January 13: Bhutan is hosting the third SAARC Technical Committee meeting on Environment and Forestry. The two day committee meeting began today in the capital.

The committee meeting will review the works of the committee and focus on pursuing long term activities and linkages with other SAARC mechanisms, including cooperation in the field of environment, forestry and natural disasters.

The committee will also discuss the implementation of the SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change and the Declaration adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change in Dhaka in July 2008, to address the challenges caused by climate change.

The SAARC Technical Committee on Environment was formed in 1992 to coordinate regional cooperation in environment and related areas. The committee is expected to enhance environment management capabilities in the region and effectively address regional environment concerns through coordinated national and regional activities.

The Technical Committee comprises of environment and forestry specialists from the SAARC member states. Delegates from SAARC member states, the SAARC Secretariat and related SAARC Regional Centres are attending the meeting.