Montreal, Apr 10 (IANS): With a series of regional consultations, the bureaus of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and SBSTTA have agreed that the meetings will be held virtually, beginning on May 3 and continuing until June 13.

These meetings are being convened virtually as an exceptional measure due to the conditions imposed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and do not constitute a precedent for the organisation of future meetings under the Convention, said the CBD secretariat on Friday.

Dates and modalities have been confirmed for the 24th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), and the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI), two meetings essential to the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be agreed later this year in Kunming in China.

The meetings will build upon the work of the informal meetings of the two bodies that were held in February and March.

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, CBD Executive Secretary, said: "I want to thank the Parties to the Convention for their flexibility and willingness to find a way to continue our common work during this challenging time.

"The agreement to work virtually, on an exceptional basis, will allow us to advance our crucial agenda, including important elements of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. By acting for nature, we can create a fairer, healthier and more sustainable world."

As agreed by the COP and SBSTTA bureaus, plenaries will be limited to three hours each day. Each of the meetings will be adjourned at the conclusion of the third plenary session until a later date for the finalisation of the work.

These meetings will allow for the timely preparation of COP-15 and related meetings of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, being held from October 11-24 in Kunming under the theme, "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth".