Daily report for 3 December 2008

On Wednesday, delegates met in plenary to address, among other things, the future shape of CMS and proposals for amendments to the Appendices. The Committee of the Whole discussed terrestrial mammals, major concerted action projects, Appendix I species conservation, and priorities for CMS agreements. Working groups on resources and on the future shape of CMS also met, as well as groups on climate change, by-catch and ocean noise. MOP 1 to the Gorilla Agreement concluded its deliberations.

PLENARY

FUTURE SHAPE OF CMS: Standing Committee Chair Andrew McNee (Australia) introduced a draft resolution on the future shape of CMS (UNEP/CMS/Res.9.13), submitted by the EU and endorsed by the Standing Committee. Many delegates expressed support for the draft resolution and willingness to participate in the proposed intersessional working group to explore the issue, with NORWAY drawing attention to its draft terms of reference (UNEP/CMS/Inf.9.24). SWITZERLAND and the EU stressed the need to link this process with the development of a new strategic plan.

States and agreements called for: balanced regional representation in the intersessional working group; participation of developing countries, partner organizations, non-parties and agreement secretariats; and addressing the needs of Africa and South East Asia. CMS Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth suggested that the format of the current Strategic Plan be maintained, with its content revised to reflect the next six-year period. IRAQ reported on the status of migratory waterbirds in southern Iraq, following restoration of marshlands. HAITI drew attention to its agreement with the Dominican Republic on the creation of an ecological corridor.

FUNDRAISING: The Secretariat reported on fundraising efforts (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.34), highlighting the establishment of the “Friends of CMS.” EGYPT suggested targeting fundraising at the private sector.

OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION: The Secretariat provided an overview of outreach and communication activities undertaken under the Year of the Dolphin 2008 campaign (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.21), and planned initiatives for the Year of the Gorilla 2009 (YoG). The Secretariat also reported on the Outreach and Communication Plan 2009-2011 (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.22/Rev.1), noting the need for resources to continue this work, as outlined in a draft resolution (UNEP/CMS/Res.9.5).

Numerous states and organizations expressed support for YoG. GERMANY announced a donation of 200,000 euros, France of 137,000 euros and MONACO of 30,000 euros. The EU called for more details on the results and outcomes of outreach activities in future reports. CAMEROON and GABON highlighted national actions towards gorilla conservation. MALI, GUINEA BISSAU and GUINEA underscored the conservation needs of other large primates. CHILE proposed focusing on flamingos in 2012. The DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO stressed that local organizations should be involved with YoG. The WORLD ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (WAZA) highlighted the renewal of the MOU between WAZA and CMS. UNEP described its relevant activities. The UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION (UNCCD) highlighted collaboration between UNCCD, CMS and the Ramsar Convention. Discussion on the draft resolution was deferred, pending the outcomes of the budget deliberations.

COOPERATION: The Secretariat introduced the agenda item (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.23/Rev.1 and UNEP/CMS/Res.9.6/Rev.1), highlighting cooperation with FAO and biodiversity-related conventions, and underlining the input of NGOs and IUCN specialist groups. She underscored that the drafting of cooperation agreements should be sufficiently concrete to lead to implementation in the field.

Many delegates supported enhanced cooperation with MEAs and partners. The interim Secretariat of Environmental Matters in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (SINEPAD) drew attention to its partnership with CMS on implementation of the African marine turtles MOU. IUCN underscored its Red List of endangered species and specialist groups on sharks, primates and elephants. GUINEA BISSAU and GHANA called for cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat. NORWAY and MONACO suggested collaboration with the Arctic Council on arctic megafauna. SOUTH AFRICA recommended developing a code of conduct for partnership with the private sector. The EU suggested reference to the UNEP-IUCN TEMATEA project on issue-based modules for coherent implementation of biodiversity-related conventions.

CAPACITY BUILDING: The Secretariat introduced the proposed capacity-building strategy (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.30/Rev.2 and Res.9.12). The EU requested deleting references to regional CMS nodes and, with CHILE, called for identifying capacity-building priorities. The PHILIPPINES suggested examining existing national capacity assessments. IRAN called for regional and subregional thematic workshops and knowledge management projects. GUINEA BISSAU and MALI urged civil society involvement, with MALI underscoring that traditional practices should be considered. FAO noted its capacity-building activities on flyways and avian influenza and other wildlife diseases. WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL highlighted its African-Eurasian Flyway training toolkit, noting the lack of funding for countries to implement it.

INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: Executive Secretary Hepworth introduced the documents on the composition and operation of the CMS Standing Committee (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.35/Rev.2 and Res.9.15). INDIA and the EU supported the new model, and the EU suggested establishing a subcommittee for budgetary and financial matters. Executive Secretary Hepworth recalled the United Arab Emirates’ offer to host a coordinating unit for the region’s dugongs, birds of prey and marine turtles MOUs. Delegates showed their gratitude by acclamation. UNEP reported on the experimental merger of the CMS and ASCOBANS Secretariats’ functions, noting that a mid-term review is being finalized.

