International Mechanism Of Scientific Expertise on Biodiversity

Consultative Process towards an International Mechanism of Scientific Expertise on Biodiversity (IMoSEB)

IMoSEB is a working name. It does not presume on the future goals or organisation to be implemented.

Background : the Paris Conference

• Provide a critical assessment of the scientific information and policy options required for decision-making; and
• Build on existing bodies, current and recent activities.

Any new international mechanism would have to include intergovernmental and non-governmental elements, and could build on existing initiatives and institutions, with a view to:

• Providing scientifically validated information on the status, trends, and services of biodiversity;
• Identifying priorities and recommendations for biodiversity protection; and
• Informing the relevant international conventions, especially the Convention on Biological Diversity, and their Parties.

Need for and Scope of an IMoSEB

However important subject areas are likely to include:

- biodiversity at different levels of biological and spatial organisation
- biodiversity and global change
- biodiversity and ecosystem services
- biodiversity and productivity
- biodiversity for human health and wellbeing
- assessments, threats and response at genetic, species and ecosystem levels

Key issues to be addressed during the consultative process

• Who would be the audiences and stakeholders of such a new mechanism?
• Who would give the mechanism its mandate?
• What information is needed by national governments and international bodies to help them make better decisions about the conservation and use of biodiversity?
• What are the current mechanisms for providing scientific expertise on biodiversity for decision making process, who is involved, how are they funded, how do they vary globally, how effective are they?
• Current weaknesses and gaps in existing mechanisms?
• Whether and how strengthening these mechanisms could meet current weaknesses and gaps?
• Is there a need for a new mechanism to improve delivery and capacity for providing scientific expertise?
• Its precise role and especially the added value in relation to other current and past scientific initiatives and assessments.
• Its mandate, scope and governance structure.
• The principles and procedures that would guide this mechanism.
• The communications and outreach strategy that would be needed.
• What would be the relationship between a new scientific mechanism and the Global Environmental Conventions, especially the CBD, CCD, Ramsar, CITES, WHC, CMS and UNFCCC?
• Options for budget and funding mechanism.

Organisation of the consultative process

First preparatory meeting (Paris 28 June 2005)

Second preparatory meeting (Oaxaca 9-12 November 2005)

Next steps

Information and executive secretariat

Contacts : [email protected]     Website : www.imoseb.net