to the specific objectives and recognizing the respective mandates and subject to the availability of resources of these conventions, with a view to enhancing their implementation at all levels”. In addition, the liaison group of the biodiversity-related conventions was invited to participate in the informal advisory group. I am pleased, therefore, to invite Parties to submit, by 27 March 2015, nominations for membership of the informal advisory group. Nominations may be submitted by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int or by fax to +1 514 288 6588. Nominations should be addressed to the Executive Secretary and accompanied with relevant information on the nominee(s) that may assist the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties in its review and its selection of the members of the informal advisory group, which should include:  Name, position or function, institutional affiliation and contact details;  The biodiversity-related conventions with which the nominee has experience;  Relevant working experience: (i) on biodiversity-related policy, in particular with respect to the Convention on Biological Diversity; (ii) with the intergovernmental bodies of one or more of the biodiversity-related conventions, as well as with relevant organizations; (iii) on the implementation, at the national level, of the Convention on Biological Diversity and/or other biodiversity-related conventions; (iv) in monitoring and reporting on the implementation of one or more of the biodiversity-related conventions. After the deadline of 27 March 2015, nominations received will be submitted with a proposal to the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to enable its selection of two members of the informal advisory group from each region. Pursuant to the decision XII/6, once established, the informal advisory group, with the participation of the liaison group of the biodiversity-related conventions, will work in close consultation with the Secretariat to prepare the workshop through teleconference and other cost-effective means. I look forward to receiving nominations to the informal advisory group. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points