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Visit the Convention on Migratory  Species

The Seventh Conference of the Parties to the Convention on  Migratory Species (CMS COP-7)

Bonn, Germany; 18-24 September 2002

Arnulf Müller-Helmbrecht (left), CMS Executive Secretary, Demetrio Ignacio, CMS Standing Committee Chair and Douglas Hykle, CMS Secretariat

Thursday, 19 September 2002
The Plenary met briefly in the morning to consider the draft report of the Credentials Committee and admission of additional NGOs. Following the Plenary, the Committee of the Whole (COW) met in morning and afternoon sessions to continue reviewing implementation of the Strategic Plan for 2002-2005, and address measures to improve the conservation status of Appendix I and II species, review of Article IV agreements (Appendix II species), synthesis of Party reports, and the budget. In the evening, a working group met to consider the Strategic Plan.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2000-2005: COW Chair Ignacio invited further comments on the review of implementation of the Strategic Plan for 2000-2005. Reporting on the work of the Performance Working Group, the UK stated that specific targets had not been set due to a lack of firm baseline data. The COW established a Working Group to refine the Strategic Plan, improve performance indicators, and agree on a procedure to review the Plan.

 

Sami Niemi, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Muembo Kabenba, Congo

William Perrin

CONSERVATION STATUS OF APPENDIX I AND II SPECIES: CMS Deputy Executive Secretary Hykle introduced documents on measures to improve the conservation status of Appendix I and II species. John O'Sullivan, Birdlife International, described progress made on the conservation of the Ruddy-headed Goose, Houbara Bustard, Great Bustard, Slender-billed Curlew, Siberian Crane, Aquatic Warbler, Ferruginous Duck, White-headed Duck, White-winged Flufftail and Blue Swallow.

FINLAND described domestic actions for Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation.

REVIEW OF ARTICLE IV AGREEMENTS: Agreements already concluded:On these agreements, the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea noted the development of a revised Seal Management Plan and drew attention to population decrease due to a virus outbreak. The EUROBATS Secretariat welcomed the doubling of its membership to 26 in the past four years, highlighted the inclusion of an amendable appendix to the Agreement, and encouraged the conclusion of bats' agreements for other regions. The ASCOBANS Secretariat explained that a recovery plan had been finalized and opened for signature. The ACCOBAMS Secretariat stressed the establishment of sub-regional coordination units and capacity-building activities.

Steve Lee-Bapty, Zoos and International Species Conservation Global Wildlife Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Development of future agreements: Regarding future Agreements, SAUDI ARABIA reported developments relating to the Houbara Bustard, noting planned meetings to consider a draft agreement. ZIMBABWE raised concern over falconry. Reporting on developments on the Aquatic Warbler, BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL expressed hope that a draft MOU would be finalized by the end of 2002. The COW endorsed the convening of a workshop to finalize the MOU, cooperation with the Secretariat, and a request for financial assistance.

Bronislav Woloszyn, Chiropterological Information Center, Poland

Peter Bridgewater, Secretary of the MAB Programme, UNESCO

SOUTH AFRICA reported on developments concerning the Sand Grouse, highlighting expected finalization of a MOU by the end of 2003 and ongoing implementation of domestic conservation plans. Regarding sturgeons, GERMANY reiterated the Range States' commitment, but said that development of a MOU is postponed until clarification of CITES' policy on the issue. Concerning marine turtles, Hykle drew attention to, and the COW endorsed, ongoing discussions for an instrument on marine turtles of the Pacific Sea. BANGLADESH suggested increasing financial support to local communities for using turtles excluding devices.

On marine mammals, CMS Scientific Councillor for Cetaceans Perrin highlighted, and the COW endorsed, the Scientific Council's approval of an action plan on small cetaceans and manatees in tropical West Africa; a draft regional agreement on small cetaceans in South-East Asia; and proposals for training courses and workshops on cetaceans in the Indian Ocean. GUINEA and others expressed supported the development of an instrument for whales and manatees of the West African coast.

BANGLADESH, PAKISTAN and INDIA called for more attention on cetaceans of the Bay of Bengal, River Dolphins and Elasmobranch Dolphins, respectively. AUSTRALIA invited other dugong Range States to discuss the possibility of a regional instrument. 

BELGIUM proposed, and the COW supported, a meeting of the Sahelo-Saharan Working Group to develop an agreement. The COW also endorsed the development of MOUs for the Saiga Antelope, the Mongolian Gazelle, and the African Elephant in Western and Central Africa. NIGERIA called for a workshop on African Elephants. Upon suggestion by Scientific Council Chair Galbraith, the COW requested the Council to gather more information on bats and to report the findings at COP-8.

SYNTHESIS OF PARTY REPORTS AND PROPOSED FORMAT FOR NATIONAL REPORTS: Hykle and UNEP/WCMC introduced documents on the synthesis of Parties' reports and on the proposed format for national reports. UNEP/WCMC highlighted the low response rate and lack of information on some Appendix I species. He noted, inter alia, that the new format would facilitate harmonization of reporting under various conventions, and would encourage detailed responses. He recommended the inclusion of detailed guidelines for each section, space for "miscellaneous comments" and a section on protected areas. MONACO noted, inter alia, difficulties in listing obstacles to migration, and suggested adding space to indicate lack of relevance of some issues. DENMARK, on behalf of the EU, welcomed efforts to standardize reporting and expressed hope that the new format will encourage Parties to submit regular reports. CHILE welcomed the possibility to learn about ongoing activities in other countries and within various agencies. BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL called for drawing conclusions and making proposals on the basis of the information received. The COW approved 31 December 2002 as a deadline to submit reports.  

FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS: Hykle introduced the documents on financial and administrative matters and noted a proposed 38% increase in the triennium budget. He explained that unlike the adopted COP-6 budget, funding for implementation measures, conservation measures and agreement development is included in the core budget, which accounts for a major portion of the budget increase.

WORKING GROUP
The Strategic Plan Working Group met in the evening, appointing Olivier Biber (Switzerland) as its Chair. Participants commented on the objectives set out in the Review of Implementation of the Strategic Plan 2000-2005.

Delegates during the day:

Eric Beugre, Ivory Coast

Mark Simmonds (left), Director of Science with fellow WDCS colleague, Margi Prideaux, Australian Campaign Coordinator

Sheikh Ghazanfar Hussain (left), Pakistan with Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, State Minister for Environment and Forest, Bangladesh

Links

Convention on Migratory Species  (CMS) website.

Introduction to the  Convention on Migratory Species.

Linkages biodiversity and wildlife issues page and CMS  COP-6 summary report.
 

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