Notification 2026-058

Dear Sir or Madam,

In its decision 16/22, paragraph 17, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to develop a supplement to the Voluntary Guidelines for the Design and Effective Implementation of Ecosystem-based Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, providing voluntary guidance and tools based on good practices for the design, effective implementation and scaling up, as appropriate, of nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation to support the implementation of Targets 8 and 11, as well as other related targets, of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, where appropriate, consistent with United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/5, noting Mother Earth-centric actions, as recognized by some countries, in line with different national circumstances, priorities and capabilities, including updating guidance for fit-for-purpose social and environmental safeguards, based on existing safeguards.

The draft Primer for Policymakers and the expanded supplement were made available for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its twenty-seventh meeting. In its recommendation 27/3, SBSTTA further requested the Executive Secretary to invite Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth organizations, civil society and other observers to participate in a peer review of an updated expanded supplement to the Voluntary Guidelines, including the revised primer for policymakers.

I would therefore like to invite Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, and women and youth organizations to participate in the peer review of this draft document, available for download here.

Kindly submit your review comments to the Secretariat using this template by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int, as soon as possible, but no later than 2 September 2026. Please note that only those comments submitted using the template will be considered.

A webinar to consider how the peer review submissions were addressed will be held online on 29 September 2026. It will be held twice on that day to accommodate different time zones and will be conducted in English only.

I invite representatives of Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, and women and youth organizations to register their participation via the following links:

• 29 September 2026 from 7:00 to 9:00 UTC – Link for registration.

• 29 September 2026 from 15:00 to 17:00 UTC – Link for registration.

I thank you for your cooperation in this matter and your continued support to the work of the Convention.

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

(Signed) Astrid Schomaker

Executive Secretary

The recording of the webinars on 29 September 2026 are available to view at: first webinar and second webinar.