Notification 2023-076

Dear Madam/Sir, 

In decision 15/6, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to support the operationalization of the enhanced multidimensional approach to planning, monitoring, reporting and review, including by further developing the online reporting tool on the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention. Pursuant to this request, the Secretariat has been updating the online reporting tool to take into account the guidance for submitting national targets in the context of revising or updating national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Annex I) and the draft template for the seventh and eighth national reports (Annex II). 

In light of the above, the Secretariat is inviting Parties to assist in the testing of the online reporting tool in advance of its official launch. Interested Parties are requested to submit an official letter addressed to the CBD Executive Secretary, signed by the national focal point, clearly providing the name and full contact details of the person they are designating to assist in the testing, and sent as a scanned attachment to secretariat@cbd.int by 1 August 2023. Persons designated should be involved in the revision of their country’s national biodiversity strategy and action plan (including setting national targets), and/or have previous experience in national reporting, and/or will be involved in the preparation of the seventh or eighth national report. Further information on the mechanisms for the testing process will be made available to the participants in August.

An information session on using the online reporting tool will be held during the twenty-fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and will be open to online and in-person participation. The final online reporting tool will be made available for official use in two phases. Phase one, which includes the submission form for Annex I of decision 15/6, will be available for use by all Parties before the end of 2023. Phase II, which includes the submission form for Annex II of  decision 15/6, will be ready for use by all Parties early in 2024. The Secretariat will also be organizing online information sessions and provide other information and support to Parties to facilitate the use of the tool in due course. 

Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. 

David Cooper 

Acting Executive Secretary