Notification 2014-015

Dear Madam/Sir, The Conference of the Parties, in decision XI/22, encouraged Parties and all partners, institutions, organizations and processes concerned to consider the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in developing the post-2015 United Nations development agenda and in the process of establishing sustainable development goals under the United Nations General Assembly. The decision also requests the Executive Secretary to collaborate, taking into account the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference, in the process of developing sustainable development goals, as appropriate, with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and other entities. In the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to provide information on ways and means for the Convention’s national focal points to engage in processes to develop sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda. The Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference, will hold its eighth and final session on specific issue areas from 3 to 7 February 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, which will cover Oceans, Forests, and Biodiversity (OWG 8). The OWG 8 session is a very important opportunity to highlight that biodiversity is essential for achieving sustainable development, including global priorities such as poverty eradication. I am pleased to inform you of the involvement of the Secretariat in a number of activities taking place during OWG 8. First, I have been invited to address the OWG 8 as a panellist during its session on 3 February 2014. To this end, I will be providing information on the contribution of biodiversity for sustainable development, and will discuss how biodiversity might be effectively addressed in the SDGs. UN Web TV will provide web coverage of this session at: http://webtv.un.org/. I will be drawing upon the main points of the Biodiversity Issues Brief (BIB), the official background document for the OWG 8 of which I notified you in December 2013. As a reminder, I would like to encourage all national focal points to disseminate the Biodiversity Issues Brief (available in all six official UN languages) which can be accessed at: www.cbd.int/development. Second, the Secretariat has prepared two additional, short background documents to assist governments in their discussions in New York, which highlight the ways in which biodiversity contributes to a wide variety of sustainable development issues. These documents, Biodiversity: The foundation for sustainable development and Fast facts: Biodiversity supporting development may be found at www.cbd.int/development. I would also like to call to your attention a side event on biodiversity that is being co-organized with the support and assistance of the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Government of Japan and IUCN, titled ‘Why biodiversity is essential for social and economic aspects of sustainable development: Perspectives and country experiences from developing and developed countries.’ We hope that you or a representative of your Government or organization can attend this event, which is scheduled for Monday, 3 February 2014, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Conference Room 7 (North Lawn Building) between 1.15 p.m. - 2.30 p.m. Finally, I am pleased to inform you that the United Nations General Assembly, in resolution A/RES/68/214 adopted at its 68th session held in December 2013, encouraged Parties and all stakeholders, institutions and organizations concerned to give appropriate consideration to biodiversity issues in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda, keeping in mind the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and taking into account the three dimensions of sustainable development. The CBD Secretariat will continue to pursue other efforts to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity in the post-2015 United Nations development agenda and the SDGs process. We stand ready to provide additional information and support to Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations for their engagement in negotiations on the SDGs and the post-2015 development agenda. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and relevant organizations