In 2019 at SBSTA 50, the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) was requested to prioritize the biodiversity theme, with a focus on forests and grasslands. The Adaptation Committee advised the NWP to focus the 14th focal point forum on the link between biodiversity and climate change adaptation.

To kick-off this thematic work, the NWP team organized the first expert group meeting over July 8-9, 2020, which included representatives from constituted bodies such as the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) and the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF).

Over the two-day meeting, the NWP identified and examined knowledge gaps (including information, capacity, action gaps and broader structural challenges) to address strategies to better integrate biodiversity and ecosystems into adaptation planning.

Breakout groups provided an opportunity for rich exchanges on several sub-themes, building on the expertise of the members, namely: role of forest/grassland ecosystems in adaptation, design and implementation, and governance issues.

The expert group discussions have successfully guided the secretariat in ensuring that the scoping paper captures critical issues.

The biodiversity thematic work is being facilitated through the established NWP knowledge-to-action approach, with the aim of producing usable knowledge products and catalysing actions in response to identified knowledge needs. Further details are presented in the figure below.

The outputs from this process will serve as input to the 14^th NWP Focal Point Forum held in conjunction with SBSTA 52 at COP26.

Members of the expert group on Biodiversity