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Distr. GENERAL

CONVENTION ON

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/2/16

24 July 1996

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH


SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Second Meeting

Montreal, 2 to 6 September 1996



MODUS OPERANDI

OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL

AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Note by the Secretariat


I. INTRODUCTION

1. Article 25 of the Convention on Biological Diversity establishes 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. Paragraph 2 of Article 25 of the Convention provides that "under the authority of and in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Conference of the Parties, and upon its request, this body shall:

(a) Provide scientific and technical assessments of the status of biological diversity;

(b) Provide scientific and technical assessments of the effects of types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of this Convention;

(c) Identify innovative, efficient and state-of-the-art technologies and know-how relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and advise on the ways and means of promoting development and/or transferring such technologies;

(d) Provide advice on scientific programmes and international cooperation in research and development related to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity;

(e) Respond to scientific, technical, technological and methodological questions that the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies may put to the body."

2. At its first meeting, held in Nassau, The Bahamas, from 28 November to 9 December 1994, the Conference of the Parties decided that the SBSTTA shall consider at its first ordinary meeting its modus operandi, taking fully into account all views expressed on this matter at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties and submitted to the Secretariat in writing by the end of February 1995, as well as the need to draw on relevant institutional structures.

3. The first meeting of SBSTTA had before it a note from the Secretariat, document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/1/2, which took into account the views of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the views submitted in writing to the Secretariat, and the experience of other relevant institutions. The views expressed by governments during the meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Geneva, Switzerland (11 - 15 October 1993), in Nairobi, Kenya (20 June to 1 July 1994), and of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Meeting of Scientific Experts on Biological Diversity held in Mexico City, Mexico (11 - 15 April 1994), were also considered. Written contributions received by the Secretariat were contained in document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/1/Inf.1. On the basis of these views and those expressed at the meeting, the SBSTTA adopted recommendation I/1 on the modus operandi of the SBSTTA.

4. The second meeting of the COP endorsed this modus operandi of the SBSTTA in decision I/1. Paragraph 3 of decision I/1 also requested that the SBSTTA keep under review its modus operandi with a view to improving its functioning on the basis of experience gained.

5. Accordingly, the Executive Secretary requested submissions on the modus operandi of the SBSTTA in a letter sent out on 30 November 1995.

6. At its meeting on 3 and 4 May 1996, the Bureau of the SBSTTA suggested that the SBSTTA may wish to consider reviewing its modus operandi in light of the experience of the previous year.

7. The purpose of this note is to assist the second meeting of the SBSTTA in reviewing its modus operandi. The suggested changes are based upon comments received by the Secretariat on the existing modus operandi, which are based upon the experience gained so far in the operation of the SBSTTA. The note presents the suggestions in the order that they are relevant to the provisions of the modus operandi.

II. RULES OF PROCEDURE

8. Article 23, paragraph 3, of the Convention provides that the Conference of the Parties shall by consensus agree upon and adopt rules of procedure for itself and for any subsidiary body it may establish. At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted its rules of procedure as contained in the annex of its decision I/1. Rule 26, paragraph 5, of the rules of procedure of the Conference of the Parties provides that unless otherwise decided by the Conference of the Parties, the rules of procedure of the Conference of the Parties shall apply mutatis mutandis to the proceedings of subsidiary bodies established under the Convention. It also provides that should the SBSTTA consider it beneficial to change some of those rules, it may suggest any appropriate changes to the Conference of the Parties.

9. Rule 21 of the rules of procedure provides that the term of office for the members of the Bureau is from their election until their successors are elected at the following meeting. As the election of officers is normally one of the first orders of business at any meeting, this means that the Bureau that undertook the preparatory work for the meeting is not the same Bureau present at the meeting. Rather the Bureau is composed of members who where only elected at the beginning of the meeting. Such an arrangement has meant that the experience of the members of the Bureau has not been fully utilised. In order to fully utilise the experience of the Bureau and to thereby facilitate the efficiency of the meetings of the SBSTTA, the SBSTTA may wish to consider delaying the election of officers until the end of its agenda or, alternatively, recommending to the COP that term of office of the members of the Bureau be altered so as to run from the end of the meeting at which they were elected to the end of the following meeting.

