26 September 2008: In preparation for the first meeting of
the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Biodiversity and Climate Change,
to be held from 17-21 November 2008, in London, UK, the Secretariat of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is launching an internet-based
discussion group at: http://www.cbd.int/climate/forums/public/.

The discussion group will run from 6-10 October 2008, and then on the basis of
a compilation of views for additional questions, from 13-17 October 2008. In
addition to the discussion group, parties are invited to submit views on ways
to integrate biodiversity consideration into climate-change related activities,
from 6-17 October 2008, at: http://www.cbd.int/climate/forums/party/.
The first meeting of the AHTEG will address scientific and technical matters
concerning the links between biodiversity and climate change with regard to
identifying risks and vulnerabilities, and impacts and opportunities from
climate change mitigation.
The discussion group will seek views from
governments and relevant organizations on: tools or methodologies that can be
employed to assesses the vulnerability of biodiversity to climate change; steps
taken to mobilize components of biodiversity to reduce risk and damage
associated with climate change impacts; steps taken to realize multiple
benefits for carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation and
sustainable use in a range of ecosystems; tools or methodologies that can be
employed to ensure that actions for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and
information on assessing and addressing possible negative impacts on
biodiversity and /or livelihoods of indigenous and local communities that may
arise from reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. [CBD
notification]