www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 United Nations Environment Programme Convention on Migratory Species Synergizing CMS - within the CMS Family and within the wider biodiversity MEA system Elizabeth Maruma Mrema Executive Secretary UNEP/CMS Secretariat 9 April 2010, Helsinki, Finland Introduction: CMS Family structure • Umbrella convention: – 1 Biodiversity treaty (UNEP), in force since 1983, 113 Parties – 7 Regional agreements (4 UNEP, 3 independent) – 18 Memoranda of Understanding (UNEP) • Overall aim: conservation of migratory species • Hence, need synergies within CMS Family © CMS / author 1 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 Locations of CMS Family Secretariats • UNEP/CMS Secretariat in Bonn, Germany – CMS and ASCOBANS (small cetaceans) joint Secretariat – Gorilla Agreement Secretariat functions provided by CMS – Co-located with EUROBATS and AEWA – Serves as Secretariat of most MOUs • Other locations for other regional agreements: – ACCOBAMS (Monaco), ACAP (Hobart, Australia), Wadden Seas Seals Agreement (Wilhelmshafen, Germany) – MoUs: IOSEA (Bangkok, Thailand), Raptors and Dugongs (Abu Dhabi, UAE), other MoUs (Bonn) Background to biodiversity clustering Ongoing processes: • Joint Inspection Unit • High level Panel on System-Wide Coherence • Chemical-waste cluster Chemical MEA Super COP - Any lessons learnt? • Biodiversity cluster © CMS / author Is it right time, too early, how? 2 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 Synergies should be outcome orientated • Process of creating synergies well-known: – From knowledge sharing to streamlining hierarchy and decision-making processes • Potential advantages of synergies well-known: – Faster response time, cost reductions, reaching a wider audience, less bureaucracy, greater impact… • But: the devil is in the detail! The CMS Family provides an interesting testing ground for achieving synergies from biodiversity clustering because it represents a whole cluster of biodiversity agreements. “Clustering” within CMS Family • CMS Family structure is currently undergoing a full review to strengthen its contributions to the worldwide conservation – Reasons/objectives for review – not synergy but ….. • Intersessional process on the Future Shape of CMS – Mandated by Resolution 9.13 (December 2008) – 3 step process: 2009-2011 – Lead by intersessional Working Group with regional representatives (similar to StC structure) • Aim: Preparation of 3 potential scenarios for improving CMS Family organization and development for CMS COP10 (2011) • http://www.cms.int/bodies/future_shape/future_shape_mainpage.htm Let’s consider the 12 recommendations by the Nordic Council of Ministers in turn… © CMS / author 3 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 1: Back-to-back meetings • Long-term practice within CMS Family • Most recent example: – CMS COP9/Gorilla I/Sharks II/Central Asian mammals • Advantages: – Make more use of experts and focal points present, cost reduction, improve communication • Risks: – Work load on Secretariat can be too overwhelming to ensure meeting success and logistics – Challenge for national representatives to be prepared & attend all convened meetings 2: Focusing meeting agendas • Many decision-making bodies within the CMS Family use regional representatives (COP/MOP decisions) – e.g. CMS Standing Committee: 15 representatives – e.g. AEWA Technical Committee: 9 members • Convention/Agreement texts limit changes – However: improvements can be made within mandate – However: decision-making has been facilitated by the close working relationship with Chairs and members of the decision-making organs © CMS / author 4 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 3: Co-location of secretariats • EUROBATS and AEWA and ASCOBANS Secretariats moved to Bonn and were integrated into UNEP. They are currently co-located with the CMS Secretariat and share common services e.g. logistics, procurement, financial management, administration – One Fund/Admin Unit • Merger: CMS and ASCOBANS – Reason not synergy • Not all agreements under UNEP! 3 out of 7 CMS regional agreements are not… (ACAP, ACCOBAMS, Wadden Sea Seals) 4: Bottom-up process for synergies • MEAs: