Notification 2017-076

Dear Madam/Sir, The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, in decision NP-1/3, paragraph 4, requested Parties to the Protocol to submit an interim national report on the implementation of the Protocol, as called for under Article 29 of the Protocol, twelve months prior to the third meeting of the Parties. The decision also welcomed submissions of relevant information by non-Parties. Further to notification 2017-017 of 23 February 2017, Parties are reminded that they should submit an interim national report – and non-Parties are also encouraged to do so – through the ABS Clearing-House, as soon as possible and no later than 1 November 2017. Preparation of the interim national report When preparing the report, it is recommended that countries involve all relevant stakeholders in order to ensure a participatory and transparent approach to its development. In addition, countries are: a. Encouraged to include information in their interim national reports on difficulties and challenges related to implementation of the Protocol in line with decision NP 2/3, paragraph 4; b. Invited to pay particular attention to providing information on the implementation of the provisions of the Protocol related to traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources held by indigenous peoples and local communities, with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, in line with decision NP-2/10, paragraph 3; and c. Invited to submit information on their experiences related to the mobilization of resources in support of the implementation of the Protocol, as well as on the status of funds mobilized in line with decision NP-1/7, paragraph 8. How to submit the interim national report Countries should submit the report in an official language of the United Nations and should use the online version of the format available at the following address: https://absch.cbd.int/en/register/NR/new. (More information on how to submit the interim national report through the ABS Clearing-House is available in a step-by step guide available at: https://absch.cbd.int/en/help/guides/nr) Only if it is not technically feasible to submit online, Parties may resort to offline submissions using the form available on the ABS Clearing-House (Which can be downloaded in MS Word format: ( en (http://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/commonformats/NR-en.doc) | fr (http://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/commonformats/NR-fr.doc) | es (http://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/commonformats/NR-es.doc) | ru (http://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/commonformats/NR-ru.doc) | ar (http://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/commonformats/NR-ar.doc) | zh (http://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/commonformats/NR-zh.doc) )). In such cases, countries should send the report via email to the Secretariat (secretariat@cbd.int), and include a scanned copy signed by the ABS Clearing-House publishing authority. Information submitted through the interim national report, as well as through the ABS Clearing-House, will be taken into account by the Executive Secretary in the preparation of documentation for consideration by the Compliance Committee, the second meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, and the third meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. I thank you for your continued cooperation and support for the work of the Nagoya Protocol. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: ABS National Focal Points and CBD National Focal Points (where ABS focal points have not yet been designated)