990 



S-36 



MAJOR PROGRAM X ; 

 THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT AND TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE RESOURCES 



X.4; The Ocean and Its Resources 



Biennial ($000) Annual ($000) 



Regular program 



of which staff costs 



of which project costs 

 Regular program and overhead (64.3%) 

 Other sources 



Overall comnent on X.4 ! This program has four basic objectives: 

 1) advance scientific knowledge of the ocean including improved manage- 

 ment of both living and nonliving resources, 2) enhance research and 

 training capacities, 3) promote international cooperation in marine 

 research, and 4) foster dissemination of oceanographic data and infor- 

 mation. The prime focus is on enhancing the marine science capabilities 

 of the Third World although observational and data exchange activities 

 are critical for all marine science communities. Thus, there is a focus 

 both on basic science and building Third World capabilities in marine 

 science. The prime organ for promoting this program is the Intergovern- 

 mental Oceanographic Commission, a semi-autonomous body within UNESCO 

 in which the U.S. plans to retain its membership. Of the UNESCO program 

 managed by the Division of Marine Sciences, 40% has been decentralized 

 to the UNESCO Regional Offices for Science and Technology in Montevideo, 

 Jakarta, New Delhi, Nairobi, and Cairo/Paris. The Division estimates 

 that one-third of the program promotes the global advancement of marine 

 science and two-thirds promotes marine science in developing countries. 

 Both the IOC and the Division work closely with marine science bodies 

 associated with ICSU, as well as various intergovernmental agencies 

 such as WMO, FAO, and UNDP. 



Alternative Option : The U.S. contributes about $1.1 million in support 

 of project and staff costs in this UNESCO marine science program. 

 Slightly more than 60% of the expenditure is by the IOC and close to 

 40% is by the Division of Marine Science. One option in terms of U.S. 

 support for the program is to provide the IOC share of program support 

 to the IOC Trust Fund ($700,000) and the rest as a Funds-in-Trust con- 

 tribution ($400,000) for the work of the Division of Marine Sciences. 

 Direct contributions via a U.S agency to cooperating organizations, 

 such as SCOR, ECOR, ICES, WMO, FAO, and UNDP, are possible based on the 

 recommendations of U.S. oversight and monitoring groups such as the 

 Panel on International Programs and International Cooperation in Oceans 

 Affairs (PIPICO/OES) , NSF, and the NRC Board on Ocean Science and Policy 

 (BOSP) . A total program of about $2 million would permit continuation 

 and a slight enhancement of international marine science activities at 

 U.S. direction. 



