Notification 2011-171

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform you that the report of the fourth meeting of the Liaison Group on the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, hosted by Missouri Botanical Gardens from 8 to 9 July 2011 in St. Louis, USA, is accessible from http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/pc/gspclg-04/official/gspclg-04-02-en.pdf. I also wish to draw your attention to the draft toolkit for the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, developed under the lead of Botanic Gardens Conservation International with funding from Spain and Japan, which is now accessible from http://www.plants2020.net/. In preparation for this agenda item at the sixteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, to be held in Montreal from 30 April to 4 May 2012, you are kindly invited to send your comments and observations, both on the Liaison Group report and the draft toolkit. We would in particular welcome your assistance in identifying gaps in the draft toolkit as well as your drawing attention to other guidance and approaches not yet made available, bearing in mind that the toolkit is designed to focus on key tools and tested approaches of wider application value. Language versions of the toolkit will be prepared on the basis of a version incorporating the comments and observations received. We would appreciate receiving your inputs no later than 31 October 2011. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD, SBSTTA and GSPC Focal Points and relevant organizations