. Proposal for a medium-term programme of work of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, 1995 - 1997

Proposal for a medium-term programme of work of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, 1995 - 1997

Recalling that the Conference of the Parties at its first meeting requested the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to prepare a proposal for a medium-term programme of work (1995 - 1997) based on the priorities set in the programme of work of the Conference of the Parties and on Article 25 of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

The SBSTTA recommends that

1. Its programme of work will have to be adjusted at its subsequent meetings as the need arises in the medium-term programme of work of the Conference of the Parties;

2. Its work programme should be well focused on the priorities of the medium-term programme of work of the Conference of the Parties to yield concrete in-depth advice;

3. The Conference of the Parties approve the establishment of temporary ad hoc panels for selected items from its work programme on an annual basis;

4. Its final work programme and its ad hoc technical panels of experts approved by the Conference of the Parties shall be duly reflected in the budget of the Secretariat.

5. Bearing in mind that its programme of work for 1995 is contained in the agenda of its first meeting, the proposed programme of work for 1996 and 1997 is as follows:

PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE SBSTTA FOR 1996-1997

1. In 1996, the second meeting of the SBSTTA may consider, inter alia, the following items:

1.1 Provision of scientific and technical assessments of the status of biological diversity (Article 25, paragraph 2 (a)):

1.1.1 Review of assessment of biological diversity made in 1995, and provision of advice on methodologies for future assessments, as well as the minimum standard data required, as appropriate, to be applied in accordance with national priorities and programmes;

1.1.2 Alternative ways and means in which the Conference of the Parties could start the process of identification, monitoring and assessment of components of biological diversity, as well as processes and categories of activities which have or are likely to have significant adverse impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in accordance with Article 7.

1.2 Preparation of scientific and technical assessments of the effects of types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention (Article 25, paragraph 2 (b)):

1.2.1 Review and promotion of indicators of biological diversity to be used for assessment of effectiveness of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

1.3 Identification of innovative, efficient and state-of-the-art technologies and know-how relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and provision of advice on the ways and means of promoting development and/or transferring such technologies (Article 25, paragraph 2 (c)):

1.3.1 Identification of sound technologies including biotechnology, and description of ways and means to promote and facilitate access to, and transfer and development of these technologies, and the role of the clearing-house mechanism;

1.3.2 Ways and means to identify and protect the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles and to compensate through the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices, in accordance with Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

1.3.3 Provision of advice on capacity-building in relation to the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology that may have adverse effect on the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. The Conference of the Parties should ensure that work of the SBSTTA on this item should be consistent with its decision on Article 19.3, in order to avoid duplication with any other work that the Conference of the Parties might set in train.

1.4 Provision of advice on scientific programmes and international cooperation in research and development related to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity (Article 25, paragraph 2 (d)):

1.4.1 Consideration of the role of the clearing-house mechanism in facilitating and promoting technical and scientific cooperation in research and development related to conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components.

1.5 Scientific, technical, technological and methodological questions that the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies may put to the body (Article 25, paragraph 2 (e)):

1.5.1 Provision of advice on scientific, technical and technological aspects of the conservation of agricultural biological diversity and sustainable use of its components (also taking into account the other provisions in Article 25, paragraph 2);

1.5.2. Provision of advice on scientific, technical and technological aspects of the future programme of work for terrestrial biological diversity in the light of the outcome of deliberations of the third session of CSD in 1995;

1.5.3 Provision of scientific, technical and technological advice on economic valuation of biological diversity and its components, in particular in relation to access to genetic resources;

1.5.4 How can the Convention on Biological Diversity contribute to the forthcoming special session of the General Assembly to review implementation of Agenda 21?

2. In 1997, the third meeting of the SBSTTA may consider, inter alia, the following items:

2.1 Provision of scientific and technical assessments of the status of biological diversity (Article 25, paragraph 2 (a)):

2.1.1 Continuation of the two items 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 initiated in 1996, as needed.

2.2 Preparation of scientific and technical assessments of the effects of types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention (Article 25, paragraph 2 (b)):

2.2.1 What kind of scientific and technical information should be compiled and what ways and means should be used for public education and awareness to promote and encourage understanding of the importance of, and the measures required for, the conservation of biological diversity, and what topics should be included in educational programmes in accordance with Article 13?

