937 



52 



All of the marine science areas could benefit from more efficient 

 overall management and increased reliance on the competencies of other 

 bodies such as WMO and particularly ICSU and its associated bodies for 

 substantive input. Furthermore, the marine area has become increasingly 

 preoccupied with development issues that are important in their own 

 right but divert the focus from scientific objectives. International 

 marine science would benefit more from being housed in a division or 

 organization whose mission was purely or predominantly scientific than 

 the current UNESCO institutional mix. 



In the short term, there would probably be limited impact on U.S. 

 and UNESCO science interests of a U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO provided 

 there is continuity in funding to enable U.S. scientists to continue to 

 participate in the activities discussed above. The United States would 

 maintain its membership in IOC and pay its dues through the IOC Trust 

 Fund. Other marine science and MAB interests can perhaps be maintained 

 though U.S. associations with NGOs and the participation of individual 

 scientists in UNESCO-sponsored activites. However, in the longer term, 

 depending on the effectiveness of interim alternative mechanisms, these 

 programs might be harmed. 



Alternatives 



The most efficient and effective mechanism for interim alernative 

 support is to make maximum use of direct contributions to UNESCO 

 (Funds-in-Trust , donations) for the current level of program (projects 

 and staff) costs. Additional resources are recommended for oversight 

 and international research activities to be administered by an organi- 

 zation that is sensitive to U.S. interests, e.g., NSF, with the assis- 

 tance/advice of the interagency Panel on International Programs and 

 International Cooperation in Oceans Affairs (PIPICO) , and the NRC Board 

 on Ocean Sciences and Policy (BOSP) . In the augmented IOC program that 

 PIPICO has proposed, it is hoped that consideration will be given to 

 much greater participation of ICSU and its bodies as well as other 

 governmental organizations. In any case, it is important to maintain 

 the current level of Division of Marine Sciences and MAB activities 

 contained in subprograms X.4. and X.5. USMAB is proposed as a body to 

 oversee some of these activities. 



A U.S. -supported international marine sciences program related to 

 subprograms X.4 and X,5 is proposed at a level of $2.5 million — 

 $1.4 million as a contribution to UNESCO (Funds-in-Trust, donations, 

 etc.) and $1.1 million to be administered by U.S. organizations sensi- 

 tive to U.S. interests (e.g., NSF/PIPICO and BOSP, and USMAB). Alter- 

 natively, the totality of available resources could be administered by 

 NSF/PIPICO and USMAB, making full use of the capabilities of nongovern- 

 mental organizations and their U.S. advisory mechanisms. 



