Grenada’s delegate to the Global Advisory Body Dr. Spencer Thomas, is the new Chairman of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), for parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
 
Dr. Thomas’s appointment took effect on May 23, 2008 at the Global Advisory Body-CBD convention held in Bonn, Germany, where representatives from regional and international countries unanimously favoured the appointment.

 
Dr. Thomas is the operational focal point for the Ministry of Finance which is the focal Ministry for the (CBD) at the global and local levels relative to plants and animals.
 
In 1994, Dr. Thomas became a party to the (CDB) of which some one hundred and ninety one countries are parties to the said convention which aims to promote conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
 
The (SBSTTA) is the highest subsidiary body of the Convention and is open to participation by all Parties to the (CBD) and its main role as the premier science-policy interface, is essential to the implementation of the (CBD) and therefore protecting the diversity of life on earth.
 
The functions of (SBSTTA) include the following:
 
The provision of advice to the Conference of Parties and its other Subsidiary bodies
 
The preparation of scientific, technological and technical assessments
 
The identification and development of technologies, methodologies and know-how relating to conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of biological diversity
 
The provision of advice on scientific programmes and international cooperation in research and development relating to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
 
Dr. Thomas’s appointment as the (SBSTTA’s) Chairman is for a duration of two years during which he will head a ten member Bureau of the (SBSTTA) and is expected to preside over the five-day annual meetings of the Body over the two year period.