Promoting a strategic approach for conservation of migratory birds and their habitats globally
Taej Mundkur , PhD Chair, CMS Flyways Working Group and Programme Manager –Flyways, Wetlands International
Jamaica, March 2014 Contents
• CMS Flyways Working Group
• Resolution 10.10 Implementation
Flyway Working Group Representation (2009‐2011) • CMS Appointed Councilors –Birds, Asiatic Fauna & Neotropics • CMS Scientific Councilors – Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa) – Asia (India, Philippines) – America (Costa Rica, Paraguay) – Europe (Italy, Switzerland, UK) CMS – Oceania/ Pacific (Australia) Secretariat • Americas Support – Waterbird Conservation Council – Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network – Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative – North ‐ US FWS • AEWA Technical Committee • Ramsar Secretariat •Wetlands International • BirdLife International •East Asian –Australasian Flyway Partnership • Independent experts •Migratory Bird Hunter groups ‐ FACE Flyway Working Group tasks
Produce reviews 2010‐2011
• Review 1 Existing CMS & Non CMS Agreements
• Review 2 Knowledge of Flyways, threats & gaps
• Review 3 Policy options and future action
www.cms.int/bodies/ScC/16th_scientific_council/16th_ScC_documents.htm Resolution 10.10: Guidance On Global Flyway Conservation And Options For Policy Arrangements
Adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its Tenth Meeting (Bergen, 20‐25 November 2011) International frameworks
Raptor MOU ACAP Res 10.10… contd 16. Support implementation of the following priorities:
1. African‐Eurasian Flyway: • Explore role of a framework instrument for the African ‐ Eurasian Region building on AEWA • Strengthen the implementation of AEWA on the ground, building on AEWA guidelines, Action Plans and other tools • Progress the implementation of the MOU on Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia as a priority • Ensure the continued activity of the single species MoUs in the region • For long‐distance migrant land birds‐ development of an Action Plan Res 10.10… contd 2. Central Asian Flyway
• Build on Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for waterbirds and Western/Central Asian Flyway Site Network • Consider the potential to align these with existing agreements, with AEWA • Consider the potential for an Action Plan for passerines • Organize a workshop to consider specific needs and possible mechanisms Draft Res 10.10… contd 3. East Asian ‐ Australasian Flyway
• Build on achievements of the EAAFP • Development of an overarching framework agreement for all migratory birds; • Develop issue‐based Action Plans ‐ coastal and forest areas • Organize a workshop to consider specific needs and possible mechanisms Americas Flyways Res 10.10… contd
• In partnership with existing flyway organizations and initiatives (esp. WHMSI), develop an overarching conservation Action Plan for migratory birds in the Americas, recognizing especially the established programmes of work and taking into account existing instruments; • Organize a workshop (resources permitting) to consider specific needs and possible mechanisms for implementation in the region • Potential for an instrument covering Austral migrants • Potential for an instrument covering western hemisphere birds of prey; Res 10.10… contd
5. Pacific Flyway:
• Organize a workshop to consider specific needs and possible mechanisms to prioritize conservation efforts, involving all the appropriate CMS Parties and other interested countries and organizations in the region Res 10.10… contd 6. Seabird Flyways:
• Enhanced implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels and the AEWA, and the development, strengthening and implementation of bycatch mitigation and monitoring measures by relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organizations; • Organize a workshop to scope out options and to define the conservation needs of seabirds © Pete Morris (Birdquest) • Promote management of seabirds in the Antarctic region, including with the Antarctic Treaty and other bodies Res 10.10 Actions 1/3
Development phase
• Input in the scoping/planning for the development of formal instruments for conservation (in each flyway) • Engage with national governments to include migratory bird priorities into development/updates of NBSAPs and participate/cooperate in their implementation • Provide financial assistance to developing, least developed countries, countries with economies in transition, Small Islands Developing States and NGO partners to engage in these processes Res 10.10 Actions 2/3
Implementation 1/2
• Increase formal designations & voluntary measures for protection of known migratory stop‐over sites and non‐breeding sites and habitats – designation of protected trans‐boundary habitat corridors and ecological networks • Review coverage and protection status of current site networks and development of a global Critical Site Network Tool for Migratory Waterbirds • Ensure that migratory bird habitat requirements are better integrated into land‐use policies • Strengthen cooperation with the corporate sector to strive for Net Positive Impact, and be pro‐active in using international best practice for site management Res 10.10 Actions 3/3
Implementation 2/2
• Taking action to improve knowledge of effects of climate change on migratory species and to mitigate the impacts • Promote and improve ways to reduce landscape‐scale barriers for migratory species • Enhance and strengthen monitoring of migratory bird populations and important sites, including through increasing of capacity of local organizations to undertake monitoring • Make available to all key stakeholders up‐to‐date information on the distribution, status and trends of migratory birds and important sites/habitats. FWG Mandate
