Notification 2005-015

Dear Madam/Sir, I am writing in connection with paragraph 7(b), of decision VII/23 of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties which requested the Executive Secretary to convene, subject to the availability of financial resources, regional workshops as a catalysing mechanism to allow for the interaction of international thematic focal points with the national focal points to further enhance the scientific and technical cooperation goal of the clearing-house mechanism and to build capacities at the national level with regard to use of and access to new information technologies. In support of this decision, I am pleased to inform you that the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the Government of Brazil, is in the process of organizing a clearing-house mechanism regional meeting for the Latin American and Caribbean region, with the generous support of the Government of Belgium, to provide countries of the region with the opportunity to identify activities in support of the 2010 target, technology transfer and other activities related to the Convention’s programme areas and cross-cutting issues. The meeting will also offer countries of the region the opportunity to discuss the use of new information technologies and to discuss possible collaboration with established international thematic focal points and other international organizations and initiatives. This regional meeting will be held on 9 to 11 March 2005 in Brasilia, Brazil subject to confirmation by the Government. I would like to invite Parties and Governments to nominate one participant for this meeting, preferably qualified in one of the following fields: information management; information-sharing systems and database-management; and/or experience with the clearing-house mechanism of the CBD. The provisional and annotated agendas for the meeting will be made available in due course. Please note that the meeting will be held in English and Spanish. The Secretariat will support the participation of one representative from each Latin America and Caribbean country Party to the Convention. This includes a round-trip air ticket on the most economical and direct route and a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for the duration of the meetings. Countries that wish to solicit such assistance are requested to provide the required information on the enclosed nomination form and forward it to the Secretariat before 24 February 2005.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points – Latin America and the Caribbean CHM National Focal Points – Latin America and the Caribbean International thematic focal points Informal Advisory Committee Relevant international organizations