Key Documents of the Ramsar Convention

Diplomatic notification 2000/7: Revised Work Plan of the Convention's STRP

Notification 2000/7

Revised Work Plan of the Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP)

The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) presents its compliments and has the honour to refer to the following:

The Bureau is pleased to attach the revised Work Plan of the Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP), as approved by the Standing Committee at its 25^th Meeting (23-27 October 2000).

Also attached is the address list of the STRP Members, and the address list of the STRP National Focal Points so far designated by Contracting Parties pursuant to Resolution VII.2.

The Terms of Reference for STRP National Focal Points, as adopted by the Standing Committee, are also attached. Contracting Parties that have not yet done so, are urged to designate their STRP National Focal Point as soon as possible.

The STRP revised Work Plan represents an ambitious agenda. Offers of contributions and assistance from the National Focal Points will be welcomed. In the coming months National Focal Points will be consulted on a number of activities and outputs from the STRP's Expert Working Groups. It should be noted that certain activities approved in the revised Work Plan remain subject to additional resources being found, and contributions in support of these activities will also be most welcome.

The STRP will be holding its next meeting in Gland, Switzerland, from 25-29 June 2001. By that time, its Working Groups will have advanced significantly their tasks, such that issues and reports intended for submission to the next Conference of the Parties in 2002 are ready for consideration by the Standing Committee at its 26^th Meeting from 3-7 December 2001.

STRP Focal Points are encouraged to make contact with the STRP member(s) in their respective regions as well as with other STRP Focal Points, as appropriate. The Ramsar Bureau will also be happy to respond to queries and receive inputs from STRP Focal Points. These should be addressed to Dr. Nick Davidson, Deputy Secretary General (davidson@ramsar.org).

The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands respectfully requests that the content of the present Note be communicated to the competent national authorities and avails itself of this opportunity to renew the assurance of its highest consideration.

Gland, 27 November 2000

Enclosures: STRP Work Plan, Terms of Reference, 2 Address lists

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ).  Posted 22 February 2001, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.