The Commission normally holds one regular session each biennium. It may also decide to convene extraordinary sessions as necessary, subject to the approval of the FAO Council.

The Secretariat of the Commission prepares working and information documents for each session. In addition, the Secretariat occasionally commissions background study papers on selected matters of interest to the Commission.

The Commission’s intergovernmental technical working groups meet when required and no more than once a year to review the situation of issues related to biodiversity in the area under their respective competences, to advise and make recommendations to the Commission.