COP 10 (Nov 2011) Resolution 10.10 recognised the excellent work of the Flyways Working Group over the last triennium and
• Proposes the continuation of the open-ended Flyways Working Group to review relevant scientific and technical issues, international initiatives and processes, and to provide guidance and input to the conservation and management of flyways at global and flyway level during the intersessional period until COP11, as a basis for CMS policy on flyways; and
• Further requests Parties to provide resources for this work. Mandate of the Flyway Working Group (Res 10.10)
• Review relevant scientific and technical issues, international initiatives and processes; • Provide guidance and input to the conservation and management of flyways at global and flyway level during the inter‐sessional period to COP11, as a basis for CMS policy on flyways; • Undertake a review of COP10 resolutions to identify linkages to migratory bird management issues, • Develop an integrated work programme for implementation of the Resolution 10.10 and linked activities over the current triennium; • Propose priorities on flyway conservation/management to feed into the draft CMS Strategic Work Plan 2015‐2023. CMS Flyway Working Group Representation (2012‐2014) • Appointed Councilors - Birds, Asiatic Fauna, Neotropics, Climate Change • Scientific Councilors - Africa, Asia, Americas (Costa Rica & Paraguay), Europe, Oceania/Pacific • Americas - Partners In Flight, Waterbird Conservation Council, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network & Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative • African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (Technical Committee & Secretariat) • UNEP/CMS Raptors MOU Secretariat • Council for Arctic Flora and Fauna • Ramsar Secretariat • South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme • BirdLife International • International Crane Foundation • IUCN Species Survival Commission CMS • Wadden Sea Initiative Secretariat • Wetlands International • Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Support • Wildlife Conservation Society • East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership Secretariat • Bird hunting groups - FACE • Independent experts Progress to date
1. Group re‐established with regional representation 2. CMS work space communication initiated 3. Representation at the regional meetings: –Central Asian Flyway Action Plan (Abu Dhabi, Dec 2012) alignment with AEWA –Land bird Action Plan (Ghana 2012) and Poisoning Working Group meetings (May2013) –East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) MOP6 Meeting (Alaska, June 2013) –Partners In Flight V Conference (Utah, Aug 2013) 4. Organisation of FWG/WHMSI Meeting (Jamaica, March 2014), with focus on progressing development of a framework for the Americas 5. Draft Programme of Work for Flyways for endorsement by COP 11 –first cut developed
Principles for development of the POW • Migratory species benefit from international cooperation to support and prioritise conservation action. • CMS as the global UN convention has a mandate to ensure management of migratory birds globally. • Under agreement with CBD to implement action for migratory species, CMS has responsibility to promote actions for all Migratory Birds globally • All countries need to aim at achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets 2020. • The draft CMS Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015‐2023 is aligned to the Aichi Targets and its call to go beyond the CMS Convention itself • The proposed POW on Flyways is based on Res 10.10. • The POW needs to recognise the existing instruments/frameworks of CMS and avoid unnecessary duplication with existing thematic work programmes and other ongoing initiatives of CMS. • It recognises the important role and activities being implemented outside CMS that contribute to the objectives • It should promote synergies and coordination with relevant programmes of various international organizations. POW Table of Contents (proposed)
• Introduction, providing background, scope and purpose • Goals and targets • Summary of actions required – Parties – Secretariat – Partners • Table of Programme of Work • Figures – Diagram of CMS family avian‐related instruments • Annexes – Acronyms – List of CMS bird instruments POW –main themes (proposed) • Enhancing Connectivity Through Management Of Flyways/Ecological Networks and Critical Sites • Implementing Flyway specific actions – African‐Eurasian Flyway – Central Asian Flyway – East Asian‐Australasian Flyway – Pacific Flyway – American Flyways – Seabird Flyways • Enhancing knowledge to support flyway conservation • Resourcing implementation of the POW • Monitoring and reporting Note ‐ Awareness raising, communication and capacity building are crucial tools for implementation of each theme –so not currently identified as themes Time horizons for implementation of a POW • A POW sets out major global priorities for flyway conservation. • A first version to focus on priorities to be addressed during 2015‐2020 linked to Aichi Biodiversity Targets 2020 (or more ambitious?) • A multiyear rolling document to be updated for each COP detailing priorities for each inter‐sessional period. • The first period of prioritisation to be for COP11‐COP12 (2015‐2018) • The first POW to be proposed for endorsement at COP11 Nov 2014. • To respond to COP11 decisions, including new priorities raised/identified by and emerging issues, it is foreseen that there may be the need for a review, elaboration and prioritization of the POW during early 2015.
Resources to undertake implementation and preparation of the review will need to be secured. Thank you