Notification 2012-123

Dear Madam/Sir, In Recommendation XVI/3, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice "welcomed the proposed initiative of island States and those Parties managing islands for research and conservation to organize an island summit on the margins of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties..." In close collaboration with the Republic of Seychelles and Palau, as well as the Commonwealth of Grenada, as co-chairs of the Global Islands Partnership (GLISPA), I am pleased to officially announce that an island summit will be held on the margins of COP-11 on 16 October 2012 thanks to the generous support from the Government of Japan. The event, named "Island Innovations: Celebrating Bright Spots, Leadership and Successes in Island Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods", will be an opportunity to celebrate island leadership, progress and new commitments in implementing the Programme of work on Island Biodiversity and achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. In addition, in light of the in-depth review of the Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity (PoWIB) to take place during COP-11 as well as the positive outcomes for islands and biodiversity at Rio+20, Islands Innovations will provide a platform to mobilize support for further actions to promote the conservation and sustainable use of island biodiversity. Island Innovations is being organized by participant countries and organizations through GLISPA, with support from IUCN through the European Parliament’s BEST framework, as well as RARE Conservation. More detailed information on the summit is presented in the flyer attached to this notification. Delegates wishing to attend the afternoon session of the summit should send an e-mail to Ms. Leisha Beardmore at: leisha_beardmore@hotmail.co.uk.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and relevant organizations