The article analyses the scope for enhanced coordination in achieving the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in the forest sector. The two conventions encourage forest conservation and sustainable management from different perspectives. Although concerted action has so far been limited, the debate on the establishment of a mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) under the UNFCCC has greatly augmented the scope for cooperation. Decisions on the design and implementation of REDD+ will determine where and how much forest is preserved, with important consequences for biodiversity conservation. The article summarises the potential biodiversity benefits and risks of REDD+ and reviews the debate on biodiversity safeguards in light of developments at meetings of the parties in late 2010. The article concludes that safeguards for REDD+ provide an opportunity to ensure consistency between biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation in developing countries.

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This seminar has been jointly organized by FEEM and ICCG (International Center for Climate Governance)