Notification 2016-016

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform Parties and relevant organizations that the Secretariat has established an online forum aimed to share technical and scientific information and ideas to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 on invasive alien species. The forum is accessible through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention at: https://www.cbd.int/invasive/forum/default.shtml. The forum was established pursuant to section B of decision IX/4 regarding the exchange of information on best practices and lessons learned and development of tools, the Conference of the Parties invited Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to submit case studies, lessons learned and other measures to address the threat of invasive alien species, and requested the Executive Secretary to compile the information and make it available through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention. Furthermore, in section B, paragraph 9(a) of decision X/38, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to compile and distribute existing information reconciling the need for adaptation of biodiversity and ecosystems to climate change as well as the need to prevent and minimize the risks of existing and potential invasive alien species and provide such information to Parties through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention. Experts from Parties and relevant organizations are encouraged to participate actively in the exchange of views and experiences through the online forum. Experts who wish to submit relevant technical information and decision support tools for the management of invasive alien species are invited to register and create a CBD account at the website: https://accounts.cbd.int/signup. Participation in the discussion and information exchange is voluntary, and views expressed in the forum should be based on available scientific evidence. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, Relevant Organizations