The Resolution of the Final Act of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Wider Caribbean (SPAW), held in Kingston, 15-18 January 1990, agreed to bring into existence an Ad Hoc Group of Experts to function as an Interim Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC) on Protected Areas and Wildlife until the Protocol comes into force. The Ninth Meeting of the Monitoring Committee on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and Special Meeting of the Bureau of Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention (Kingston, 12-14 June 1991) endorsed this Decision.