Notification 2007-164

Dear Madam/Sir, I wish to draw your attention to decision VIII/10 of the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on operations of the Convention. In Section I, paragraph 3 of this decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary “in consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, to prepare options for the meeting schedule, including the financial implications of each option, taking into account, inter alia, the periodicity of ordinary meetings of the Conference of the Parties and the periodicity and scheduling of meetings of its subsidiary bodies, and to make available a report on those options to Parties, Governments and relevant organizations for their review and comments at least six months prior to its ninth meeting.” Pursuant to that request, the Secretariat has prepared the attached document. The document is now open to peer review. I have the pleasure to invite you to take part in the peer review of the attached document. I would be grateful to receive your comments as soon as possible but not later than 15 February 2008 to allow for the refinement of the document in light of the comments received and its timely review by the COP Bureau before its distribution to the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. I wish to thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and for your continued support of the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points