Notification 2019-064

Dear Madam/Sir, The Secretariat would like to invite you to provide information on the actions taken to use and manage wildlife more sustainably, particularly those associated with the sustainability of the wild meat sector. In this regard, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity encouraged Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to make use of the “Voluntary Guidance for a Sustainable Wild Meat Sector”, and provide information related to its application (paragraphs 3–7 of decision 14/7 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-07-en.pdf)). Furthermore, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to compile the information provided, as well as undertake a number of actions in consultation with interested Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and members of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (paragraphs 8 and 9 of decision 14/7 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-07-en.pdf)). Considering these actions, the Secretariat is seeking information on the following aspects: (a) The application of the voluntary guidance for a sustainable wild meat sector, including best practices from existing national programmes, dialogues, training, and capacity-building initiatives involving indigenous peoples and local communities, different governmental sectors, non-governmental organizations, and developing countries; (b) Areas that may require complementary guidance and ways to apply such guidance to other geographical areas, species and uses; (c) Monitoring tools and databases, including those useful in wild meat hunting, consumption, trade and sales, and legality issues; (d) Multidisciplinary approaches to combining better knowledge of the use of and trade in wildlife, taking into account the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities and livelihood alternatives for the customary sustainable use of wildlife. To facilitate the provision and compilation of the information, the Secretariat has created an online survey, which is available at https://www.cbd.int/wildlife/submission/. The survey is available in English, French, and Spanish. To change the language of the survey, you can click on the top right language button. The survey includes additional questions related to the sustainable use and management of wildlife in the context of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, in accordance with decision 14/34 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-34-en.pdf). Accordingly, I invite Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities to complete the survey as soon as possible and no later than 13 September 2019. The information received will be taken into account in the preparation of information documents and activities for the twenty-third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and additional initiatives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and partner organizations. In addition, I take this opportunity to provide a few updates on the work of the sustainable wildlife management portfolio of the Convention. I am pleased to inform you that: (a) The Secretariat and the Center for International Forestry Research have published the technical study “Towards a sustainable, participatory and inclusive wild meat sector”, available at https://www.cifor.org/library/7046/; (b) The Secretariat has updated the website of the sustainable wildlife management portfolio. Please visit https://www.cbd.int/wildlife/ to consult related COP decisions, resources and news; (c) The Secretariat has compiled a “Wild Meat Package” with existing materials to support the application of the voluntary guidance for a sustainable wild meat sector. The package is available at https://www.cbd.int/wildlife/resources/; (d) The Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management has published the outcomes of the Second Wildlife Forum at http://www.fao.org/forestry/wildlife-partnership/95663/en/. Please feel free to check the forum key messages, presentations, photos, and media reports, and share them within your networks. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations