CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES

[Guest guest]

*Earth Negotiations Bulletin*

. http://www.iisd.ca/vol18/enb1822e.html. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.. . . . .

 

* A Reporting Service for Environment and Development Negotiations*

 

Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development

(IISD)<http://iisd.ca/>

 

*Vol. 18 No. 22

Monday, 21 November 2005*

 

*EIGHTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES:

 

20-25 NOVEMBER 2005 *

 

The eighth Conference of the Parties (COP-8) to the Convention on the

Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) convenes from 20-25

November 2005, in Nairobi, Kenya, with the theme " On the Move to 2010. " CMS

COP-8 was preceded by the 13th meeting of the CMS Scientific Council, held

from 16-18 November, and the 29th meeting of the CMS Standing Committee,

held on 20 November.

 

During the week, COP-8 will address the: review of CMS implementation; 2010

biodiversity target; measures to improve the conservation status of species

listed in Appendix I, including projects on the Sahelo-Saharan antelope and

the Siberian crane, and Appendix II; proposals for amendments to Appendices

I and II; CMS Strategic Plan for 2006-2011; CMS Information Management Plan;

and financial and administrative arrangements. COP-8 is also expected to

finalize a new Agreement on the Asian Houbara bustard, and Memoranda of

Understanding on the West African elephant and the Saiga antelope.

 

*A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES *

 

Migratory species are vulnerable to a wide range of threats, including

habitat shrinkage in breeding areas, excessive hunting along migration

routes, and degradation of their feeding grounds. As a result of

international concern over these threats, CMS was adopted in 1979 and

entered into force on 1 November 1983. CMS, also known as the Bonn

Convention, recognizes that states must be the protectors of migratory

species that live within or pass through their national jurisdictions, and

aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout

their ranges. CMS now has 92 parties.

 

The Convention was designed to allow for expansion and revision of

commitments and to provide a framework through which parties may act to

conserve migratory species and their habitat by: adopting strict protection

measures for migratory species that have been characterized as being in

danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges

(species listed in Appendix I of the Convention); concluding agreements for

the conservation and management of migratory species that have an

unfavorable conservation status or would benefit significantly from

international cooperation (species listed in Appendix II); and joint

research and monitoring activities. At present, over a hundred migratory

species are listed in Appendix I.

 

CMS also provides for the development of specialized regional agreements for

Appendix II species. To date, six agreements and seven memoranda of

understanding (MOUs) have been concluded. The six agreements are the:

African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA); Agreement on the

Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea; Agreement on Small Cetaceans of the

Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS); Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in

Europe (EUROBATS); Agreement on Cetaceans of the Black and Mediterranean

Seas (ACCOBAMS); and Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and

Petrels (ACAP). The seven MOUs are: Conservation Measures for the Siberian

Crane; Conservation Measures for the Slender-billed Curlew; Conservation and

Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and

South-East Asia (IOSEA); Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the

Atlantic Coast of Africa; Conservation and Management of the Middle-European

Population of the Great Bustard; Conservation and Restoration of the Bukhara

Deer, and Conservation Measures for the Aquatic Warbler. These agreements

and MOUs are open to all range states of the species, regardless of whether

they are parties to the Convention.

 

CMS operational bodies include the COP, the Standing Committee, the

Scientific Council and a Secretariat provided by the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP). The COP meets every two-and-a-half to three

years to review and amend Appendices I and II. To date, the COP has met

seven times.

 

*COP-5:* The fifth meeting of the COP (10-16 April 1997, Geneva,

Switzerland) added 21 species to Appendix I and 22 species to Appendix II,

and adopted a resolution identifying the Lesser kestrel, Andean flamingo,

Puna flamingo, Lesser White-fronted goose and Mountain gorilla as species

for concerted actions. The COP endorsed an Action Plan for selected

migratory birds listed in Appendix I and II, cooperative actions for

Appendix II species, development of an action plan for the Great cormorant

in the African-Eurasian region and progress on an agreement on the

conservation and management of the Houbara bustard.

