Notification 2005-085

Dear Madam/Sir, At its seventh meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2004, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity requested the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), at the next stage of its work on the interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change, to develop advice or guidance for promoting synergy among activities to address climate change, including activities to combat desertification and land degradation, and activities for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In response to this request, at its tenth meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2005, SBSTTA decided to establish, by its recommendation X/13, an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Biodiversity and Climate Change to undertake a supplementary assessment on the integration of biodiversity considerations in the implementation of adaptation activities to climate change, and to prepare advice or guidance under the thematic areas of the Convention for planning and/or implementing activities to address adaptation to climate change. The selection of experts was based on nominations by the Parties and organizations, taking into account their expertise and experience in the field of adaptation to climate change and biological diversity, geographic distribution, and gender balance. The AHTEG will hold its meeting from 13 to 16 September 2005 in Helsinki, with the financial support from the Government of Finland. One of its objectives is to produce the draft report on Integration of Biodiversity Considerations in the Implementation of Adaptation Activities to Climate Change at the Local, Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, and International Levels. A draft background document that will provide inputs for the Group to carry out its work in Helsinki is open for comments (to be provided in English only). The purpose of the review is to seek comments and observations on the scope and quality of the draft information presented, to identify gaps, and to obtain possible additional elements which should be included. The draft background document is now available on a restricted web site, including instructions for reviewers and the address to send comments. Please go to https://www.biodiv.org/doc/restricted and click on “Climate Change Experts”. User ID is: climate Password is: biodiversity If you have difficulties with either accessing or downloading from this website, please contact the Secretariat or Mr. Mathieu Régnier directly at mathieu.regnier@biodiv.org (please do not send review comments to this address). The AHTEG will finalize the draft report taking into account the observations and recommendations provided by reviewers. The document will be considered at the eleventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-11) to be held from 28 November to 2 December 2005. Experts and governments are invited to send their comments at their earliest convenience but no later than Friday, 26 August 2005.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points SBSTTA Focal Points UNFCCC National Focal Points