The notification confirms approval of GEF funding for eligible parties to the Biosafety Protocol for the preparation of their second national reports and urges Parties to make arrangements to access such funding by 30 September 2011.
19 May 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has confirmed the approval of funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for completion of the second national reports of Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
The second national reports will inform a number of processes under the Protocol, including the second assessment and review of its effectiveness and the comprehensive review of the Capacity-building Action Plan. The reports also will also be used to establish the baseline against which progress in the implementation of the Protocol’s Strategic Plan will be measured.
The notification urges eligible Parties to contact the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) as soon as possible to make arrangements for accessing the funds by the deadline of 30 September 2011. It also urges Parties to initiate preparations for the reporting process, including identification of the national consultant and national consultations, in order to expedite the disbursement of funds. [CBD Notification]