 

*COP-6:* The sixth meeting of the COP (4-16 November 1999, Cape Town, South

Africa) adopted resolutions on: institutional arrangements; financial and

administrative matters; by-catch; information management; Southern

Hemisphere albatross conservation; and concerted actions for Appendix I

species. Seven species were added to Appendix I, including six bird species,

as well as manatees of the marine areas of Panama and Honduras. Thirty-one

species were added to Appendix II, including dolphins of South-East Asia,

seven species of petrel, a number of sturgeon and paddlefish species, and

the Whale shark. Recommendations were approved on cooperative actions for

various Appendix II species, including Sahelo-Saharan antelopes, the African

elephant, Houbara and Great bustards, and marine turtles. Five additional

range states signed the MOU on the Conservation of Marine Turtles of the

Atlantic Coast of Africa.

 

*COP-7:* The seventh meeting of the COP (18-24 September 2002, Bonn,

Germany) added 20 species to Appendix I and 21 to Appendix II, with the Fin,

Sei and Sperm whales, and the Great White shark being listed on both. COP-7

also adopted resolutions on: electrocution of migratory birds, offshore oil

pollution, wind turbines, impact assessment, and by-catch. The COP adopted

species-specific decisions on: future action on the Antarctic Minke, Bryde's

and Pygmy Right whales; regional coordination for small cetaceans and

sirenians of Central and West Africa; improving the conservation status of

the Leatherback turtle; an agreement on dugong conservation; regional

coordination for small cetaceans and dugongs of South-East Asia and adjacent

waters; the American Pacific Flyway Programme; and the Central Asian-Indian

Waterbird Flyway Initiative.

 

*INTERSESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS *

 

*MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING:* Since COP-7, one MOU on Conservation Measures

for the Aquatic Warbler has been concluded under CMS and entered into force

in April 2003. To date, it has been signed by Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria,

France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, the

Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, and the UK.

 

*ACCOBAMS MOP-2: *The second meeting of the parties to the Agreement on

Cetaceans of the Black and Mediterranean Seas (9-12 November 2004, Palma de

Mallorca, Spain): adopted a work programme listing priority actions for the

period 2005-2007 to improve regional conservation efforts for whales and

dolphins; agreed to contribute towards implementation of the joint work

programme between CMS and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);

adopted a resolution on the impact of man-made noise on cetaceans; and

welcomed a conservation plan for the Common dolphin in the Mediterranean.

 

*IOSEA MOP 1-3:* Since CMS COP-7, the signatory states of the IOSEA Marine

Turtles MOU met three times (22-24 January 2003; 16-19 March 2004; and 29-31

March 2005, in Bangkok, Thailand). MOP-1 established an advisory committee,

reviewed implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan and

identified complementary regional initiatives. MOP-2 supported the

establishment of a network of important sites for marine turtles under the

MOU, and an assessment of progress on the basis of reports provided by

signatory states. MOP-3 agreed on a regional " Year of the Turtle " public

awareness campaign for 2006 and on resolutions on fisheries by-catch and

post-tsunami development activities.

 

*GREAT APES INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING:* The first Intergovernmental Meeting

on Great Apes, in conjunction with the first meeting of the Council of the

Great Apes Survival Project (5-9 September 2005, Kinshasa, Democratic

Republic of the Congo), approved the Kinshasa Declaration and a Global

Strategy for the Survival of Great Apes.

 

*AEWA MOP-3:* The third meeting of the parties to AEWA (23-27 October 2005,

Dakar, Senegal) called for improved national contingency planning and better

information on risk assessment and necessary responses to avian influenza.

MOP-3 also adopted resolutions on, *inter alia*: amendments to the annexes;

a strategic plan and a communication strategy; single species action plans;

climate change in relation to migratory waterbirds; and implementation of

the CBD Addis Ababa Principles on Sustainable Use.

 

*RAMSAR COP-9:* The ninth conference of the parties to the Ramsar Convention

on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat

(8-15 November 2005, Kampala, Uganda) adopted, *inter alia*, a resolution on

managing wetlands and waterbirds in response to highly pathogenic avian

influenza, requesting the Convention's continued participation in the

Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza.