10. The note prepared by the Secretariat for the first meeting of the SBSTTA on the modus operandi (document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/1/2) observed that "taking into account the technical and scientific character of the input required from the SBSTTA, the members of the SBSTTA Bureau could be elected for a duration of two years." Such a suggestion was also made in the preparatory process of the first meeting of the COP in order to enhance the continuity of the work and to ensure better use of the institutional memory that members of the Bureau attain during their term in office. The experience of the members of the Bureau over the last year has illustrated and emphasised the value of this institutional memory in efficiently conducting the work of the Bureau. Consequently, the SBSTTA may wish to reconsider the length of the term of office for the members of the Bureau.

11. Additionally, and in order to ensure greater institutional continuity and better use of the institutional memory of the Bureau, the SBSTTA may also wish to consider staggering the terms of office for the members of the Bureau.

III. FREQUENCY AND TIMING OF THE SBSTTA

12. The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties decided that the SBSTTA shall meet "sufficiently in advance of each meeting of the Conference of the Parties to enable its report to be considered by Parties in their preparation for the meeting of the Conference of the Parties. Pursuant to the decisions of the first Conference of the Parties regarding the convening of its organs, a time-frame of at least two months is required between any meeting of the SBSTTA and the convening of an ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties" (see paragraph 1 (c) of its decision I/7).

13. The modus operandi of the SBSTTA also provides, in paragraph 6, that the SBSTTA "shall meet annually and sufficiently in advance of each regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties".

14. The first meeting of the SBSTTA was held from 4-8 September 1995. The following meeting of the COP was held from 6-17 November 1995. This meeting was proceeded by the following regional meetings: the African Regional Meeting, which was held from 9 to 10 October 1995; the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Meeting, which was held from 18 to 19 October 1995; and the Asian Regional Meeting, which was held from 4 to 5 November 1995.

15. This meeting of the SBSTTA is to be held from 2-6 September 1996, and is to be followed by the third meeting of the COP from 3-17 November 1996. The third meeting of the COP is also to be proceeded by various regional meetings and, even though the dates are yet to be finalised for these meetings, it is likely that the timing for these meetings will be similar to the previous year.

16. The schedule for the meetings of the Convention means that for many Parties there is not enough time to properly consider the results of the SBSTTA meeting by way of preparation for the COP processes. For example, the period between the SBSTTA meeting and the regional preparatory meetings for the COP mean that for many Parties it is difficult to undertake full and proper consultations within the relevant ministry let alone wider consultations with other ministries and the public. Such problems limit the extent to which the report of the SBSTTA and the advice it contains can be properly incorporated into the work of the Convention.

17. Accordingly, the SBSTTA may wish to recommend holding future meetings of the SBSTTA earlier in the year so as to allow more time for the recommendations of the meeting to be considered. It has been suggested in the contributions to the Secretariat on this matter that the SBSTTA may wish to consider setting a date in July, 1997 for the next meeting of the SBSTTA by way of trial for the overall review of the SBSTTA to be conducted at the following meeting of the COP in November 1997.

18. The modus operandi of the SBSTTA also provides, in paragraph 6, that the duration of the meeting of the SBSTTA is to be "determined by the Conference of the Parties". The first meeting of the COP in 1994 determined that annual meetings of five days' duration are appropriate for the SBSTTA.

19. The SBSTTA may wish to consider the duration of its meetings. In light of its heavy workload, the contributions that the Secretariat received on the matter and the experience of the first meeting of the SBSTTA -- in particular, the difficulty that this meeting experienced in fully considering all items on the agenda -- the SBSTTA may wish to consider recommending to the COP that the duration and/or the frequency of the meetings of the SBSTTA be altered.

