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News from the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel
As an advisory body, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) delivered
several key recommendations and strategic advice to the GEF during the
third phase in each of the focal areas.
In the biodiversity focal area, STAP focused its efforts on providing advice
on emerging issues, such as biosafety, and how to enhance biodiversity
in agricultural landscapes and production sectors. STAP examined the mainstreaming
concept
in relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and provided advice
on designing more effective interventions in the biodiversity portfolio.
The new report, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Production Landscapes,
is
now available.
On biosafety, STAP supported a series of books on the environmental risk
assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to help developing
countries strengthen
their own scientific and technical capacity.
In the climate change focal area, the GEF requested STAP’s advice on
transportation, and ways to reduce the long-term costs of low greenhouse gas-emitting
(GHG) technologies. A brainstorming session on GEF’s operational program
in this area provided insight on the origin of difficulties with the development
and implementation of projects, and identified possible alternative approaches.
Regarding transportation, STAP concluded that although biofuels can contribute
to GHG reduction in the sector, other measures may be more cost-effective,
and that the environmental impacts of growing biofuels could outweigh the benefits.
In the international waters focal area, STAP and UNESCO organized two
technical workshops on ground water issues, which resulted in recommendations
on
how to better integrate groundwater management, including managed aquifer
recharge
across the GEF focal areas. STAP believes that policies should be promoted
that incorporate groundwater elements into integrated water resources
management, integrated coastal management, sustainable land management
practices, and
freshwater and coastal aquatic ecosystem conservation efforts.
In the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) focal area, STAP provided
a state-of-the-art review of noncombustion technologies for the destruction
of chemical stockpiles.
STAP also assessed the applicability of different bio-indicators
and biomarkers
for the analysis and assessment of POPs in developing countries.
In the land degradation focal area, STAP analyzed and synthesized
the available knowledge on the socioeconomic and policy conditions
influencing
technology
adoption and adaptation for sustainable management of drylands.
STAP also worked on best practices in the restoration and rehabilitation
of drylands.
Furthermore, recognizing the complex and multiple relationships
between ecosystems and human well-being, STAP developed a conceptual
design
tool for exploiting “interlinkages” between
the focal areas of the GEF.
As the GEF begins its fourth phase, Achim Steiner, the new Executive
Director of UNEP, has appointed 15 STAP members to advise the
GEF on its strategies
and programs between July 2006 and June 2008. Yolanda Kakabadse
was re-appointed as the Chair of the Panel, and Michael Stocking
was
appointed Vice-Chair.
For more information on STAP, please see: www.unep.org/stapgef
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