Introduction

Article 25 of the Convention on Biological Diversity establishes an open-ended intergovernmental scientific advisory body known as the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to provide the Conference of the Parties (COP) and, as appropriate, its other subsidiary bodies, with timely advice relating to the implementation of the Convention. As a subsidiary body of the COP, SBSTTA is to report regularly to the COP on all aspects of its work. Multidisciplinary and open to participation by all Parties, SBSTTA comprises government representatives competent in the relevant field of expertise. Its functions include: providing assessments of the status of biological diversity; providing assessments of the types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; and responding to questions that the COP may put to the body. How SBSTTA carries out its work is described in its consolidated modus operandi set forth in annex III of decision VIII/10.

SBSTTA has met 15 times to date and produced a total of 150 recommendations to the Conference of the Parties.

The sixteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 16) will be held from from 30 April to 5 May 2012, at the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada. SBSTTA 16 will be held back to back with the fourth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention (WGRI 4).

More about SBSTTA.