Bilateral MoUs and joint work programmes – e.g. CBD (1996), Ramsar (1997), CITES (2002), WHC (2002), UNCCD (2003), Bern Convention (2009) • Total formal partnerships established: 26 CMS partners • Biodiversity Liaison Group • Shared liaison staff: CITES – CMS (Secretariat-driven) & CBD Liaison Officer hosted by CMS in Bonn Outcome-driven collaborations tend to be most successful. © CMS / author 5 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 5: IEG – Role of UNEP • CMS Family: – UNEP-administered: CMS, ASCOBANS, EUROBATS, Gorilla Agreement – Joint staff member with UNEP RONA, Washington D.C. under negotiation; Joint CITES/CMS consultant; CBD Staff hosted by CMS • UNEP Regional biodiversity MEAs focal points 6: Science-Policy interface • CMS Family focus: migratory species conservation – Experts within secretariats (linkages to other MEA experts) – Good access to external experts (academia, NGOs, IGOS, national institutions) – Scientific Council: independent experts/COP appointed experts • Advantage: flexibility and independence!!! • Interest and participation in cross-cutting issues e.g. climate change © CMS / author 6 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 7: Harmonization • Common Reporting ─ Aware of national challenges in reporting (report rate 2008 60%) ─ Online reporting successfully established for IOSEA (marine turtles MoU), about to be implemented for AEWA ─ Lessons and software spreading swiftly throughout wider CMS Family • Species nomenclature ─ Harmonization of nomenclature between CITES and CMS 8: Joint information management • Formal information management exists • Newly established UNEP Unit in Geneva • Cost and capacity constraints • For species-based agreements this would be of considerable national interest… (could be joined to national databases) © CMS / author 7 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 9: Awareness raising and outreach • Good experiences with shared workshops, capacity building, missions (e.g. Ramsar/AEWA, CBD/CMS) • Close species-specific collaboration with CITES Secretariat and CITES focal points (e.g. Saiga antelope MoU meetings and outreach) • Global campaigns: YoD (Dolphin): cooperation with UNESCO; IYB: CMS 2010 calendar, success stories, events 10: Financing and GEF strengthening • Funding for conservation activities urgently needed! • Few CMS GEF projects – Siberian crane – Wings Over Wetlands • GEF projects in preparation (e.g. saiga) • Concerns: slow response, long preparation, matching funding, administrative control, indirect GEF window © CMS / author 8 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 11: Business & biodiversity • Code of conduct for interactions with private sector established (2009) • CMS Friends: German NGO aimed at private sector fundraising for CMS implementation • Corporate sponsorship, e.g.: – CMS PhD thesis award – Year of the Dolphin campaign 2007/2008 12: Joint capacity building Training, awareness and institutional capacity • Good experience with national focal point collaboration (e.g. CITES-CMS; further supported by CITES COP15) • Role of UNEP Regional MEA Focal Points • Close relationship with UNEP Regional Offices – Shared staff member with UNEP RONA, Washington DC – UNEP Virtual Country Team participation (e.g. Russia) © CMS / author 9 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 Additional food for thought • MEA subject focus matters: how narrow/broadly defined? – e.g. CMS vs CBD, CMS vs CITES, etc – This has many implications, e.g. regarding the need for scientific advice, number of meetings etc • How applied is the MEA or how much is it “just policy”? • Financial structure of MEAs varies: CMS is extremely dependent on voluntary contributions Conclusions • Opportunities exist • But: devil in the detail • Consider lessons learnt within CMS Family • Consider differences between MEAs • Consider existing strong collaborations and • Consider whether synergies by cluster or others Find out more about “CMS Family clustering” at: www.cms.int/bodies/future_shape/future_shape_mainpage.htm © CMS / author 10 www.cms.int email:[email protected] 4/14/2010 Thank you! www.cms.int © CMS / author 11
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