Notification 2021-008

Dear Madam/Sir, I refer to three recent notifications issued by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) regarding opportunities to participate in ongoing and planned assessments conducted by the Platform. • Notification EM/2021/03 (https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/2021-01/em_2021_03_values-assessment-reviews_sod-of-chapters_and_fod-of-spm_en.pdf) concerns the review of the second order draft of the chapters and the first order draft of the summary for policymakers of the assessment on values. The second external review by Governments and interested and qualified experts is open from 20 January to 19 March 2021. Further information on this review process is available at: https://ipbes.net/values-assessment/sod. • Notification EM/2020/34 (https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/2020-11/em_2020_34_nomination_scoping_of_the_assessment_of_business_and_biodiversity_en.pdf) contains a call for nominations of experts to assist with the scoping of a methodological assessment of business and biodiversity, by 25 January 2021. Further information on this process is available at: https://ipbes.net/notification/nomination/scoping-of-the-assessment-of-business-and-biodiversity. • Notification EM/2020/39 (https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/2020-12/em_2020_39_IPBES_8_prep_documents_review.pdf) is inviting mainly Governments to provide general comments, by 5 February 2021, on the revised scoping reports for the nexus and transformative change assessments and the interim work plans for IPBES task forces in preparation for IPBES 8. Further information on this process is available at: https://ipbes.net/notification/IPBES_8_prep_documents_review. Considering the relevance of these IPBES deliverables for the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity, I encourage Parties and observers, as appropriate, to participate in these processes. Governments and experts wishing to participate in the review processes need to first register at IPBES website: https://ipbes.net/user/register, if they have not already done so. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

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