SPECIES LISTING PROPOSALS: Scientific Council Vice-Chair Pierre Devillers (Belgium) presented this item (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.29/Addendum), noting 13 proposals for Appendix I listings and 11 for Appendix II. He noted ongoing informal discussions on the Appendix I listing of the saker falcon and Appendix II listing of the spiny dogfish and porbeagle shark.

SAUDI ARABIA, with others, opposed the Croatian proposal to list the saker falcon on Appendix I, noting it is based on insufficient data. He suggested: referring the issue to the birds of prey MOU; holding a survey in range states; and organizing a meeting for falcon range states in the United Arab Emirates. CROATIA emphasized the proposal was accepted by the majority of the Scientific Council and pointed to the precautionary principle. Discussion will resume on Thursday.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS: Rosaline Beudels-Jamar, CMS Scientific Council, introduced the item (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.28), highlighting the existing concerted actions on Sahelo-Saharan antelopes and on Central Eurasian Aridlands, and possible future initiatives, including on Atlantic and North European megafauna. She also drew attention to a draft recommendation on tigers and other Asian big cats submitted by the Scientific Council (UNEP/CMS/Rec.9.3).

JORDAN and YEMEN expressed their formal interest in taking part in the Central Eurasian Aridland concerted action. NORWAY, with the EU, called for reference to existing initiatives on megafauna species. The EU suggested an assessment of conservation needs. INDIA, with WWF, suggested that CMS engage in tiger conservation through existing initiatives, and IFAW and IUCN suggested assessing the added value of CMS in this regard. PAKISTAN suggested exploring mechanisms to compensate communities for long-term conservation. KENYA supported future action on the African elephant.

MAJOR CONCERTED ACTION PROJECTS: The Secretariat presented the document on major species projects (UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.14/Rev.1), elaborating on concerted actions on, inter alia, Sahelo-Saharan antelopes. A representative of the Scientific Committee emphasized that all actions are taken in cooperation with other conventions and range states. EGYPT offered to share information on the gazelle, ibex and barbary sheep. Delegates approved the recommendations contained in the document, noting that some may be streamlined.

APPENDIX I SPECIES CONSERVATION: The Secretariat presented on the draft resolution on concerted and cooperative actions to promote Appendix I species conservation (UNEP/CMS/Res.9.1/Rev.1). MONGOLIA requested funding for single-species action plan development for the Dalmatian pelican and the swan goose. Delegates approved the list of species.

AGREEMENTS: The Secretariat introduced a draft resolution on priorities for CMS agreements (UNEP/CMS/Res.9.2/Rev.1). Paraguay, on behalf of GRULAC, called for reference to the migratory flyways of the Americas, rather than the American and Central Pacific flyways. GRULAC supported setting up a working group under the Scientific Council to revise the instruments. The EU stressed the new instruments under development should be linked to the intersessional process on the future shape, and called for focus on implementing existing agreements. AUSTRALIA noted priorities, including work on Pacific islands marine turtles and small cetaceans of South East Asia. The REPUBLIC OF CONGO drew attention to its proposal on Central African elephants. The EU emphasized sturgeon-related activities under the Bern Convention. AUSTRALIA and ARGENTINA cautioned against preempting the results of forthcoming discussions on sharks. Discussion will continue on Thursday.

WORKING GROUPS

FUTURE SHAPE: The working group on the future shape of CMS discussed the intersessional working group’s structure and membership. Many supported establishing a core, regionally-balanced group of parties, which would then be opened to broader consultations. The need to involve the CMS agreements and their Secretariats, non-parties and partner organizations was also stressed. Participants agreed to designate regional representatives to the intersessional working group, following the Standing Committee’s structure, to be decided upon by COP 9. Discussions will continue on Thursday.

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org> is written and edited by Nienke Beintema, Reem Hajjar, and Elsa Tsioumani. The Digital Editor is Anders Gonçalves da Silva, Ph.D. The Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org> and the Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The Sustaining Donors of the Bulletin are the United Kingdom (through the Department for International Development – DFID), 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 Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission (DG-ENV), and the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea. General Support for the Bulletin during 2008 is provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Australia, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, the Ministry of Environment of Sweden, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (through the Global Industrial and Social Progress Research Institute - GISPRI), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Funding for the translation of the Bulletin into Spanish has been provided by the Ministry of Environment of Spain. The opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD or other donors. Excerpts from the 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@iisd.org>, +1-646-536-7556 or 300 East 56th St., 11A, New York, New York 10022, United States of America. The ENB Team at CMS COP9 can be contacted by e-mail at <nienke@iisd.org>.