Notification 2015-037

Dear Madam/Sir, In paragraph 20 (b) of decision XII/1, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) requested the Executive Secretary, pending the availability of resources, to convene a meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. As previously noted in notification 2015-034, the AHTEG meeting is tentatively scheduled for 29 June to 2 July 2015 in Switzerland and nominations for participation are being accepted until 24 April 2015. As part of the preparation process for the AHTEG a survey is being conducted in collaboration with the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre to collect information related to the different approaches used by Parties in their fifth national reports to assess national progress towards the attainment of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as well as on the use of global level data to support monitoring of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The survey results will assist in the preparation of background documents for the AHTEG and the development of a road map to support NBSAP practitioners in using global datasets for national biodiversity monitoring. The results will also be used in the preparation of documentation on the effectiveness of policy instruments for delivery of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 which will be discussed at the nineteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 19). I hereby invite Parties and other Governments to complete the survey which is available in English (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LZ9853G), French (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TPWLQ8M) and Spanish (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T67JQ8S). The survey includes a maximum of 15 questions. Survey responses received after 20 April 2015 may not be used in preparing the AHTEG documentation. Should you encounter any difficulty in completing the survey please contact secretariat@cbd.int. Thank you for your cooperation and your continued support for the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National and SBSTTA Focal Points