Notification 2006-126

Dear Madam/Sir, By decision VII/10, the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties noted with appreciation the progress achieved in the further development and implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) in line with decision VI/9, and welcomed the establishment, by the Executive Secretary, of a flexible coordination mechanism for the Strategy, comprising: liaison groups; national focal points, as determined by Parties; the GSPC; and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Furthermore, the Conference of the Parties encouraged Parties to nominate focal points for the GSPC, or to designate them from among existing focal points, in order to: (a) Promote and facilitate implementation and monitoring of the Strategy at national level, including the identification of national targets and their integration in national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and sectoral and cross-sectoral plans programmes and activities; (b) Promote the participation of national stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy at national level; and (c) Facilitate communication between national stakeholders and the Secretariat and Global Partnership for Plant Conservation. According to our records, your country has not designated a focal point for the GSPC. I will appreciate if you can inform the Secretariat of the name and contact information of the designated focal point before 15 February 2007. As you are aware, the GSPC will be reviewed by the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in May 2008. I wish to thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and your continued support of the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

To: all CBD National Focal Points who have not nominated a GSPC focal point