IV. DOCUMENTATION

20. The modus operandi provides, in paragraph 7, that the documentation for the meetings of SBSTTA will be concrete, focused, draft technical reports and will include proposed conclusions and recommendations for consideration by the SBSTTA. In order to facilitate the proposal of recommendations that are useful, practical and concrete, the SBSTTA may wish to consider developing a list of options as to the type of recommendations that these reports should call for.

V. ORGANISATION OF WORK

Thematic approach for meetings of the SBSTTA and the COP

21. The terms of reference of the SBSTTA are contained in paragraph 2 of Article 25 of the Convention. The medium-term programme of work is, however, largely determined by the programme of work of the COP. The enormous breadth of the programme, as has been previously noted, means that developing specific and concrete advice on all the issues is not possible. Accordingly, the first meeting of the SBSTTA focused its attention on the consideration of item 5.5.3 of the agenda and the provision of advice on the scientific, technical and technological aspects of the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine biological diversity. The contributions that the Secretariat received widely acknowledged that such an approach allowed the first meeting of the SBSTTA to develop more particular and useful advice. In light of this experience, the SBSTTA may wish to consider adopting a thematic approach for future meetings of the SBSTTA. Accordingly, the SBSTTA may wish to also consider the establishment of some mechanism to assist the COP in determining which themes future meetings of the COP and, in turn, the SBSTTA, may consider.

Informal working groups: rosters of experts and liaison groups

22. Taking into account the amount and complexity of items on its agenda, the SBSTTA may wish to further consider the organization of its work during the meetings. Paragraph 8 of the modus operandi allows for the establishment of two open-ended sessional working groups of the SBSTTA to operate simultaneously during meetings of the SBSTTA. The first meeting of the SBSTTA relied upon the establishment of two such working groups to consider all the items on the agenda. Two working groups have been recommended for the second meeting of the SBSTTA. The crucial role that these working groups have played in facilitating effective decision-making points to the value of considering other types of open-ended informal contact groups and/or formal working group(s) or committee(s) that could contribute to the work of the SBSTTA. The establishment of open-ended informal contact groups would allow the SBSTTA to adjust, in a flexible manner, the organization of its work to the needs and requirements of each of its meetings.

23. The decisions of the second meeting of the COP also recognised the importance of intercessional work by the SBSTTA. This is manifest in calls for the establishment of a roster of experts and the liaison groups. Moreover, the Secretariat received a number of contributions calling for more informal intercessional work based on the greater use of liaison groups and rosters.

24. Furthermore, the experience of the SBSTTA so far has emphasised a clear need for more intercessional activities. The benefits from increasing the intercessional activities include: (a) being able to advise the meetings of the COP in a more contemporaneous interactive fashion; (b) being able to better support the work of the Secretariat; (c) an ability to support the work of the Convention as whole; (d) assisting Parties to prepare national reports and the Secretariat to synthesis such reports; and (e) better preparation for the meetings of the SBSTTA, which would in turn increase the efficiency of such meetings.

25. There has been widespread support for the greater use of establishing expert working groups drawn from a roster of experts. This mechanism was adopted by the COP to assist the Executive Secretary in developing a medium-term programme of work for the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biological diversity. Compiling country-determined rosters has proven to be a lengthy process, delaying implementation of the programme of work. An intermediate alternative, which could expedite the process of constituting rosters, might be to rely upon the use of existing panels that have relevant expertise. Such an intermediate mechanism would also encourage both cooperation with these other panels and, in turn, processes, as required by decision II/13 of the COP. In light of paragraph 11 of the modus operandi, the list of panels should not be restricted to governmental panels but should also include panels of intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organisations. The Bureau of the SBSTTA could play a supervisory and coordinating role over these teams by selecting lead authors and developing broad mandates for the programme of work envisaged to be appropriate for the team. Such an arrangement would help focus the efforts of the SBSTTA in the development of specific recommendations and advice and would enable it to draw on a wide body of expertise.

