A/RES/54/221 Page 3 2. Recognizes the importance of the inter-sessional efforts of the Conference of the Parties since its fourth meeting to improve the effectiveness of the operations of the Convention; 3. Reaffirms the importance of the decision of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the adoption of the programmes of work and the thematic approach to guide its work in the development of the Convention for the foreseeable future, including its in-depth consideration of ecosystems;4 4. Calls upon Governments, in cooperation with the Conference of the Parties, to use science-based analysis to study and monitor closely the evolution of new technologies to prevent possible adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, which might have an impact on farmers and local communities; 5. Recognizes the importance of the adoption of a protocol on biosafety at the resumed session of the first extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties, to be held at Montreal, Canada, from 24 to 28 January 2000, and calls upon States participating in the negotiations on a protocol on biosafety to work constructively to bring this process to a satisfactory conclusion; 6. Welcomes decision IV/15, adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting,4 in which it stressed the need to ensure consistency in implementing the Convention and World Trade Organization agreements, including the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights,5 with a view to promoting increased mutual supportiveness and integration of biological diversity concerns and the protection of intellectual property rights; 7. Reaffirms paragraph 10 of decision IV/15, in which the Conference of the Parties emphasized that further work is required to help develop a common appreciation of the relationship between intellectual property rights and the relevant provisions of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular on issues relating to technology transfer and conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources, including the protection of knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; 8. Takes note of the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Conference of the Parties, including its recommendation IV/5 on the consequences of the use of the new technology for the control of plant gene expression for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity;6 9. Stresses the importance of the implementation of the Convention at all levels, including through the preparation and implementation of national strategies, plans and programmes, taking into account the need for financial resources to support the implementation activities, in particular those of developing countries, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the decisions of the Conference of the Parties; 6 See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/2. /...