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Despite lengthy discussions in Nairobi, many key implementation issues remained unresolved and extensive parts of the draft decisions remain bracketed—which means the Conference of the Parties in October will have to find common ground.
Final report
Summary report 13–29 May 2024
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More than a year after the historic adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in December 2022 at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the focus is now on GBF’s effective implementation. Setting a path towards achieving the 23 GBF targets for 2030 as well as its four strategic goals for 2050 is the only way to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050.
The meetings of the two subsidiary bodies were significant as they addressed a variety of topics and provide key advice and recommendations for consideration at COP 16, which will place in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October – 1 November 2024. The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) addresses scientific, technical, and technological aspects of biodiversity conservation. The Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) focuses on enhancing implementation, including strengthening means of implementation and reviewing progress.
During the first week, SBSTTA 26 focused on:
- the monitoring framework for the GBF, continuing to review work on indicators by the relevant Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group;
- scientific and technical needs to support GBF’s implementation;
- synthetic biology, including the outcomes of discussions under the relevant multidisciplinary Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group;
- risk assessment and risk management;
- detection and identification of living modified organisms;
- marine and coastal biodiversity; and
- biodiversity and health, including an updated version of the draft global action plan to mainstream biodiversity and health linkages into national policies.
SBI 4 focused on:
- the review of implementation, including progress in national target setting and the updating of national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
- mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting, and review, including finalizing reporting templates, developing concrete procedures for a global review of the collective progress in GBF’s implementation, and preparing an open-ended forum for voluntary country review;
- resource mobilization and the financial mechanism, including the outcomes of work under the Advisory Committee on Resource Mobilization on a revised strategy for the GBF for the period 2025-2030 as well as guidance to the Global Environment Facility related to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund;
- capacity building and development, technical and scientific cooperation, and knowledge management;
- updating the CBD’s programme of work on communication, education, and public awareness, and developing further guidance for national and local implementation;
- cooperation with other conventions and international organizations;
- the review of the effectiveness of the processes under the CBD and its protocols;
- the assessment and review of the effectiveness of the Nagoya Protocol;
- a long-term strategic approach to mainstreaming, with the SBI expected to develop recommendations on the draft long-term strategic approach and associated action plan;
- the review of the programmes of work of the CBD, using the GBF to better align and direct the work of the various bodies of the CBD and its protocols; and
- the Multi-Year Programme of Work of the COPs, addressing a list of issues related to the review of progress in the implementation of the CBD and the GBF for COP 16 and subsequent COPs up to 2030.
SBSTTA 26 and SBI 4 were the first CBD meetings following the appointment of Astrid Schomaker as CBD Executive Secretary. They took place from 13-18 May and 21-29 May 2023, respectively, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D.; Katarina Hovden; Nicole Schabus; and Emma Vovk. The Digital Editor was Mike Muzurakis. The Editor was Pam Chasek, Ph.D.
View past and future events
Past event
1st Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention on Biological Diversity (ICCBD)
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2nd Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention on Biological Diversity (ICCBD)
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CBD COP 1
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CBD COP 2
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1st Meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-1)
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2nd Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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CBD COP 3
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2nd Meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-2)
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3rd Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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3rd Session of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-3)
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Workshop on Traditional Knowledge and Biological Diversity
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4th Meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-4)
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CBD COP 4
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5th Session of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-5)
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6th Session of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-6) and 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties (ExCOP)
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4th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) and 1st Intersessional Meeting on the Operations of the Convention (ISOC)
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Experts’ Panel on Access and Benefit-Sharing
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Resumed Session of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (ExCOP) for the Adoption of the Protocol on Biosafety to the CBD
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5th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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1st Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j)
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CBD COP 5
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3rd Intersessional Contact Group Meeting on the Revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, in Harmony with the CBD
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4th Intersessional Contact Group Meeting on the Revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, in Harmony with the CBD
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1st Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP) to the CBD
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5th Intersessional Contact Group Meeting on the Revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, in Harmony with the CBD
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6th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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2nd Meeting of the CBD Experts’ Panel on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS 2)
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6th Intersessional Contact Group Meeting on the Revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, in Harmony with the CBD
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2nd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP) to the CBD
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1st Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing of the CBD (ABS 1)
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7th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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Open-ended Intersessional Meeting on the CBD Strategic Plan, National Reports and Implementation (MSP)
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2nd Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j)
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CBD COP 6
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3rd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP) to the CBD
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8th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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Open-ended Inter-Sessional Meeting on the Multi-Year Programme of Work for the CBD COP up to 2010 (MYPOW)
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9th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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2nd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing of the CBD (ABS 2)
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3rd Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j)
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CBD COP 7 and 1st Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 1)
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Workshop on "Forests and Forest Ecosystems: Promoting Synergy in the Implementation of the Three Rio Conventions"
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10th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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3rd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit sharing of the CBD (ABS 3)
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1st Meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on Liability and Redress and 2nd Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
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1st Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas (PAs)
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1st Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation (WGRI 1) of the CBD
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11th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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4th Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j)
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4th Meetings of the CBD Working Groups on Article 8(j) and on Access and Benefit-sharing
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4th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit sharing of the CBD (ABS 4)
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2nd Meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
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3rd Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 3)
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CBD COP 8
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3rd Meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
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CBD SBSTTA 12 and 2nd meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation (WGRI 2)
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5th Meetings of the CBD Working Groups on Access and Benefit-sharing and on Article 8(j)
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4th Meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
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6th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit sharing of the CBD (ABS 6)
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2nd Meeting of the Ad hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas (WGPA 2) and 13th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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5th Meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
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4th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 4)
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CBD COP 9
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1st Meeting of the Friends of the Co-Chairs on Liability and Redress under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
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7th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit sharing of the CBD (ABS 7)
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6th Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j)
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8th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit sharing of the CBD (ABS 8)
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2nd Meeting of the Friends of the Co-Chairs on Liability and Redress under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
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9th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit sharing of the CBD (ABS 9)
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14th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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CBD SBSTTA 14 and WGRI 3
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3rd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation (WGRI 3) of the CBD
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Resumed 9th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit sharing of the CBD (Resumed ABS 9)
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5th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 5)
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CBD COP 10
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1st Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol to the CBD (ICNP 1)
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7th Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j)
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15th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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16th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
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4th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation (WGRI 4) of the CBD
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2nd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing to the CBD
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6th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 6)
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UN Biodiversity Conference 2012 (Hyderabad)
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CBD COP 11
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8th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and 17th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
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3rd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing to the CBD
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5th Meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation and 18th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
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7th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 7)
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UN Biodiversity Conference 2014 (Pyeongchang)
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CBD COP 12
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20th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and 1st Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation
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UN Biodiversity Conference 2016 (Cancún)
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21st Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and 10th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions
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2018 UN Biodiversity Conference
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1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
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23rd Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 23) and 11th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions (WG8J 11)
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2nd Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
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Convention on Biological Diversity: Special Virtual Sessions
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2nd Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD ExCOP 2)
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Informal Session for the 24th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24)
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Informal Session for the 3rd Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3)
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24th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24)
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3rd Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3)
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3rd Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
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UN Biodiversity Conference Part I
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Geneva Biodiversity Conference
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4th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
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3rd Meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies
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United Nations Biodiversity Conference - OEWG 5/CBD COP 15/CP-MOP 10/NP-MOP 4
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25th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 25) and Resumed Second Part of the 15th Meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties
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12th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions and 1st Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources
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26th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 26) and 4th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 4)
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2nd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources
Upcoming event
2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference - SBI 5 / CBD COP 16 / CP-MOP 11 / NP-MOP 5
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