Notification 2005-054

Dear Madam/Sir, By paragraph 1 of its decision VI/11 the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to convene a group of legal and technical experts composed of government-nominated experts based on a fair and equitable geographical representation and including observers from relevant international organizations, including non-governmental organizations and convention secretariats. The mandate of the group of legal and technical experts is to review information gathered by the Executive Secretary in accordance with paragraph 2 of decision VI/11 and conduct further analysis of pertinent issues relating to liability and redress in the context of paragraph 2 of Article 14 of the Convention, and in particular: - Clarifying basic concepts and developing definitions relevant to paragraph 2 of Article 14; - Proposing possible introduction of elements, as appropriate, to address specifically liability and redress relating to damage to biological diversity into existing liability and redress regimes; - Examining the appropriateness of a liability and redress regime under the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as exploring issues relating to restoration and compensation; - Analysing activities and situations that contribute to damage to biological diversity, including situations of potential concern; and - Considering preventive measures on the basis of the responsibility recognized under Article 3 of the Convention. The meeting of the group of legal and technical experts was not convened prior to the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, as mandated, due to lack of funding. At its seventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties by paragraph 1 of decision VII/17 renewed its request to the Executive Secretary to convene a group of legal and technical experts to discharge the mandate specified in that decision. I am pleased to inform you that, with the generous financial support of the European Community, the meeting of the group of legal and technical experts has been scheduled to take place from 12 to 14 October 2005 in Montreal, Canada. Accordingly, Parties and Governments are hereby invited to submit their nominations of suitably qualified legal and technical experts to the Secretariat, as soon as practicable, but in any case no later than 19 August 2005. The selection of experts will be based on expertise and experience, taking into account gender balance and equitable geographic distribution. In order to facilitate the selection of members of the group of experts, nominations should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae that clearly indicates the areas of expertise of the nominee and his/her full coordinates.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and relevant organizations