2.2.2 What kind of scientific and technical information should be collected for environmental impact assessment of projects and what ways and means should be used to share this information to promote minimization of adverse impacts in accordance with Article 14?

2.3 Identification of innovative, efficient and state-of-the-art technologies and know-how relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and provision of advice on the ways and means of promoting development and/or transferring such technologies (Article 25, paragraph 2 (c)) and the role of the clearing-house mechanism.

2.3.1 Continuation of item initiated in 1996, as needed.

2.4 Provision of advice on scientific programmes and international cooperation in research and development related to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity (Article 25, paragraph 2 (d)):

2.4.1 Provision of advice on the scientific, technical and technological aspects of international cooperation in the area of conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, in accordance with Article 18.

2.5 Scientific, technical, technological and methodological questions that the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies may put to the body (Article 25, paragraph 2 (e)).

2.5.1 Identification of alternative models and mechanisms for linkages between in-situ and ex-situ conservation;

2.5.2 Overall assessment of the SBSTTA's work and of the effectiveness of its advice (1995-1997), in the light of possible future work of the SBSTTA.

Functions	Year
	1996	1997
Provision of scientific and technical assessments of the status of biological diversity (Article 25, paragraph 2 (a)).	1. Review of assessment of biological diversity made in 1995, and provision of advice on methodologies for future assessments, as well as the minimum standard data required, as appropriate, to be applied in accordance with national priorities and programmes. 2. Alternative ways and means in which the Conference of the Parties could start the process of identification, monitoring and assessment of components of biological diversity, as well as processes and categories of activities which have or are likely to have significant adverse impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in accordance with Art. 7.	1. Continuation of the two items 1 and 2 initiated in 1996, as needed.
Preparation of scientific and technical assessments of the effects of types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention (Article 25, paragraph 2(b)).	3. Review and promotion of indicators of biological diversity to be used for assessment of effectiveness of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.	2. What kind of scientific and technical information should be compiled and what ways and means should be used for public education and awareness to promote and encourage understanding of the importance of, and the measures required for, the conservation of biological diversity, and what topics should be included in educational programmes in accordance with Art. 13? 3. What kind of scientific and technical information should be collected for environmental impact assessment of projects and what ways and means should be used to share this information to promote minimization of adverse impacts in accordance with Article 14?
Identification of innovative, efficient and state-of-the-art technologies and know-how relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and provision of advice on the ways and means of promoting development and/or transferring such technologies (Article 25, paragraph 2 (c)).	4. Identification of sound technologies including biotechnology, and description of ways and means to promote and facilitate access to, and transfer and development of these technologies, and the role of the clearing house mechanism. 5. Ways and means to identify and protect the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles and to compensate through the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices, in accordance with Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 6. Provision of advice on capacity building in relation to the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology that may have adverse effect on the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. The COP should ensure that work of the SBSTTA on this item should be consistent with its decision on Article 19.3, in order to avoid duplication with any other work that the COP might set in train.	4. Continuation of item initiated in 1996, as needed.
Provision of advice on scientific programmes and international cooperation in research and development related to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity (Article 25, paragraph 2 (d)).	7. Consideration of the role of the clearing house mechanism in facilitating and promoting technical and scientific cooperation in research and development related to conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components.	5. Provision of advice on the scientific, technical and technological aspects of international cooperation in the area of conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, in accordance with Art. 18.
Scientific, technical, technological and methodological questions that the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies may put to the body (Article 25, paragraph 2(e)).	8. Provision of advice on scientific, technical and technological aspects of the conservation of agricultural biological diversity and sustainable use of its components (also taking into account the other provisions in Article 25, paragraph 2). 9. Provision of advice on scientific, technical and technological aspects of the future programme of work for terrestrial biological diversity in the light of the outcome of deliberations of the third session of the CSD in 1995. 10. Provision of scientific, technical and technological advice on economic valuation of biological diversity and its components, in particular in relation to access to genetic resources. 11. How can the Convention on Biological Diversity contribute to the forthcoming special session of the General Assembly to review implementation of Agenda 21?	6.Identification of alternative models and mechanisms for linkages between in-situ and ex-situ conservation. 7. Overall assessment of SBSTTA's work and of the effectiveness of its advice (1995-1997), in the light of possible future work of the SBSTTA.