10 January 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has circulated the minutes of the first meeting of the Bureau elected at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the CBD. The Bureau meeting was held on 19 December 2010, in Ishikawa- Kanazawa, Japan.

According to the minutes, the Bureau discussed: a work plan for the implementation of COP 10 decisions, including a series of capacity development workshops to support countries in the updating of national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs); preparations for the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), highlighting the importance of the Protocol’s early entry into force and of a project to assist early ratification, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF); and a draft strategy for the celebration of the UN Decade of Biodiversity. [The Minutes]