Notification 2022-052

Dear Madam/Sir, As you may recall, in its decision XIII/6, the Conference of the Parties re-emphasized the value of the “One Health” approach and requested the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to collaborate with the World Health Organization and other relevant organizations, to promote and facilitate the implementation of that decision. Further, in its decision 14/4, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, and invited the World Health Organization, in collaboration, as appropriate, with other members of the Inter-agency Liaison Group on Biodiversity and Health, and other partners, to promote and facilitate dialogues on biodiversity-health approaches with relevant national, regional and subregional stakeholders, and organizations, as appropriate, in order to assist Parties in developing strategies to mainstream biodiversity-health linkages effectively through holistic approaches. In line with these decisions and through an initial contribution of EUR 50 million from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) via Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI), the Nature for Health (N4H) Initiative (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62cec364267f831da371f2b2/t/62f3be325e0fc3411ccbff50/1660141108601/N4H_Brochure.pdf) was established to prevent future pandemics by fostering locally developed and integrated approaches to secure the health of people, animals and the environment. N4H brings together the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and EcoHealth Alliance. In view of the above, I am pleased to share herewith a letter (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62cec364267f831da371f2b2/t/62f749da9ddbe634298530fb/1660373467415/N4H_InvitationLetter.final.pdf) inviting Parties to express interest in becoming a Nature for Health Country Partner. Taking into account the criteria specified in the letter, I encourage eligible Parties who are interested to submit their applications, which must be accompanied by a duly completed Country Partner Application form (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62cec364267f831da371f2b2/t/62f74a52d583b67a0a49202d/1660373586954/N4HapplicationForm.pdf) and a letter of government endorsement from at least two relevant ministries (Endorsement Letter Template (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62cec364267f831da371f2b2/t/62fe55676a086c7082704d5b/1660835175770/N4H_EndoresementLetter_Template.pdf)), in a timely manner, but no later than Friday, 21 October 2022. The relevant forms and further information are available on the website (https://www.nature4health.net/application) of the N4H Initiative. I thank you for your continued cooperation and support to the Convention on Biological Diversity and to its work on biodiversity and health. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, SBSTTA National Focal Points, ABS Focal Points, Cartagena Protocol Focal Points, indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant organizations