26. Once the rosters are compiled there is no prescribed procedure for selecting small groups of experts. Selection could be guided by applying the provisions of the modus operandi mutatis mutandis. However, this leaves much to be determined. There are numerous other relevant examples which could be examined to develop a selection procedure, including the Global Environment Facility's Scientific and Technical Advice Panel or the Dispute Resolution mechanism for the World Trade Organisation. The SBSTTA may wish to consider requesting the COP to consider such examples with a view to developing a selection procedure for the SBSTTA.

27. Another intercessional activity emphasised by the decisions of the second meeting of the COP, supported by the Bureau of the SBSTTA and mentioned in the contributions received by the Secretariat, was a greater use of the liaison groups provided for in paragraph 10 of the modus operandi. A number of matters that the COP has sought advice about from the SBSTTA might benefit from consideration by liaison groups. These include: the CHM; economic advice, particularly on the types of processes and activities that have an adverse impact on the components of biological diversity; developing a list of such activities in line with Article 7 and Annex I of the Convention (which will be considered by the third meeting of the COP in November); the development of indicators for the Convention; and implementing the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity. These issues would all benefit from the use of an intercessional liaison group, which could allow the SBSTTA to provide better advice the COP in a more iterative way than simply relying upon recommendations.

28. The modus operandi, however, provides little guidance to the SBSTTA as to what exactly a liaison group is, how it differs from an ad hoc panel of experts, for what type of situations it might be the preferred intercessional activity, or how the provisions of the modus operandi apply to their use. More detailed guidance in the modus operandi may well encourage their use. The SBSTTA may therefore wish to consider: (a) the purposes of liaison groups and how they differ from other types of intercessional working groups; (b) the procedure for selecting the members of liaison groups; (c) procedures for determining the terms of reference; (d) the duration of the liaison groups; and (e) whether liaison groups can provide advice to the SBSTTA only or whether they can advise the Bureau of the SBSTTA, the Bureau of the COP, the Secretariat, or even the COP directly.

Developing relationships with other processes through the Bureau

29. The calender for the next couple of years contains an ever-increasing number of meetings and events that are of direct and immediate relevance to the aims of the Convention. The need to work with these processes is recognised in the Convention and has been acknowledged by the COP. Several of the decisions of the second meeting of the COP adopted statements for other processes. For example, decision II/9 adopted a statement for the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, and decision II/16 adopted a statement for the International Technical Conference on the Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. More generally, decision II/13 recognised significant synergies and complementarities existing between the aims of the Convention and many other international processes. It also stressed the need to avoid the unnecessary duplication of activities. Consequently, the COP requested the Executive Secretary to strengthen relationships with other relevant conventions and processes.

30. The sheer number and breadth of these relevant processes makes it difficult for the Secretariat to adequately represent the Convention at all of these meetings. Given the considerable expertise and experience of the members of the Bureau of the SBSTTA, the SBSTTA may wish to consider ways and means by which this expertise can be used to support the Secretariat in representing the Convention in these other processes, thereby enhancing the extent to which these other processes can support the aims of the Convention and minimising duplication of activities and costs on the part of the Parties. Specific suggestions received by the Secretariat include the use of the members of the Bureau to not only represent the Convention at relevant meetings but to help incorporate the results of these meetings into the work of the Secretariat in preparing the documents for meetings of the SBSTTA and the COP. Accordingly, the SBSTTA may wish consider such suggestions.

31. Closer cooperation with other process can also be achieved by coordinating the agendas and working programmes of the SBSTTA and the COP with these other processes. Greater cooperation along these lines might be achieved by inviting other processes to submit draft agendas and draft programmes of work. The SBSTTA may even wish to consider having their consideration as a standing item on the agenda. Coordination with other processes would obviously require liaising and negotiating with the relevant institutions. The SBSTTA may wish to consider establishing a special committee that would have the necessary authority to undertake preliminary discussions with other processes in order to consider and investigate possible synergies.

