Notification

Latin America and the Caribbean region Regional Expert for the STRP (2025-2028): request for regional confirmation

Date: 14.10.2025

To: Heads of Administrative Authorities and National Focal Points of the Latin America and the Caribbean region
 
Please find below the notification of the approved composition of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) for the 2025-2028 triennium, as confirmed by the Management Working Group (MWG) via the 30 September to 6 October 2025 silence procedure.
 
As noted in the MWG documentation, confirmation of the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Regional Expert remains pending. In accordance with Resolution XII.5, regional experts are selected by consensus within each region and accepted automatically once confirmed with the Secretariat.
 
The Secretariat would be grateful to receive the LAC confirmation on its Regional Expert at your earliest convenience, to enable the regional representative to participate in the development of the 2025-2028 STRP work plan from the outset and to attend STRP28 (24-27 November 2025).
 
Once regional consensus has been reached, please send confirmation to strp@ramsar.org so that the Secretariat can notify the relevant parties and update the STRP roster.
 
 
To: Administrative Authorities, National Focal Points, STRP Focal Points, Accredited Observer Organizations, STRP Observer Organizations and International Organization Partners (IOPs)
 
Pursuant to Resolution XII.5 on the New framework for the delivery of scientific and technical advice and guidance on the Convention and Resolution XV.10 on Implementation of scientific and technical aspects of the Convention for 2025-2028, the Management Working Group (MWG) of the Standing Committee has appointed the following members of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention on Wetlands for the period 2025–2028:
 
Scientific Experts
  • Dr Hugh Robertson, New Zealand (STRP Chair)
  • Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody, Sri Lanka (STRP Vice-Chair)
  • Prof. Line Rochefort, Canada
  • Dr Virni Budi Arifanti, Indonesia
  • Dr Geoff Hilton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Dr Ignacio Rodríguez-Jorquera, Chile
Technical Experts
  • Mr Lammert Hilarides, Netherlands
  • Ms Megan Eldred, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Ms Nancy Job, South Africa
  • Mr Aristides Muhate, Mozambique
  • Ms Gaitrie Usha Satnarain, Suriname
  • Mr Matthew Simpson, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The following Regional Technical Experts have been confirmed by Administrative Authorities from each region:  
  • Africa: Ms Salimata Tondossama (Kone), Côte d’Ivoire
  • Asia: Dr Cai Lyu, China
  • Europe: Prof. Stephan Glatzel, Austria
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: To be confirmed
  • North America: Dr. Everardo Barba Macías, Mexico
  • Oceania: Dr Jennie Fluin, Australia
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to all newly appointed and reappointed STRP members.
 
Further details and biographical information on the Panel members are available at:
 
The new Panel will meet in person for the first time during the 28th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP28), scheduled to take place at the Secretariat headquarters in Gland, Switzerland from Monday 24 to Thursday, 27 November 2025. The meeting registration form can be found at: https://contacts.ramsar.org/register-strp28.
 
Contracting Parties and Observer Organisations are also kindly reminded to notify the Secretariat of any changes to their STRP focal points at strp@ramsar.org.
 
Thank you for your continued collaboration and support in advancing the scientific and technical work of the Convention on Wetlands.
 
 
Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands
28 rue Mauverney, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 999 0170