Daily report for 22 November 2011

CMS COP10 convened on Tuesday, 22 November, in Bergen, Norway. Working groups on the saker falcon, the strategic plan, marine species, the joint working group on the budget and the future shape of the Convention, and the budget working group, with no observers allowed, continued meeting as the CoW addressed a thick agenda of, inter alia, national reports, cooperation and synergies of biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), the role of IPBES, budget and strategic plans. In the evening, donors convened at the Donor’s reception.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

REPORTS FROM CONVENTION AND AGREEMENT BODIES AND UNEP: CoW Chair James Lutalo (Uganda) invited delegates to continue discussions on reports from convention, agreement bodies and UNEP on the implementation of CMS. Margaret Oduk, UNEP, presented the report of activities undertaken by UNEP (UNEP/CMS/Inf.10.17).

DEPOSITARY AND HOST COUNTRY:GERMANY presented the report of the Depositary for the triennium 2009-2011 (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.6/Rev.1), noting that six countries have acceded to the CMS since COP9, bringing the total number of parties to 116, as of 1 August 2011. She also described Germany’s efforts to encourage more countries to become parties to CMS.

NATIONAL REPORTS: The CMS Secretariat introduced documents on the analysis and synthesis of national reports (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.11 and Annex), noting that 79 reports have been received by the Secretariat, but only those submitted by the 10 June deadline were included in the analysis.

Underscoring that national reports provide a means to assess the status of implementation of the Convention and guide strategic priorities, Kelly Malsch, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC), outlined the report’s findings on main threats to Appendix I-listed species. Malsch highlighted the four most prominent threats: bycatch; habitat loss; poaching and illegal trade; and man-made obstacles.

COOPERATION AND SYNERGIES WITH BIODIVERSITY RELATED MEAS: The CMS Secretariat introduced the relevant document (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.26. Rev.1) and the draft guidance on the integration of the conservation of migratory species issues to National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.27), linked to the guidelines on integration of migratory species into NBSAPs (UNEP/CMS/Res.10.18.Rev.1). She said the CMS Secretariat engages partnerships through formal agreements and MoUs implemented through joint work plans  citing cooperation with CITES, UN Convention on Biological Diversity and Ramsar detailed in UNEP/CMS/Inf.35, Inf.36 and Inf.37.

The EU and its member states suggested considering budgetary implications, including additional text aimed at highlighting the need to avoid duplication of efforts.

CURRENT STATUS AND “FUTURE SHAPE” OF THE CONVENTION: Extension of the ACCOBAMS Area: The CMS Secretariat presented updates on parties’ agreements with ACCOBAMS, saying that a proposal by Spain and Portugal to extend the agreement to cover cetaceans in their geographical area was accepted. She said that even though this creates overlaps with the ASCOBANS area, mechanisms of cooperation are already in place.

Merger of CMS and ASCOBANS Secretariat functions: The ASCOBANS Working Group Chair reported that the group had carried out an evaluation of the joint CMS/ASCOBANS Secretariat, which was accepted by the advisory committee in April 2011 and is presented to COP10 in document UNEP/CMS.Inf.10.32.

CMS STRATEGIC PLAN 2006-2011: The CMS Secretariat introduced the document UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.21 on the Strategic Plan 2006-2011 focusing on the period of the last triennium. Egypt suggested that activities in the strategic plan be linked with the future shape process. The EU and its member states said that the plan lacked information on difficulties encountered in implementation of activities and asked that these be included.

STRATEGIC PLAN 2006-2014: The Secretariat introduced discussion on the updated strategic plan 2006-2014 (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.22.Rev.1), noting that, on the basis of recommendations of the Standing Committee, the proposal was to include activities for the next triennium in the existing strategic plan by updating and extending the plan to 2014. He then introduced a draft resolution on the CMS Strategic Plan 2015–2020 (UNEP/CMS/Res.10.5.Rev.1), which includes the Terms of Reference (TORs) for an intersessional working group mandated to work on the new strategic plan.

EXECUTION OF CMS BUDGET 2009-2011: The CMS Secretariat introduced the document on the execution of the budget 2009-2011 (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.18a), highlighting that outstanding country contributions amounted to €309,446 in 2011, and urging countries with payments in arrears to make their contributions.

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: The CMS Secretariat introduced the report on resource mobilization (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.19), outlining areas of work supported by voluntary contributions, including: work on the future shape of the CMS; outreach; capacity building; negotiation of new instruments; and servicing of CMS instruments, such as the West African elephants and aquatic warbler MoUs. She also listed the actions requested of the COP, inter alia, to acknowledge and appreciate financial and in-kind support from donors, urge the provision of additional extra-budgetary resources and be open to new and innovative ways of meeting the Convention’s financial needs.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLICY PLATFORM ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: The CMS Secretariat presented the background note and draft resolution on cooperation between the Inter-governmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and CMS (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.47 and UNEP/CMS/Res.10.8).

The EU and its member states noted the importance of the CMS COP liaising with IPBES, to ensure migratory species are included in its work, and, subject to available resources, urged the CMS to participate in IPBES’ scientific assessments.

ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE Gl: The CMS Secretariat introduced the document UNEP/CMS.Conf.10.41 and draft resolution (UNEP/CMS/Res.10.25), noting that no formal mechanism exists for CMS to access GEF funds. For longer-term support she said CMS would need to be designated as a convention for which the GEF is a financial mechanism.

CMS ACTIVITIES AND KEY ISSUES: Measures to improve the conservation status of Appendix I species: Progress on concerted and other actions for CMS species that are not covered by an Article IV Agreements instrument: The CMS Secretariat presented the report UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.12, reporting on progress on the Sahelo-Saharan Megafauna Action Plan and the Central Eurasian Arid Mammals Action Plan.

