21 June 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has encouraged parties that have not done so to submit their nominations for national focal points for the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI).

In accordance with Decision VIII/3 of the CBD Conference of the Parties (COP), parties and other governments are urged to establish national focal points for the GTI so that they can contribute to the implementation of the programme of work at the national level. The CBD Secretariat requests that submissions be made no later than 31 August 2011.

Although parties determine the specific responsibilities of their focal points, GTI national focal points may have the following general responsibilities: developing linkages and facilitating information exchange in order to advance the implementation of the GTI at national level; responding to requests for input from the COP and the Secretariat related to the GTI; communicating and collaborating with other GTI national focal points to facilitate implementation of the GTI at sub-regional, regional and global levels; and collaborating with other national-level focal points for the Convention and focal points from other biodiversity-related conventions to facilitate implementation and mainstreaming of the GTI at national level, including promotion of the GTI in review of national biodiversity strategies and action plans. [CBD Notification]