The Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), with the support of the secretariat, organized an expert meeting on methodological issues relating to reference emission levels and reference levels as requested by the SBSTA at its twenty-ninth session. The expert meeting took place in Bonn, Germany, from 23 to 24 March 2009. The discussions focused on methodological issues relating to reference emission levels for deforestation and forest degradation and to reference levels for conservation, sustainable management of forests, changes in forest cover and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks. Experts discussed and exchanged views on various issues, principles and processes relating to different approaches for establishing reference emission levels, the availability of data and the use of existing tools and methodologies. Several issues and concepts that may require further elaboration were raised, such as leakage, an "aspirational goal" for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and a development correction factor to accommodate different national circumstances. Experts also identified gaps in data and information and needs for further
research and technical and institutional capacity-building