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| Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Scientific and Technical Review Panel |
| Type | Advisory body |
| Established | 1990s |
| Parent organization | Convention on Biological Diversity |
| Headquarters | Montreal |
Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP)
The Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) is an advisory body that provides scientific and technical guidance to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and related multilateral environmental agreements. It interfaces with international bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to synthesize evidence and assess policy options. STRP reports inform meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and contribute to implementation activities under instruments like the Nagoya Protocol and the Global Environment Facility.
STRP operates as a science advisory mechanism within the institutional framework established by the Rio Earth Summit outcomes, drawing on expertise linked to institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Royal Society, and the Max Planck Society. It collaborates with regional organizations including the European Commission, the African Union, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as well as with transnational research networks like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Through its outputs, STRP influences implementation efforts connected to the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.
STRP traces origins to mechanisms recommended in the preparatory processes for the Convention on Biological Diversity concluded at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit 1992. Early iterations convened experts from institutions such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the World Bank. Formalization of STRP roles occurred alongside adoption of protocols like the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000) and later decisions at successive Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity meetings held in venues such as Kuala Lumpur, Montreal, and Nagoya. Prominent scientific figures affiliated with organizations like the Royal Society and universities such as Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and University of Tokyo have served on or advised STRP work.
STRP's mandate is set by decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and includes tasks handed down by bodies like the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice. Its functions encompass synthesis of evidence, development of technical guidance, horizon scanning in relation to agendas such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and assessment of technologies referenced in agreements like the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The panel produces guidance used by national focal points, ministries linked to the Convention on Biological Diversity, donors such as the Global Environment Facility, and implementation partners ranging from the United Nations Development Programme to the World Health Organization.
STRP is constituted of experts nominated by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and selected through procedures endorsed at Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity meetings. Membership has included specialists affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Monash University, and the University of Cape Town. The panel coordinates task groups and working groups that engage representatives from regional centers like the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research and consortia such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Chairs and rapporteurs liaise with secretariat staff located within the United Nations Environment Programme and with observers from entities like the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Conservation International.
STRP produces technical reports, synthesis documents, and guidance materials that inform decisions at Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity sessions and related meetings such as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Outputs include guidance on biodiversity monitoring aligned with the Global Biodiversity Outlook and methodologies interoperable with initiatives like the Group on Earth Observations and the International Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. STRP has convened workshops touching on topics central to forums like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and has developed tools referenced by agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme.
STRP guidance has influenced national strategies adopted following meetings in cities such as Nagoya and Montreal, shaping implementation of targets under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and contributing to assessments feeding into the Global Biodiversity Outlook. Case studies show STRP inputs informing national biosafety frameworks in countries that interacted with partners like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and bilateral programs involving the United States Agency for International Development and the Department for International Development (UK). Collaborative work with agencies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Global Environment Facility has translated scientific advice into financed projects on conservation, restoration, and sustainable use.
Critiques of STRP note issues similar to those raised about science-policy interfaces like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: representation concerns involving regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, resource constraints akin to those faced by the Global Environment Facility, and tensions between rapid policy needs voiced at Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity sessions and deliberative scientific processes associated with institutions like the Royal Society and Academy of Sciences. Calls for enhanced integration with networks such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the Group on Earth Observations reflect ongoing debates about data sharing, capacity building, and the balance between technical rigor and policy timeliness.
Category:International environmental organizations