32. One particular process that has considerable synergies with SBSTTA's work is the Global Environment Facility's Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel. Although decision II/6 provides for reciprocal representation at the two bodies' meetings, due to the considerable overlap in work programmes, the SBSTTA may wish to consider increasing collaboration between the two processes. Specific suggestions along these lines received by the Secretariat include: reciprocal representation at the Bureau level and the development of joint research initiatives on topics of mutual interest.

33. SBSTTA may wish also to consider co-representation with other processes.

34. Many of the above suggestions might be most usefully implemented in the context of several programmes identified by the SBSTTA, which would not only help the Bureau of the SBSTTA to consider methods of cooperation but could also be used to guide the other institutions of the Convention in their approach to developing closer links. To this end, the SBSTTA may wish to consider developing a list of processes, programmes, conventions and institutions that could be used to guide these processes.

Networks of research centres of excellence

35. Article 25, paragraph 2 (a), of the Convention requires the SBSTTA to provide the scientific and technical assessments of the status of biological diversity required by the Convention. Neither the Secretariat, the Bureau of the SBSTTA, the SBSTTA itself, or any other body of the Convention is likely, in the foreseeable future, to be able to undertake the compilation of primary data for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the SBSTTA. The SBSTTA's work will be concerned mainly with the review of materials and the assessment of data and analyses from competent national, regional and international organizations and institutions. Compilations, surveys, reviews, assessments and the like, as well as meetings of Panels or other newly established bodies, will for the foreseeable future rely upon the promotion and development of an extensive collaborative network involving relevant national, regional and international organizations and institutions.

36. The SBSTTA may therefore wish to consider how to develop such a network in order to support its work. In this context, the SBSTTA may wish to consider establishing a scheme that recognises the important contribution that certain important research centres of excellence make to the Convention. Such a suggestion has been made in the report considering ways and means to overcome the current lack of taxonomists (document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/2/5). Alternatively, or in addition, the SBSTTA may wish to consider specifically supporting relevant research initiatives by giving them some sort of "seal of approval". Such a seal of approval may entail financial support by linking the scheme to the research programme being considered by the GEF Council at its meeting in October 1996. Alternatively, the SBSTTA may wish to consider supporting the initiatives in kind. Even if there was no material support, such a seal of approval would no doubt assist the initiatives in raising funds for their programmes. The SBSTTA may wish to consider the terms of reference for developing such a list of a certain number of projects that it deems crucial to the work of the SBSTTA and the Convention as a whole.

ANNEX

Recommendation I/1: Recommendation on the modus operandi of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice

Recalling the relevant provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular Article 25, and the principles contained in the preamble of the Convention;

Recalling also the decisions of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Nassau, Bahamas, from 28 November to 9 December 1994, and in particular its decision I/7 on the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA);

The first meeting of the SBSTTA, held in Paris at the Headquarters of UNESCO from 4-8 September 1995, recommends for the consideration and adoption by the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties, to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 6 to 17 November 1995, the following additional elements on its modus operandi:

I. Functions

1. The functions of the SBSTTA are those contained in Article 25 of the Convention. Accordingly, the SBSTTA will fulfil its mandate under the authority of, and in accordance with, guidance laid down by the Conference of the Parties, and upon its request.

2. Pursuant to Article 25, paragraph 3, the functions, terms of reference, organization and operation of the SBSTTA may be further elaborated, for approval by the Conference of the Parties.

II. Rules of procedure

3. The Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity shall apply, in accordance with rule 26, paragraph 5, mutatis mutandis to the proceedings of the SBSTTA. Therefore, rule 18 on credentials will not apply.

4. In accordance with rule 52, the official and working languages of the SBSTTA will be those of the United Nations Organization. Accordingly, the proceedings of the SBSTTA will be carried out in the working languages of the Conference of the Parties.

5. The Chairman of the SBSTTA, elected at an ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties, shall remain in office until his or her successor is elected at the next ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

III. Frequency and timing of the SBSTTA

6. The SBSTTA shall meet annually and sufficiently in advance of each regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties, for a duration to be determined by the Conference of the Parties. The number and length of the meetings and activities of the SBSTTA and its organs should be reflected in the budget adopted by the Conference of the Parties or other sources of extra-budgetary funding.

