7 February 2013: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has issued two notifications related to intersessional activities on the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) and related developments: one outlining activities to be undertaken in the biennium 2013-2014, with information to be submitted in preparation for the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol (ICNP), and invitations for direct actions by governments and relevant organizations in accordance with Decision XI/1 on the status of the Nagoya Protocol; and another addressing Article 10 of the Nagoya Protocol on a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism and announcing an online consultation through discussion groups, tentatively scheduled to begin on 8 April 2013.

Intersessional activities focus on the need for and modalities of a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism, capacity building, including the development of a draft strategic framework, and the further development of the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-House. In preparation for the third meeting of the ICNP, governments, international organizations, indigenous and local communities and stakeholders are invited to provide views and relevant information on monitoring and reporting, and model contractual clauses, voluntary codes of conduct, guidelines and best practices or standards. Finally, the notification lists the direct invitations for action by governments and relevant organizations, concerning, among other issues, ratification and provision of support for capacity-building and awareness-raising initiatives.

The online discussion groups on a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism will be convened through the ABS Clearing-House and last for seven weeks. Parties, other governments, relevant organizations and indigenous and local communities are invited to nominate representatives to participate by 25 March 2013. [CBD Notification on Intersessional Activities][CBD Notification on Article 10][Web Portal on Article 10]