Measures to improve the conservation status of Appendix II species: On development of new and future agreements, the CMS Secretariat presented the report on new agreements (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.9) and resolution document UNEP/CMS/Res.10.16 on perspectives for future agreements. She also presented the gap analysis on Central African elephant conservation (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.46) and a detailed gap analysis report, (UNEP/CMS/Inf.10.27), proposing an agreement which could be: providing three options for CMS to consider: a legally binding agreement; provision of capacity building, support to increase consultations among African countries; or facilitated consultation with Central African CMS countries.

Other measures to promote the conservation of Appendix I species, and to promote conservation and sustainable management of Appendix-II species: The CMS Secretariat presented on other measures to promote the conservation of Appendix I species and to promote conservation and sustainable management of Appendix-II species, and introduced the associated draft resolution on concerted and cooperative actions (UNEP/CMS/Res.10.23). Noting that the list of species in the CMS Appendices continues to increase, with species not having been taken off the list since COP8, she explained the draft resolution reviews the list of species on both Appendices and proposes the removal of species already covered by CMS instruments.

NEW ZEALAND recommended that the ten key actions for remedying problems, listed in UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.36 on management of Appendix II species, be added as an annex to the draft resolution.

BIRD FLYWAY CONSERVATION POLICY: Noting the activities of the CMS Flyways Working Group during the intersessional period, the CMS Secretariat introduced the Bird Flyway Conservation Policy (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.23) and the associated draft resolution on guidance on global flyway conservation and options for policy arrangements (UNEP/CMS/Res.10.10).

Taej Mundkur, Chair of the CMS Flyways Working Group, outlined the mandate, representation, review work and meetings of the working group, and described progress on global coordination and streamlining of work on flyways.

THESIS AWARD CEREMONY: The Secretariat then held a COP10 Thesis Award Ceremony, with the winner, Lucy King, presenting on her work on the interaction between the African elephant and the African honeybee and its application as an elephant deterrent.

WORKING GROUPS

SAKER FALCON: This working group continued discussions in the morning and afternoon. Some noted that failure to list the saker falcon would not be consistent with the mandate given at COP9, citing that the decision was that the saker falcon would be listed unless data provided intersessionally showed that the population had significantly improved. Another participant stressed that the listing would not contribute to curbing illegal trade.

In the afternoon, on the basis of the discussions, the Secretariat prepared a draft statement indicating that supporting: the EU-led uplisting proposal would lead to include the designation of species for concerted and cooperative action; whereas the proposal is turned down, an international task force would be established to develop a coordinated global action plan.

WORKING GROUP ON BUDGET/FUTURE SHAPE: The joint budget/future shape working group continued its deliberations on the selection of the 16 rationalized (themed) activities developed from the intersessional working group. Begonia Tulloch (ERIC) said the themes contain a number of activities categorized into three timeframes – short (by COP11), medium (by COP12) and high (by COP13). The working group agreed to first rank the 16 activity themes according to “high,” “medium” and “low” priority and then consider the individual activities.  One participant emphasized coherence, urging relating to prioritization to a number of draft resolutions being considered by COP10, and others urged feeding into the strategic plan discussions.

For Theme 6 (coordinated strategic plan for the CMS family), Theme 11 (coordination of meetings) and Theme 12 (growth of the CMS family), the group was in agreement on “high” priority. For the remaining themes, the group assigned differing levels of priority, noting in some cases the need to consider individual activities under each.

For Theme 3 (enhancing scientific research and information), many favored high priority, referring to significant data gaps, but some preferred medium given the increased workload implications and the existence of, for example, the IPBES. For Theme 5 (global gap analysis and resource analysis), participants favored medium and high, while some lamented this had not been carried out earlier in the process. For Theme 14 (seeking fundraising opportunities), one participant emphasized tapping into innovative financing measures and the group agreed medium and high.

The working group then considered the individual activities under each of the themes and agreed whether they are short-, medium- or long-term activities, suggesting short-term activities could be prioritized for the budget discussions. The working group then convened in a closed session to discuss the budget at the end of the day and agreed to continue discussions on the future shape on Wednesday.

MARINE ISSUES: In the evening, the marine issues working group, chaired by Barry Baker, Australia, continued discussions on marine debris (UNEP/CMS/Res.10.4) and the global programme of work for cetaceans (UNEP/CMS/Res.10.15).

IN THE CORRIDORS

The day was a busy one with delegates scattered across different venues, migrating from regional meetings to the CoW, side events and back to working groups. In their short migrations, while navigating the cobbled streets, some expressed hope for the donor reception given the interest raised by the launch of the Ecological Networks publication on Monday raised and others highlighted positive interactions with “real conservation” projects and scientists that CMS enables in the spirit of “networking for conservation.” Yet, perched high in a room in the Scandic Hotel, the working group on Saker falcon grappled with the serious question of “to list or not list” the falcon. This was, in one delegate’s words “a moment of truth” for CMS that could demonstrate whether it is a convention that can generate the political will to deliver on its commitments, such as the one made at CoP9 with regard to the falcons.

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org> is written and edited by Leonie Gordon, Kate Neville, Dorothy Wanja Nyingi, Ph.D. and Tanya Rosen. The Digital Editor is Kate Harris. The Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. 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 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 European Commission (DG-ENV), and the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea. General Support for the Bulletin during 2011 is provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Australia, 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 coverage of this meeting has been provided by the CMS Secretariat. Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Belgium Walloon Region, the Province of Québec, and the International Organization of the Francophone (OIF and IEPF). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into Spanish has been provided by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs. 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., 11D, New York, NY 10022, United States of America. The ENB Team at CMS COP 10 can be contacted by e-mail at <tanya@iisd.org>. 代表団の友