 

*CMS SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL:* The Scientific Council has met twice since COP-7,

on 31 March-3 April 2004 in Glasgow, UK, and on 16-18 November 2005 in

Nairobi, Kenya. Prior to COP-8, the Scientific Council endorsed most of the

proposals for species listings, with the exception of the Maccoa duck.

Controversy surrounded the listing of the Basking shark. The Scientific

Council also supported the development of the proposed future agreements,

but advised postponement of negotiations of one on African bats.

 

*OPENING CEREMONY*

 

CMS COP-8 opened on Saturday afternoon, 20 November 2005. Following a

children's music performance, Morris Nzoro, Minister for Tourism and

Wildlife, Kenya, welcomed delegates and praised CMS for its regional

agreements and MOUs as an innovative approach to developing partnerships and

setting priorities. Nzoro noted that CMS continue to face some challenges

such as the need for: further research on habitats and more scientific

information for species management plans; additional financial resources to

effectively implement action plans and other CMS instruments; and the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially poverty

reduction.

 

Robert Hepworth, CMS Executive Secretary, highlighted CMS work to achieve

the 2010 target, including: expanding the number of CMS parties,

particularly in developing and small island states; further developing

partnerships with the private sector and NGOs, to broaden CMS conservation

programmes; keeping administrative costs under control and stretching funds

towards project implementation. He urged parties to continue working in a

cooperative and concerted manner to consider a proper budget to enable CMS

to deliver its objectives.

 

Jim Knight, Minister for Biodiversity, UK, urged protection of endangered

migratory species, stressing the threats of climate change and

desertification, unsustainable natural resource use, global pandemics and

poverty. He also called for a coordinated global response to avian influenza

that should be proportionate to risk and based on sound advice. Knight

welcomed emerging partnership arrangements between CMS and other

conservation initiatives, called for complementary people-centered action,

and urged delegates to look beyond the 2010 target, in the broader context

of the MDGs.

 

Following the CMS thesis award ceremony, the presentation of the " Friends of

CMS " initiative and the Partnership Fair, Bakary Kante, Director of UNEP's

Division of Environmental Conventions, closed the opening ceremony. He

pledged DEC's full support to the Convention, lauded Germany for being the

driving force behind CMS, and called upon delegates to work proactively to

implement the Convention's objectives.

 

This issue of the *Earth Negotiations Bulletin *© <enb is written

and edited by Karen Alvarenga de Oliveira, Ph.D., Nienke Beintema, Leonie

Gordon, and Elisa Morgera. The Digital Editor is Dan Birchall. The Editor is

Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. <pam and the Director of IISD Reporting

Services is Langston James " Kimo " Goree VI <kimo. The Sustaining

Donors of the *Bulletin *are the Government of the United States of America

(through the Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International

Environmental and Scientific Affairs), the Government of Canada (through

CIDA), the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), the

United Kingdom (through the Department for International Development -

DFID), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Germany

(through the German Federal Ministry of Environment - BMU, and the German

Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation - BMZ), the Netherlands Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission (DG-ENV), and the Italian

Ministry of Environment. General Support for the *Bulletin* during 2005 is

provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Government

of Australia, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,

Environment and Water Management, the Ministry of Sustainable Development

and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, the Ministry of Environment

and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, the Ministry of Environment

and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, SWAN International, the

Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global

Environmental Strategies - IGES) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade

and Industry (through the Global Industrial and Social Progress Research

Institute - GISPRI). Funding for translation of the *Earth Negotiations

Bulletin *into French has been provided by the International Organization of

the Francophonie (IOF) and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Funding

for the translation of the *Earth Negotiations Bulletin *into Spanish has

been provided by the Ministry of Environment of Spain. The opinions

expressed in the *Earth Negotiations Bulletin *are those of the authors and

do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD or other donors. Excerpts from

the *Earth Negotiations Bulletin *may be used in non-commercial publications

with appropriate academic citation. For information on the *Bulletin*,

including requests to provide reporting services, contact the Director of

IISD Reporting Services at <kimo, +1-646-536-7556 or 212 East 47th

St. #21F, New York, NY 10017, USA. The ENB Team at CMS COP-8 can be

contacted at the Press Room ( " Fishbowl " ) on the first floor of the

Conference area in Gigiri, UNON, or by e-mail at <elisa.