Notification 2020-031

Dear Madam/Sir, Reference is made to notifications 2020-016, 2020-026 and 2020-029, and in this context, I would like to reaffirm that the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) Forum, scheduled to take place at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, Germany, is postponed. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of the guidance received from the United Nations, new dates and a potential alternative method of organizing the GTI Forum will be communicated later, in consultation with the host institute and the Government of Germany. The selection of participants for the GTI Forum, in consultation with the GTI Coordination Mechanism and the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), has concluded. Therefore, I am pleased to convey the list of selected participants attached herewith. To prepare for the GTI Forum, selected participants are invited to submit examples of effective institutional mechanisms, partnerships, networks, and regional and sub-regional institutional arrangements, as well as comments on the draft proposals to strengthen technical and scientific cooperation in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, as annexed to SBSTTA recommendation 23/6, in response to paragraph 2 of the same recommendation (https://www.cbd.int/doc/recommendations/sbstta-23/sbstta-23-rec-06-en.pdf). Further information and documents will be made available in due course on the Forum webpage at: https://www.cbd.int/meetings/GTI-OM-2020-01. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Acting Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points; SBSTTA Focal Points; GTI Focal Points; Consortium of Scientific Partners on Biodiversity; relevant organizations; indigenous peoples and local communities