Notification 2023-121

Dear Madam/Sir, At its twenty-fifth meeting, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice noted the information prepared by the Executive Secretary regarding areas beyond the wild meat sector that might require complementary guidance. It further noted views expressed by Parties regarding additional areas that could benefit from further work under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and also noted that additional guidance on sustainable wildlife management beyond the wild meat sector should, as its core objectives, contribute to the implementation of the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (see draft recommendation CBD/SBSTTA/25/L.6). Through the same draft recommendation, the Subsidiary Body requested the Executive Secretary to collaborate with the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management to undertake, in line with the mandate of the Convention and the goals and targets of the Framework, a further gap analysis to identify areas that are not adequately covered by existing guidance developed under relevant multilateral environmental agreements and by competent intergovernmental organizations. It also requested the Executive Secretary, in undertaking the further analysis as noted above, to solicit views and inputs from Parties, indigenous peoples and local communities, women, relevant multilateral environmental agreements and competent intergovernmental bodies. Accordingly, I would like to invite Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth and relevant organizations to submit views on best practices for sustainable wildlife management and information on areas that might require complementary guidance, taking into consideration: (a) issues addressed in the Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that were not included in document CBD/SBSTTA/25/11; (b) the seven key elements of effective policy for the sustainable use of wild species identified in the Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, namely: inclusive and participatory decision-making; the inclusion of multiple forms of knowledge and the recognition of rights; the equitable distribution of costs and benefits; policies tailored to local social and ecological contexts; the monitoring of social and ecological conditions and practices; coordinated and aligned policies; and robust institutions, from customary to statutory; (c) areas that are not adequately covered by existing guidance developed under relevant multilateral environmental agreements and by competent intergovernmental organizations; and (d) the mandate of the Convention and the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Kindly submit your views and relevant information, as described above, as soon as possible, but no later than 25 January 2024. Please note that submissions should be sent through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int . I thank you for your cooperation in this matter and your continued support for the work of the Convention. Please accept, Sir, Madam, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Acting Executive Secretary

To: CBD focal points, SBSTTA focal points, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations