ENB:09:35

IN THE CORRIDORS

Delegates and observers are considering the possibility that the contact group on the budget and programme of work may influence other contact groups by setting the boundaries of intersessional work. Some delegations want the budget group to expand or adjust the medium-term programme of work to include or emphasize forests in 1996, possibly including an intersessional experts panel on biodiversity and forests. This, they say, would allow the COP to influence the work of IPF and to mark the territory of forest biodiversity, access to forest genetic resources, and indigenous peoples and forests for CBD. Others, opposed to a CBD panel on forests, concerned over the additional expense of an expanded programme of work and/or fearing that work on marine and coastal issues will be curtailed, are resisting efforts to add forests to the work programme for 1996. A way to cover both marine and coastal and forest issues, noted by some observers, would be voluntary contributions of funds by interested donor Parties.