Distr. GENERAL

CONVENTION ON

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/2/17

9 August 1996

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL

AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Second Meeting

Montreal, 2 to 6 September 1996

REVIEW OF THE MEDIUM-TERM PROGRAMME OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE, 1995-1997

1. At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties (COP) 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 for the COP and on Article 25 of the Convention and to submit it to the second meeting of the COP.

2. Accordingly, the first meeting of the SBSTTA considered and adopted in recommendation II/2 a medium term programme of work for 1995-1997, which is attached as Annex 1 to this Note.

3. The second meeting of the COP took note of this proposed medium-term programme of work and requested that the second meeting of the SBSTTA in considering its programme of work for 1996 to ensure that the programme is based on the priorities set in the programme of work of the COP for 1996 and 1997, as contained in decision II/18 and specific requests to the SBSTTA contained in other decisions of the second meeting of the COP. The proposed programme of work for the COP for 1996-1997 is contained in the provisional agenda for the third meeting of the COP (see document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/2/Inf.10) and the medium-term programme of work for the COP for 1995-1997 which is provided as Annex 2 to this Note.

4. The SBSTTA may wish to consider reviewing the existing programme of work for 1997 in light of the medium-term programme of work of the COP. Such a consideration will entail reviewing the draft provisional agenda for the third meeting of the SBSTTA, which is contained in document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/2/18.

5. In light of its consideration of its modus operandi under item 4 of the provisional agenda of this meeting, the SBSTTA may also wish to consider the nature of any intercessional activities such as meetings of the Bureau of the SBSTTA and how they may reflect and support the activities of the COP as identified in its medium-term programme of work.

6. Decision II/18 indicated that the fourth meeting of the COP may review its medium-term programme of work for 1995-1997. The COP further indicated in this decision that this review may specifically consider a "review of the operations of the COP and subsidiary organs" and "undertake an overall review and consider a longer-term programme of work".

7. In light of the fact that the COP intends to undertake an overall review of the operations of the Convention in 1997 and the fact that the programme of work for the COP does not extend beyond 1997, the Bureau of the COP and the Bureau of the SBSTTA felt that it was not appropriate for the SBSTTA to consider proposing a specific programme of work which extended beyond the fourth meeting of the COP. The Bureau of the COP and the Bureau of the SBSTTA did, however, indicate that the SBSTTA may wish to consider how the SBSTTA might prepare for this overall review.

Annex 1

Recommendation I/2: 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 co-operation 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 co-operation 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 minimisation 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 co-operation 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 co-operation 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.

Annex to Recommendation I/2

PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK OF SBSTTA FOR 1996-1997

Annex 2

MEDIUM-TERM PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES FOR 1996-1997

1. Decides to adopt the medium-term programme of work for the period 1996 to 1997 contained in the Annex to the present decision;

2. Also decides to review at its next meeting the medium-term programme of work in light of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Convention;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare the draft provisional agenda of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties, pursuant to rules 8 and 9 of the rules of procedure, and include therein all issues arising from its previous meetings and for which actions are required by the Conference of the Parties.

MEDIUM-TERM PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE CONFERENCE
OF THE PARTIES 1996-1997

1. The medium-term programme of work will be constructed on the basis of standing and rolling issues.

2. Standing items will include, inter alia:

2.1 Matters relating to the financial mechanism, including a report from the interim institutional structure entrusted with its operation;

2.2 Report from the Secretariat on the administration of the Convention and budget for the Secretariat;

2.3 Report from, instructions to and consideration of recommendations from the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA);

2.4 Reports by Parties on implementation of the Convention;

2.5 Report on assessment and review of the operation of the clearing-house mechanism;

2.6 Relationship of the Convention on Biological Diversity with the Commission on Sustainable Development and biodiversity­related conventions, other international agreements, institutions and processes of relevance.

3. The other issues and derived activities necessary to implement the Convention should be dealt with on a year-by-year agenda, on the understanding that these relevant rotating issues will be developed and continually dealt with in accordance with the decisions of the Conference of the Parties by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and any eventual working groups appointed by the Conference of the Parties. The year­by­year agenda has to be flexible.

4. Treatment of the items on the programme of work should also reflect the importance of capacity­building as one of the elements of successful Convention implementation. The programme of work should always reflect a balance among the Convention's objectives, as set forth in Article 1.

5. In 1996, the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties may continue to consider pending issues of the 1995 programme of work.

6. The third meeting of the Conference of the Parties may consider, inter alia, the following items in 1996:

6.1 General measures for conservation and sustainable use

6.1.1 Implementation of Articles 6 and 8.

6.2 Identification, monitoring and assessment

6.2.1 To consider options for implementing Article 7;

6.2.2 Appraisal of the SBSTTA review of assessment of biological diversity for the implementation of Article 25(2)(a) and advice on methodologies for future assessments.

6.3 Conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biological diversity

6.3.1 To consider agricultural biological diversity within the context of the Convention's three objectives and its provisions;

6.3.2 To consider a report on progress under the FAO Global System for the Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

6.4 Consideration of the future programme of work for terrestrial biological diversity in the light of the outcome of deliberations of the third session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in 1995

6.5 Knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities

6.5.1 Implementation of Article 8(j).

6.6 Access to genetic resources

6.6.1 To consider the compilation of views of Parties on possible options for developing national legislative, administrative or policy measures, as appropriate, to implement Article 15.

6.7 Issues related to technology

6.7.1 To consider ways to promote and facilitate access to and transfer and development of technology, as envisaged by Articles 16 and 18 of the Convention.

6.8 Incentive measures

6.8.1 To consider the compilation of information and experiences shared on the implementation of Article 11.

6.9 Special session of the General Assembly to review implementation of Agenda 21

6.9.1 To provide a report from the perspective of the Convention's three objectives.

6.10 Issues related to biosafety

6.10.1 To consider the first report of the ad hoc working group on biosafety.

7. In 1997, the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties may consider, inter alia, the following items:

7.1 Review of medium-term programme of work (1995-1997)

7.1.1 To review the operations of the Conference of the Parties and subsidiary organs;

7.1.2 To undertake an overall review and consider a longer­term programme of work.

7.2 Models and mechanisms for linkages between in­situ and ex­situ conservation

7.2.1 To generate options of models and linkage.

7.3 Measures for implementing the Convention

7.3.1 To provide information and share experiences on the implementation of Article 13;

7.3.2 To provide information and share experiences on the implementation of Article 14;

7.3.3 Consideration of biodiversity under threat.

7.4 Consideration of matters related to benefit­sharing

7.4.1 To consider measures to promote and advance the distribution of benefits from biotechnology in accordance with Article 19;

7.4.2 To be considered in the light of the outcome of item 6.7.1 above.

7.5 Technical and Scientific Co-operation

7.6 Terrestrial biological diversity

To assess the status and trends of the biodiversity of inland water ecosystems and identify options for conservation and sustainable use.