The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,
Recalling Article 25 of the Convention, which establishes a Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,
Recognizing the key role of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice in providing a link between the scientific community and decision-making processes,
Acknowledging the importance of a strategic approach for achieving the objectives of the Convention and, in particular, the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention, including its target to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level,
Recognizing the importance of scientific assessments on status and trends of components of biodiversity,
Having considered the draft Operational Plan of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/10/5) and the note by the Executive Secretary on the review of methods and modalities for assessments and pilot assessments initiated by the Subsidiary Body (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/10/7),
Recognizing the need to strengthen the role of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice in the implementation of the Convention, particularly at the national level, and the importance of linking scientific assessments to the mobilization of solutions,
1. Recommends that the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice explore innovative approaches to its future operations, such as:
(a) Focusing one working group during its meetings entirely on scientific assessments of biodiversity status and trends related to the Convention's thematic programmes of work, and linking these to solutions such as best practices, state-of-the-art technologies, and effective responses to biodiversity loss;
(b) Continuing to enhance the participation of the scientific community in its meetings, in particular with regard to the working group on scientific assessments, including expert presentations and poster sessions;
(c) Experimenting with alternative approaches to conducting its meetings, such as convening focus groups or round tables on specific issues, and ways of facilitating dialogue between donor and recipient country agencies on capacity-building needs;
2. Invites Parties to submit additional written views on the draft Operational Plan of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and on scientific assessments and to submit these to the Secretariat not later than 30 April 2005;
3. Requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, to revise the draft Operational Plan, including methods and modalities for scientific assessments initiated by the Subsidiary Body, on the basis of the views expressed at its tenth meeting and additional written views submitted by Parties and to make this document available for review by focal points for the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, with a view to submitting a revised text of the Operational Plan for consideration by the Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation of the Convention and the Conference of the Parties at its eighth meeting.
