Notification 2021-085

Dear Madam/Sir, I refer to the physical meetings of the resumed sessions of the twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 24), the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 3) and the third meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (WG2020-3), originally scheduled for 12-28 January 2022 (See Notifications 2021-069 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2021/ntf-2021-069-sbstta24-sbi3-wg20203-en.pdf) and 2021-076 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2021/ntf-2021-076-sbstta24-sbi3-wg20203-en.pdf)). With efforts to reconvene the meetings as soon as feasible, the Secretariat, following consultation with the Government of Switzerland, the COP Bureau, the Chairs of SBSTTA and SBI and the Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, is pleased to inform Parties and observers that the resumed sessions of the meetings are now planned to take place on 13 29 March 2022, at the International Conference Center Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland. The Secretariat will keep these arrangements under review in light of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Documentation The pre-session and other relevant documentation for the meetings are available at: https://www.cbd.int/conferences/geneva-2022. Please note that relevant documents will need to be aligned where necessary with the new dates and will be made available in January 2022. Registration In accordance with usual practices, the designation of representatives to attend the meetings should be addressed to the Executive Secretary through an official letter of nomination, sent as a scanned attachment, by e mail to: secretariat@cbd.int or by fax at +1 514-288-6588, as soon as possible, and preferably no later than 21 January 2022. In designating representatives, Parties and observers are encouraged to take into account that the resumed meetings will address matters related to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols as well as the Convention. Nomination letters already sent for the meetings with the earlier dates of January 2022, in response to the above-mentioned notifications, will be considered valid for the meetings now scheduled for March 2022. Therefore, there is no need to re-send nomination letters and re-register. However, if there are any changes to the delegation as a result of the new dates, there would be a need to send a revised letter of nomination and to complete online registration. The resumed meetings in Geneva will be conducted in person. However, taking into account requirements related to the ongoing pandemic, there will be a need to limit the number of persons with access to the venue at any one time. This will be necessary to facilitate social distancing in the venue and also to allow for regular testing of participants. Thus, Parties and observers are also encouraged to limit the total number of their representatives present physically in Geneva. To facilitate this, provision will be made to allow delegations from Parties and observers to follow the sessions of the meetings, both plenary and contact groups, virtually. Please note, however, that online participation will be limited to viewer mode only. In addition, special arrangements will be made for any Party that is not able to participate physically in Geneva due to travel restrictions. To allow sufficient technical planning for the meetings, Parties should inform the Secretariat by 21 January 2022 if they foresee that it will not be possible, due to travel restrictions, for any member of their delegation to travel to Geneva for the meetings. Financial support Subject to the availability of contributions to the Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BZ), the Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of two representatives to the resumed meetings (i.e. SBSTTA 24, SBI 3 and WG2020-3) from each of the eligible Parties, i.e. those that are developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition. Requests for financial support that were received on or before 26 November 2021 from eligible Parties will be given due consideration for the March 2022 meetings, and the officially designated representatives to benefit from such financial support will be contacted directly by the Secretariat regarding confirmation of funding. There is no need to re-send funding requests. Requests for financial support that were received on or before 26 November 2021 from representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, in accordance with the criteria for the operations of the Voluntary Funding Mechanism to facilitate the participation of indigenous and local communities in the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be given due consideration for the March 2022 meetings, subject to the availability of funds. A list of beneficiaries from the indigenous peoples and local communities will be communicated via notification and selected participants will be contacted directly by the Secretariat regarding necessary arrangements. Due to the increased security procedures for travellers and budget constraints, and with a view to enable the participation of a maximum number of countries in the meetings, the Secretariat will be using special airfare tickets for sponsored delegates that impose restrictions with respect to the changing of passenger’s name, travel dates and itinerary. Please note, therefore, that it will not be possible for the Secretariat to accommodate name changes after the ticket has been issued. Side events A number of side events will be convened during the meetings. Interested Parties and observers that already registered their interest to convene a side event through the online platform, in response to Notification 2021-076, will be contacted and the full list of side events will be issued in January 2022. Requirements for entry into Switzerland and the venue The designated delegates coming from countries requiring a Schengen visa for Switzerland are strongly advised to contact the nearest Swiss diplomatic or consular mission as soon as possible in order to secure the required entry visa in a timely manner, prior to departure. To facilitate the issuance of visas, the Secretariat will issue visa assistance letters to participants upon request, to be attached to the visa application. A copy of the Priority Pass (confirmation of pre-registration to the meetings) issued by the Secretariat will also need to be attached to the application. Delegates travelling to Switzerland for the meetings are strongly advised to consult the Federal Office of Public Health (https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/quarantaene-einreisende.html#1355154378) website on health-related measures and updates, prior to travel. To enter into Switzerland and for access to the venue, delegates will be required to be vaccinated (with one of the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization) or provide evidence of immunity following recovery from COVID-19. For further information about visa requirements, as well as health requirements and other logistical details, an updated version of the Information Note for Participants is being prepared by the Secretariat and will be made available on the meetings webpage as soon as finalized. I look forward to your participation and contribution to these meetings. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD Focal Points, ABS National Focal Points, Cartagena Protocol Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, international organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant organizations