Summary
The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) met for its final day on Saturday, 28 October 2017. The Committee of the Whole (CoW) convened at 8:30 am to conclude its work and accept the remaining conference room papers (CRPs) for adoption by plenary. In his concluding remarks, CoW Chair Rod Hay thanked the Philippines for their inspirational and effective leadership. He added that although the CoW had to negotiate and vote during previous sessions, the CMS remains “a friendly Convention,” adding that the spirit of collaboration has been palpable and bodes well for the future.
The COP12 plenary resumed at 10:00 am. Participants adopted the report of the Credentials Committee, and heard statements from governments, non-state parties, and regional organizations. They adopted all resolutions and decisions, including the Manila Declaration on Sustainable Development, and Migratory Species, and the decision to host CMS COP13 in India in 2020.
In his closing remarks, Rodolfo Garcia, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, on behalf of COP12 Chair Roy Cimatu, emphasized the success of COP12, with almost 100% party attendance, and large support from multiple stakeholders, which raised the profile of the CMS in the eyes of the public. He cited the Manila Declaration on Sustainable Development and Migratory Species, which states that wildlife supports many national and global economic activities, such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, tourism, transport, mining, and trade.
CMS Executive Secretary Bradnee Chambers said that CMS had matured and “come of age,” and cited important milestones of COP12, including the Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures, the compliance review mechanism, and new policies and commitments. Chambers thanked CMS Deputy Executive Secretary Bert Lenten, who will retire at the end of the year, for his leadership and dedication to migratory species.
Plenary Vice-Chair Rod Hay closed CMS COP12 at 1:00 pm.
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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Committee of the Whole (CoW)
L-R: CoW dais with Bert Lenten, CMS Deputy Executive Secretary; Melanie Virtue, CMS Secretariat; CoW Chair Rod Hay; and Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary
CoW Chair Rod Hay
Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary
Saras Sharma, Fiji
Stefan Leiner, EU
Thea Carroll, South Africa
Lucinda Mangue, Mozambique
Juan Miguel Cuna, the Philippines
Julia Cordero, Ecuador
Melanie Virtue, CMS Secretariat
Bert Lenten, CMS Deputy Executive Secretary
Closing Plenary
Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary, delivering his closing address
Rodolfo Garcia, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, delivering his closing speech
L-R: Rodolfo Garcia, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, and Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary
Elizabeth Mrema, UN Environment
Soumitra Dasgupta, India, formally announced India's intention to host COP13
Clarissa Arida, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)
lham Atho Mohamed, Maldives
Alejandra Goyenechea, Defenders of Wildlife
Ali Mansoor Abbas, Bahrain
Gina Cuza Jones, Costa Rica
José Pedro de Oliveira Costa, National Secretary for Biodiversity, Brazil
Geoff Richardson, Australia
Ariuntuya Dorjisuren, Mongolia
Ralf Sonntag, International Fund for Animal Welfare
L-R: Bresilda Gervacio; Mayumi Quintos-Natividad; Nonita Caguioa; and Mundita Lim, the Philippines
Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary, honoring Bert Lenten, CMS Deputy Executive Secretary on his retirement
Rodolfo Garcia, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, presenting gifts to Bert Lenten, CMS Deputy Executive Secretary
Vice-Chair Rod Hay, on behalf of COP12 Chair Roy Cimatu, gaveled the meeting to a close at
1:00 pm
Photos from CMS COP12 Excursion to the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat
and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA)
L-R: ENB and ENBOTS teams to the CMS COP12 with Franz Dejon; Kate Helfenstein-Louw; Elaine Limjoco; Ikuho Miyazawa; Teya Penniman; Kiara Worth; Iliana Cardenes; Dorothy Wanja Nyingi; Pam Chasek; Nicole de Paula Domingos; Asterios Tsioumanis; and Katie Brown