Notification 2005-013

Dear Madam/Sir, The purpose of the present Notification is to invite Parties and Governments to contribute to the preparatory work for the meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention. The Conference of the Parties, in paragraph 23 of decision VII/30, established an Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention • to consider progress in the implementation of the Convention and the Strategic Plan and achievements leading up to the 2010 target in line with the multi-year programme of work for the Conference of the Parties; • to review the impacts and effectiveness of existing processes under the Convention, such as meetings of the Conference of the Parties, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, National Focal Points and the Secretariat, as part of the overall process for improving the operations of the Convention and implementation of the Strategic Plan; and • to consider ways and means of identifying and overcoming obstacles to the effective implementation of the Convention. In addition, in paragraph 5 of decision VII/26, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to inform the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention on ongoing work to establish ways of enhancing cooperation between the major biodiversity-related organizations and secretariats. Further, in paragraph 24 of decision VII/30, the Conference of the Parties invited Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to submit views on the issues addressed in paragraph 23 of decision VII/30, to the Executive Secretary, and requested the Executive Secretary to compile and make available these views for consideration by the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention. Accordingly, I am pleased to invite you to submit views on the issues to be addressed by the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention, which, subject to the availability of the necessary voluntary contributions, is scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada, in September 2005. In your submissions, you may wish to provide comments on the attached list of possible issues to be addressed by the Working Group and the balance among them, indicating priority issues to be addressed at the meeting of the Working Group in September 2005. Submissions should reach the Secretariat as soon as possible but preferably no later than 15 March 2005. The submissions will be made available to the Working Group, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism. They will also be taken into account, in preparing the provisional agenda, annotations and other documentation for the Working Group. I wish to thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and for your continued support to the work of the Convention. Possible issues to be addressed by the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention. Note: this list of possible issues has been compiled on the basis of the issues mentioned in Decision VII/30 paragraphs 23, 24, 26 and 27, and Decision VII/26 paragraphs 3 and 5. It is not exhaustive. Parties, Governments and relevant international organizations are invited to raise or answer any other questions or issues that are deemed appropriate. 1. Progress in the implementation of the Convention and the Strategic Plan and achievements leading up to the 2010 target (VII/30 (23)). This might include reviews at the global and national levels. 2. The impacts and effectiveness of existing processes under the Convention (VII/30 (23)), such as: • Meetings of the Conference of the Parties; • The work of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, including ad hoc Technical Expert Groups; • ad hoc Open-Ended Working Groups; • National Focal Points; • The Secretariat; • The Clearing House Mechanism; • The financial mechanism and additional financial resources. 3. Reporting mechanisms under the Convention and other conventions (VII/3027)) 4. Cooperation with other conventions and organizations (VII/26 (3,5)). With reference to the Strategic Plan, Objectives 1.2 and 1.3 as well as Objective 3.4 this might include: • Policy coherence; • Implementation of the Convention, including options for a global partnership, involvement of indigenous and local communities, and engagement of key actors and stakeholders including the private sector. 5. Ways and Means of identifying and overcoming obstacles to the effective implementation of the Convention, in particular at the national level (VII/30 (23, 26)).

Executive Secretary

To: All CBD National Focal Points