Notification 2005-120

Dear Madam/Sir, I have the honour to inform you that the Fourth Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter- sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions and the Fourth Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing will be held in Granada, Spain, respectively from 23-27 January 2006 and 30 January to 3 February 2006. In accordance with rules 6 and 7 of the Rules of Procedure for Meetings of the Conference of the Parties, the meetings are open to the participation of indigenous and local communities, non-governmental organizations, regional organizations, the private sector, as well as intergovernmental organizations, that have informed the Secretariat of their wish to be represented at these meetings. Please note that the pre-registration forms, Information Note for Participants as well as the provisional agendas for both meetings are available on the Secretariat’s website at: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=WG8J-04 Subject to the availability of contributions to the Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BZ) established by decision III/24 for facilitating participation of Parties in the Convention Process, the Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of one representative from each of the developing country Parties, in particular the least developed and the small island developing states amongst them, and other Parties with economies in transition to both meetings. Please advise the Secretariat of the name(s) and coordinates of your Government’s officially designated representative(s) to these two meetings at your earliest convenience but no later than 9 December 2005. This is particularly important in the case of representatives eligible to receive financial support in order that the respective necessary travel arrangements be made in good time. In view of the budget constraints and in order to allow the maximum number of countries to participate in the meetings, the Secretariat will be using special airfare tickets for sponsored delegates which impose restrictions with respect to the changing of passenger’s name, travel dates and itinerary.

Executive Secretary

To: All CBD and ABS National Focal Points