The UNEP/CMS Secretariat

1. The UNEP/CMS Secretariat • North America Officer in Washington DC, USA (shared with UNEP/RONA) • Purpose: Raise Awareness & Understanding of CMS; Build Political Support for CMS; Partnership Development & Engagement, Resource Mobilization • Creating a CMS “buzz” in Washington.

2. CMS Strategic Plan 2015-23 • Inter-sessional Working Group –first draft out in April 2013 • WHMSI an invited observer (Gil Cintron – valuable contribution) • Completed review of current implementation and lessons learned • For migratory species conservation in general • Based on Biodiversity Strategic Plan and Aichi Targets • Wide consultation will take place in 2013 and 2014

3. Small Grants Programme • Catalyst for grass-roots conservation • UNEP contribution: US$300,000 for 2012-2014 • 2012 call: 75 applications. 12 projects funded (ranging from snow leopard conservation in Central Asia to empowering fishing communities in Congo to conserve coastal dolphins, and include fish, bats, marine mammals, turtles, terrestrial mammals and several bird projects). • Next call for proposals will be late 2013.

4. Raptors MOU • MoS1, UAE, December 2012. • Coordinating Unit in Abu Dhabi. • Established Technical Advisory Group. • Signatories to develop National or Regional Strategies by June 2014. • Costed project proposals will be circulated annually to Signatories and others seeking sponsorship. • Agreed to basic principles and a schedule for National Reporting on implementation of the MoU.

5. Power Lines and Windfarms • AEWA Guidelines on how to avoid or mitigate the impact of electricity power grids on migratory birds in the African-Eurasian region . • IRENA cooperation on renewable energy (including wind farms) – aiming to produce guidance. World Migratory Bird Day • 2nd weekend each May (11/12 May 2013). • Public events such as bird festivals and bird-watching excursions.

6. Sharks MOU • MOS 1, Bonn, Germany, Sept 2012 • Conservation Plan • Advisory Committee • Species listing criteria and procedure • Budget and TORs for the Secretariat  • Interim Secretariat in Bonn continues for another term • No fixed and assessed annual contributions but volycons

7. Capacity Building • Handbook for National Focal Points and Contact Points for the CMS instruments. • CMS Guidelines on the Integration of Migratory Species into NBSAPs. • Participate in CBD-organized NBSAPs regional capacity-building workshops where possible.

8. Some other 2013-14 priorities • Ecological Networks first steps: Strategic review of existing networks and how/if they benefit migratory species • Improve conservation for African-Eurasian migratory landbirds and minimizing poisoning. • Promote global flyway conservation (workshops). • Climate change – monitoring, population management, mitigation, spatial planning, capacity building, synergies. • IPBES cooperation. • NBSAPs in collaboration with CBD. • Mitigate the most serious threats to migratory species (e.g. by-catch) and address obstacles to animal migration, wildlife disease task force.

9. Thank you www.cms.int