IV. Documentation

7. The documentation prepared for meetings will be concrete, focused draft technical reports and will include proposed conclusions and recommendations for consideration of the SBSTTA.

V. Organization of work during the meetings

8. Two open-ended sessional working groups of the SBSTTA could be established and operate simultaneously during meetings of the SBSTTA. They shall be established on the basis of well-defined terms of reference, and will be open to all Parties and observers. The financial implications of these arrangements should be reflected in the budget of the Convention.

VI. Ad hoc technical panels of experts

9. A limited number of ad hoc technical panels of experts on specific priority issues on the programme of work of the SBSTTA may be established, as required, for a limited duration. The establishment of such ad hoc technical panels of experts would be guided by the following elements:

(a) The ad hoc technical panels of experts should draw on the existing knowledge and competence available within, and liaise with, international, regional and national organizations, including non-governmental organizations and the scientific community;

(b) The ad hoc technical panels of experts shall be composed of a limited number of experts competent in the relevant field of expertise, taking into account the need for a balanced representation of the five regional groups referred to in United Nations General Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972 which would each year, designate members to be represented in each of the established Intergovernmental Technical Panels of Experts, taking also into account the provision of rule 21, paragraph 1, of the rules of procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties;

(c) The SBSTTA will recommend the exact duration and specific terms of reference, when establishing such panels for the approval of the Conference of the Parties;

(d) Panels will be encouraged to use innovative means of communication and to minimize the need for face-to-face meetings;

(e) The ad hoc technical panels of experts may also convene meetings parallel to the proceedings of the SBSTTA;

(f) All efforts will be made to provide adequate voluntary financial assistance for the participation of experts of the panels from developing countries and countries with economies in transition Parties; and

(g) The number of ad hoc technical panels of experts active each year will be limited to a maximum of three and will depend on the amount of resources designated to the SBSTTA by the Conference of the Parties in its budget or on the availability of extra-budgetary resources.

10. In addition, and in order to avoid duplication of efforts and facilitate the use of available scientific, technical and technological competence available within international organizations, including non-governmental organizations, the Executive Secretary may establish, in consultation with the Chairperson and the other members of the Bureau of the SBSTTA, liaison groups, as appropriate. Such liaison groups will depend on the resources available and the results should be widely reported to Parties in a transparent manner.

VII. Contribution of non-governmental organizations

11. The scientific and technical contribution of non-governmental organizations to the fulfilment of the mandate of the SBSTTA will be strongly encouraged in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention and the rules of procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties.

VIII. Cooperation with other relevant bodies

12. The SBSTTA shall cooperate with other relevant international, regional and national organizations, under the guidance of the Convention of the Parties, thus building upon the vast experience and knowledge available.

13. In this context, the SBSTTA emphasizes the importance of research to further increase available knowledge and reduce uncertainties, and recommends that the Conference of the Parties consider this issue in relation to the financial resources required for the effective implementation of the Convention.

IX. Regional and subregional preparatory meetings

14. Regional and subregional meetings for the preparation of regular meetings of the SBSTTA may be organized as appropriate. The possibility of combining such meetings with those regional preparatory meetings of the Conference of the Parties, in order to make maximum use of available resources, should be considered. The convening of such regional and subregional meetings will be subject to the availability of voluntary financial contributions.

15. The SBSTTA should, in the fulfilment of its mandate, draw upon the contributions of the existing regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations or initiatives.

X. Focal points

16. A list of focal points and focal persons to the SBSTTA shall be established and regularly updated by the Secretariat, on the basis of information provided by Parties and other relevant regional, sub-regional and intergovernmental organizations.

XI. Roster of experts

17. A roster of experts, in the relevant fields of the Convention, will be compiled by the Secretariat from a list of experts provided by Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The roster of experts will be regularly updated.

18. The ad hoc technical panels of experts referred to in paragraph 9 above should make full use of such a roster of experts.