Notification 2007-153

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform Parties, international agencies, indigenous and local community representatives, and other stakeholders, that thanks to the generous financial support from the Government of Finland, an international expert meeting for the Arctic region on “responses to climate change for indigenous and local communities, and the impact on their traditional knowledge related to biological diversity”, will be held in Helsinki, Finland, from 25-28 March 2008. The expert meeting will build upon the work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on climate change and biodiversity, which has convened three times between 2002 and 2005, also with the support of the Government of Finland. This event will provide an opportunity for an in-depth study of opportunities and challenges of responses to climate change for indigenous and local communities from the Arctic, and the comprehensive consideration of these climate change related issues that can be integrated into related work carried out by the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as other relevant agencies, including their programmes, policies and strategies. The expert meeting is expected to prepare a report for the consideration of both the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-9) in May 2008, and the seventh session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in April 2008. The expert meeting will also contribute to the development of practical guidance on the implementation of the tools and methods identified by the AHTEG as being important elements for synergies between biodiversity and climate change. These include the ecosystem approach, environmental impact assessments, and the framework for adaptation integrating biodiversity concerns presented in Technical Series No. 25. I am pleased to invite interested Parties, experts and indigenous and local community representatives to send to the Secretariat an expression of interest or nomination by means of an official letter of designation and a recent CV by 7 January 2008 for consideration in the selection process. Participants will be selected on the basis of a fair representation of the Arctic region, expertise and gender consideration. I thank you for your cooperation and continued support to the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and Indigenous and Local Communities