Notification 2009-023

Dear Madam/Sir, I have the pleasure to inform you that the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity will be organizing, with funding from the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), and the Governments of Ireland and Spain, a meeting of the Liaison Group on the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), from 26 to 28 May 2009 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The purpose of this notification is to invite you to submit, at your earliest convenience but no later than 31 March 2009, the name and CV of a representative of your country or organisation who can be called upon to attend this above-mentioned meeting. The Liaison Group will assist the Executive Secretary in preparing proposals for a consolidated update of the GSPC for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its fourteenth meeting to be held in 2010, prior to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-10). In decision IX/3, paragraph 3, on the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, the Conference of the Parties (COP) decided to consider the further development and implementation of the Strategy beyond 2010, taking into account current and emerging environmental challenges on plant diversity, including an update of the current targets within the broader context of, and consistent with, the new Strategic Plan beyond 2010, taking into account national priorities and circumstances, capacities and differences in plant diversity between countries. The COP further requested SBSTTA to provide, prior to the COP-10 meeting, proposals for a consolidated update of the Global Strategy, taking into account the Plant Conservation Report, the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, the fourth national reports, and additional inputs from the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation and other relevant organizations. Please note that due to the limited resources available for organizing this meeting, Parties, mainly those from the developed countries and relevant international agencies, are kindly requested to seek their own support to attend this meeting and provide funds for the participation of representatives from developing countries. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

To: CBD, SBSTTA and GSPC focal points, Relevant Organizations