Key Documents of the Ramsar Convention

Diplomatic notification 2003/3: STRP matters

Notification 2003/3

Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) matters

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

At its 29th Meeting in February 2003, the Ramsar Standing Committee appointed the members of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) for the period 2003-2005 and decided on priorities for the work of the Panel. As provided for in the Modus operandi adopted by Ramsar COP8 (Resolution VIII.28), the new STRP met for the first time in April 2003 (STRP11) to establish its work plan and expert working groups for each of the substantive tasks it will carry out. A list of STRP members with contact details is attached.

The work plan proposed by the STRP was subsequently circulated to members of the Ramsar Standing Committee, and approved.

The Ramsar Convention Bureau is pleased to send attached to all Contracting Parties the STRP Work Plan 2003-2005. Because of financial restrictions, and because English is the working language of the STRP, the document has been produced in this language only.

The Convention Bureau is also pleased to send attached DOC. STRP11-7, Establishment and Terms of Reference of the STRP Support Service. The Terms of reference were adopted by the Standing Committee.

The Bureau encourages National STRP Focal Points to interact with the Support Service, and would like to ask Contracting Parties which have not yet designated such a Focal Point to do so as soon as possible. Terms of Reference for the National Focal Points are available on the Ramsar Web site: http://www.ramsar.org/strp/key_strp_nfp_tor.htm, and a list of these Focal Points at: http://www.ramsar.org/key_nfp_strp.htm.

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, 16 May 2003

Encls.

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 ramsar@ramsar.org).  Posted 30 May 2003, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.