Notification 2011-002

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform you that the United Nations Development Programme released its economic report Latin America and the Caribbean: A Biodiversity Superpower. Launched in December 2010 in Argentina on occasion of the XX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State, the report highlights the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems services for the region’s sustainable development and long- term competitiveness, in order to inform and engage decision makers in Latin America and the Caribbean on the need to maintain, and invest in, biodiversity and ecosystem services. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was a close partner in the preparation of this important report, together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and others (my letter SCBD/ML/lb/67823 from 3 August 2009 refers). The report is available on the UNDP web site under the following link: http://www.undp.org/latinamerica/biodiversity-superpower/. This site also includes dedicated pages on the contribution of biodiversity to key economic sectors, based on the respective chapters of the report, and provides access to a number of supplementary analytical papers. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, recently adopted by the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan, puts emphasis on the socio-economic dimensions of biodiversity, including economic tools and methodologies, thus highlighting the important role of biodiversity and ecosystem services for human well-being and sustainable development. Against this background, I strongly believe that the release of this report is very opportune and timely, and wish to invite you to take it into consideration as you embark on implementing the Strategic Plan in your country. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: GRULAC CBD Primary Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points