Summary
The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) was preceded by a day of high-level events on Sunday, 22 October 2017.
In the morning, the Leaders’ Dialogue brought together ministers, leaders from the private sector, and non-governmental entities under the theme “Moving Towards a Pollution-Free Planet.” Participants discussed three key threats to wildlife: marine debris, pollution from pesticides, and lead.
In the afternoon, a high-level panel addressed how CMS implementation can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on, among others, what the opportunities for sustainable wildlife-based tourism are, converting knowledge into action, legal mechanisms to ensure community involvement, and alternative income sources for local communities.
The Migratory Species Champions Award Ceremony recognized five new champions for their contributions to advancing wildlife conservation. The recipients were: the Government of Germany for reconciling energy sector development with migratory species; the Government of the Philippines for whale shark conservation; the European Commission for addressing the illegal killing, taking, and trade of migratory birds in the Mediterranean; marine conservation; and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi for the conservation of birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia, and the conservation of dugongs and their habitats.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the CMS COP12. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon
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Leaders' Dialogue: Moving Towards a Pollution Free Planet
View of the Leaders' Dialogue
Roy Cimatu, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines
Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment
Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary
Peter Nietschke, The Plastic Bank
L-R: Mundita Lim, the Philippines, consulting with Roy Cimatu, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources,
the Philippines
High-level Panel Discussion: How can implementing CMS contribute to the achievement of the SDGs?
Bird's eye view of the High-level Panel
Roy Cimatu, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, delivering his opening remarks
Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary
Rico Hizon, BBC World News Anchor, moderator
High-level Panel group photo
Roy Cimatu, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, and Bradnee Chambers, CMS
Executive Secretary
David Pritchard, Independent consultant, delivering his keynote statement
L-R: Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity; Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment Programme; Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Monaco; Hany Muhammed Ali Tatwany, Saudi Arabia; and Harlad Fries, Ambassador to the Philippines, Sweden
John Scanlon, Secretary-General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Tarsicio Granizo Tamayo, Minister of Environment, Ecuador
Abdul Hamid Zakri, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Malaysia
L-R: Chan Somaly, Deputy Secretary General National Council for Sustainable Development, Cambodia; Ángel Daneris Santana, Dominican Republic; Wali Modaqiq, Afghanistan; Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda; and Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany
Cristiana Paşca Palmer, CBD Executive Secretary
Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany
Chan Somaly, Deputy Secretary General National Council for Sustainable Development, Cambodia
L-R: Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka; Tarsicio Granizo Tamayo, Minister of Enviroment, Ecuador; Yeshey Dorji, Minister for Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan; Barbara Thomson, Deputy Minister of Environment, South Africa; José Pedro de Oliveira Costa, National Secretary for Biodiversity, Brazil; and Abdul Hamid Zakri, Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Malaysia
Barbara Thomson, Deputy Minister of Environment, South Africa
Hany Muhammed Ali Tatwany, Saudi Arabia
Susan Lieberman, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
L-R: Marku Lamp, Estonia; Stefan Leiner, EU; John Scanlon, Secretary-General, CITES; Susan Lieberman, WCS; Támas Marghescu, International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC); and Yann Arthus-Bertrand, UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador
Yann Arthus-Bertrand, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador
Jonas Leones, Undersecretary for Environment and International Environment Affairs, Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, closed the High-Level Panel
Photos from the Champion Night Awards Ceremony
