Notification 2025-135

Dear Sir or Madam, 

In its decision 16/12, paragraph 4, the Conference of the Parties (COP), recalling paragraph 9 of decision 15/4, requested the Secretariat to conduct a strategic review and analysis of the Convention’s programmes of work in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) to support its implementation. In this regard, I invite Parties, other Governments, Indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations to submit views and information on the strategic review and analysis of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) in the context of the Framework.

The PoWPA includes 16 targets and 126 specific actions, organized under four key interlinked elements: (1) site establishment planning and management; (2) governance, participation, equity, and benefit-sharing; (3) enabling policy, institutional, and capacity frameworks; and (4) standards, assessment, and monitoring of protected area systems. As such, it remains an important tool and is relevant for the implementation of the KMGBF. Further information is available at the following webpage: https://www.cbd.int/protected/pow. 

In preparing the submission, Parties and observers may wish to consider the following guiding questions:

• What aspects should be incorporated or reinforced in the current review of the Programme of Work to improve alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework? Please consult the rapid gap analysis in document CBD/SBSTTA/25/INF/1 for reference.
• How could the approach to implementing the Programme of Work be revised to better contribute to achieving Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework? In your response, consider potential actors and timeframes.  
• Which goals, targets, or activities of the Programme of Work should be prioritized to support national implementation of the Framework by 2030?

Pursuant to the above, kindly submit your views and relevant information, as described above, through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int as soon as possible, but no later than 15 December 2025. Parties are encouraged to provide their submissions through the Clearing-House Mechanism using the following link: https://chm.cbd.int/submit/submission/new?notification=2025-135 . 

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. 

(Signed) Astrid Schomaker 

Executive Secretary