Notification 2010-115

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to invite you to send your views on the enclosed draft terms of reference for an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Agriculture and Forestry under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to the CBD Secretariat at your earliest convenience (secretariat@cbd.int), but no later than 15 July 2010. At its fourteenth meeting, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-14), in recommendation XIV/6, and based on document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/14/7, recommended that the Conference of the Parties at its tenth meeting requests the Executive Secretary to convene an AHTEG on Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Agriculture and Forestry, including Non-Timber Forest Products, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), based on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariats, and other members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, and other relevant international organizations. SBSTTA-14 elaborated draft terms of reference for the AHTEG, which are attached. It requested the Executive Secretary to solicit views on the draft terms of reference from Parties and relevant international organizations and, based on the views received, submit revised terms of reference for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its tenth meeting. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE OF AD HOC TECHNICAL EXPERT GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE USE IN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY INCLUDING NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS 1. [The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Sustainable Use, drawing on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) report, the third Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO 3) and other relevant studies, will develop recommendations for the improvement of sectoral policies, international guidelines, certification schemes and best practices for sustainable agriculture and forestry, covering biomass production for all purposes, in the context of the achievement of the objectives and targets of the post-2010 Strategic Plan of the Convention, and the revision of national biodiversity strategies and action plans. The AHTEG will develop its recommendations with a view to support relevant global and regional for a related to sustainable agriculture, agricultural biodiversity, and forestry, and its results will be submitted to the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting. 2. The AHTEG will provide an analysis on how the coherence of global and regional policy frameworks for forestry and agriculture with the sustainable use provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity can provide win-win situations for both biodiversity and the sectors. 3. With regard to the forest sector, the AHTEG will, in collaboration with the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) and also consulting with relevant processes such as FOREST EUROPE, and the Montreal Process, develop recommendations on how criteria, indicators, definitions, and policies of relevant global and regional fora related to sustainable forest management (SFM) can better reflect sustainable use of biodiversity. 4. With regard to the agriculture sector, the AHTEG will develop recommendations for the further improvement of indicators, definitions, and policies for matters relating to the sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity and sustainable agriculture (also considering impacts of agriculture on land and water), such as those available through the FAO, the CGIAR (including Bioversity International and the International Water Management Institute), and relevant ongoing work of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.]

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and relevant organizations