Notification 2019-065

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decision 14/30, paragraph 23, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity invited the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to prepare a report on the state of knowledge on soil biodiversity covering current status, challenges and potentialities and to make it available for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at a meeting held prior to the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. In this regard, I am pleased to invite Parties and request other Governments to submit information by completing an online survey on the status of soil biodiversity. The objective of this survey is to collect data and information at country level on the status of soil biodiversity, to better understand concerns and threats to soil biodiversity, compile relevant policies, regulations or frameworks that have been implemented, and catalogue current soil biodiversity management and use efforts. This will contribute to the development of a global and regionally contextualized assessment in response to the request of the Conference of the Parties. The survey is being organized by FAO in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and is available at: http://tiny.cc/x8lhaz To enhance collaboration, FAO Member Countries will be invited to submit information through the same platform. Therefore, I would like to encourage you to coordinate the responses to this survey with the appropriate line Ministries and with relevant institutions at the national level and to submit the responses no later than 8 September 2019. I thank you for your cooperation and for your continued support to the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points