Notification 2026-041

Dear Sir or Madam,

As you are aware, the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17), the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 12), and the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (COP-MOP 6), will be held concurrently from 19 to 30 October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, hereinafter “the Meetings” and also referred informally as the “UN Biodiversity Conference 2026”.   

The provisional agendas of the Meetings, as approved by the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, have been made available on the CBD website[1], and other relevant documentation will be made available no later than six weeks prior to the Meetings. 

Additional information on the organization of the Meetings will be made available in due course. Work is also underway on the “Information Note for Participants” for the Meetings, which will be posted on the conference website when ready.

Governments

a) Nominations

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties, Governments are invited to submit the designation of their representatives to attend COP 17, COP-MOP 12 and/or COP-MOP 6 meetings, through an official letter of nomination addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), providing the names and contact details of their delegation, and clearly indicating the title of the meeting or meetings they wish to attend. The letter should be submitted to the Secretariat by e-mail to: secretariat@cbd.int, as soon as possible and preferably by 15 September 2026. 

b) Funding support

Subject to the availability of contributions to the Special Voluntary Trust Fund for Facilitating Participation of Parties in Convention processes, the Secretariat hopes to  be in a position to finance the participation of up to three representatives for the Meetings, from each eligible country Party, i.e. developing country Parties to the Convention, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as Parties with economies in transition. Eligible Parties to the Convention wishing to solicit such assistance are kindly requested to inform the Secretariat, through an official letter, of the name(s) and contact information of the designated representative(s) to receive financial support, indicating the order of funding priority among the three representatives, as soon as possible but no later than 15 July 2026.  

In order for travel arrangements to comply with the UN rules and regulations, funding requests submitted after the above deadline cannot be guaranteed.

c) Credentials

I wish to remind Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol and the Nagoya Protocol that, in accordance with rule 18 of the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties, credentials of representatives and the names of alternate representatives and advisers must be submitted to the Secretariat no later than 24 hours after the opening of the Meetings (i.e. 20 October 2026) to confirm that the delegates have been duly appointed, authorized and empowered to represent their country at the Meetings[2]. 

The credentials must be signed by the Head of State or Government or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, except in the case of regional economic integration organizations, in which case it should be signed by the competent authority of that organization. Credentials shall be delivered in their original form. Some representatives of Parties might face difficulties in obtaining credentials in a timely manner. I, therefore, kindly request Parties to initiate national processes well in advance. For your convenience, a sample format of the credential is available in the annex to this notification. 

Organizations

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties, the COP 17, COP-MOP 12 and COP-MOP 6 meetings, are open to organizations and agencies, whether governmental or nongovernmental, qualified in fields relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, which have informed the Secretariat of their wish to be represented at these meetings. 

a) Nominations - Accredited organizations

For organizations already accredited as observers to CBD meetings: Registration of representatives from these organizations is subject to the receipt of an official letter addressed to the CBD Executive Secretary, providing the names and contact details of their delegation, and clearly indicating the title of the meeting or meetings they wish to attend. The letter should be submitted to the Secretariat by e-mail to: secretariat@cbd.int, as soon as possible and preferably by 15 September 2026.

b) Nominations – New organizations requesting admission as observer

For new organizations requesting admission as observer – submission of applications should include the following documents:

1) Expression of interest in the form of an official letter (on organization’s letterhead), signed by head of organization, providing a statement demonstrating the organization's qualifications in fields relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The letter should indicate a clear request for the organization to be represented at the meeting (name of meeting or meetings should be stated), as well as the name and full contact details of the organization's representatives to participate.

2) A copy of the organization’s statutes/by-laws or terms of reference demonstrating the organization's legitimacy as a bona fide organization constituted in its home country.

3) A copy of the organization’s certificate of registration/incorporation, as issued by a government authority where organization is located.

4) Any other relevant information.

The letter and supporting documentation should be submitted to the Secretariat by e-mail to: secretariat@cbd.int by 31 August 2026. Only complete applications will be given due consideration. Further details on the CBD observer admission process can be found at: https://www.cbd.int/ngo/meetings.shtml . 

c) 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 (VB trust fund) and subject to the availability of funds, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities are invited to submit a request for financial assistance for consideration for the meetings, at their earliest convenience but no later than 1 July 2026.  Only applications from accredited organizations to CBD from indigenous peoples and local communities will be given due consideration. New organizations representing indigenous peoples and local communities that wish to apply to the Voluntary Fund (VB trust fund) are requested to have completed accreditation procedures by 26 June 2026, in accordance with the process described above.

Further information on the voluntary funding mechanism process can be found here . 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 the necessary arrangements. 

Online registration 

Online registration for the above meetings is expected to open on 15 May 2026.  Further information regarding online registration will be provided in due course. Early registration is encouraged. 

High-Level Segment 

In connection to notification 2026-016, I also wish to inform Parties and observers that the Government of Armenia will convene a high-level segment from 27 to 28 October 2026 to galvanize leadership and political momentum in support for the effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and other decisions expected to be adopted at the Meetings. Further information on the organization and modalities of this important high-level segment will be made available in due course. 

I look forward to your participation in the UN Biodiversity Conference 2026, a unique global event that is expected to play a significant role in mobilizing the international community to accelerate the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and ensure the successful achievement of its goals and targets.  

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

(Signed) Astrid Schomaker

Executive Secretary

Enclosure: annex

[1] https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2026 

[2] To facilitate the smooth proceedings of the Meetings, Parties are strongly encouraged to provide their credentials well in advance of the Meetings and preferably by 2 October 2026.