Notification 2013-019

Dear Madam/Sir, The fifth national report will provide a key source of information for a mid-term review of the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020), which will be undertaken at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-12) in the second half of 2014. The fifth national report will also contribute to an assessment of progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The Conference of the Parties, in its decision X/10, paragraph 2, decided that all Parties should submit their fifth national report by 31 March 2014. In paragraph 4 of the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested those Parties, that expect difficulty in meeting this deadline, to initiate the preparation of the report as early as possible to ensure that the report will be submitted by the deadline. Guidelines for the fifth national report are annexed to this decision. In decision XI/3, the Conference of the Parties urged all Parties to submit their fifth national report by the deadline above so as to contribute to the development of the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, and to also submit supplementary information for possible inclusion in the fourth edition. Parties are encouraged to submit key information early. Guidance on the type of information that Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, including indigenous and local communities, may wish to provide for the Global Biodiversity Outlook is accessible at: http://www.cbd.int/gbo/gbo4/GBO-4-InformationNeeds.pdf. Considering the importance of the timely submission of the fifth national report by all Parties so that a review can be undertaken by the twelfth meeting, Parties are invited to initiate their national processes for preparing the fifth national report as early as possible, and to submit their fifth national report by or before 31 March 2014. Parties may wish to link the preparation of the national reports to the process for updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, being undertaken in response to decision X/2. The Secretariat has been working with the Global Environment Facility and its implementing agencies to facilitate the provision of funds to eligible countries for preparing the fifth national reports, among others. The Secretariat has also been developing partnerships with relevant organizations at various levels to facilitate support to developing countries for preparing their fifth national reports. Also, as requested in decision X/10 the Secretariat is organizing, with the support of the Governments of Japan, Republic of Korea, The Netherlands and other donors, a series of capacity development workshops in 2013 for least developed countries and small island developing states to support their preparation of the fifth national report. Finally, Parties are reminded that the Secretariat has developed a portal for the fifth national report accessible on the Convention’s website (http://www.cbd.int/nr5/) which contains guidelines for the fifth national report and many resource materials, such as a resource manual (in all UN languages), a training module and web links to resources provided by relevant organizations and institutions. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support for the timely preparation of the fifth national report. Please, accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: All CBD National Focal Points