ENB:09:06
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SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE ISTAC:
The Chair noted consensus among
delegations that any subsidiary body should be set up on an interim
basis. He referred to the divergence of views about the size and
scope of the body's activities. The UK stated that ISTAC must be of
a manageable size and geographically representative. She also
suggested that it should be limited to providing advice to the COP.
Brazil insisted that the size of the interim meeting should not be
smaller than the STAC, when it is established after the first
meeting of the COP. He noted that the Convention calls for an
open-ended body, a point echoed by Mexico. The UK noted that the
open-ended requirement in Article 25 applies only to the subsidiary
body to be set up under the COP, and not the interim body. The IUCN
noted the many scientific meetings that address biodiversity, and
stated that the main objective of the interim meeting would be to
assess how this information can be applied to the substantive
issues.
Belgium, on behalf of the EC, said that although they preferred a
small, workable body, they were prepared to demonstrate flexibility
and to accept an open-ended body. The EC's main concern was to
proved a manageable agenda and, to this end, they made several
recommendations that would limit the scope. After further
discussion, it was agreed that there should be one open-ended
meeting with tightly defined terms of reference.