Promoting a strategic approach for
conservation of migratory birds and
their habitats globally
Dr. Taej Mundkur
Chair, CMS Flyways Working Group and
Programme Manager – Flyways, Wetlands International
CMS SC, Oct 2013
Contents
• Introduction
• 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)
CMS
– Europe (Italy, Switzerland, UK)
Secretariat
– Oceania/ Pacific (Australia)
Support
• Americas
– Waterbird Conservation Council
– Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
– Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative
– North - US FWS
• AEWA Technical Committee
• Wetlands International
• Ramsar Secretariat
• East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership
• BirdLife International
• Migratory Bird Hunter groups - FACE
• Independent experts
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 birdsdevelopment 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
• 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
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
• Promote management of seabirds in the
Antarctic region, including with the
Antarctic Treaty and other bodies
© Pete Morris (Birdquest)
Res 10.10 Actions 1/2
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 2/2
Implementation
• 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 Critical Site Network Tool for Migratory Waterbirds for the Americas
• 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 to be pro-active in using international best practice for site management
• 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 (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
• 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
CMS
• IUCN Species Survival Commission
Secretariat
• Wadden Sea Initiative
• Wetlands International
Support
• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership
• Migratory bird hunting groups - FACE
• Independent experts
Mode of operation
• The newly established CMS SC Workspace primary mode of communication and
operation.
• A single face to face meeting may be
organized, subject to available resources.
Progress to date
1. Group re-established with regional representation
2. CMS work space communication initiated
3. Draft plan of work for migratory birds (based on 10.10) – first cut developed
4. Representation at the regional meetings:
– Central Asian Flyway Action Plan (Abu Dhabi, Dec 2012) alignment with
AEWA
– Land bird Action Plan and Poisoning Working Group meetings (May2013)
– East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) MOP6 Meeting
(Alaska, June)
– Partners In Flight V Conference (Utah, Aug) to engage with plans for
development & implementation of a broad framework/conservation action
plan for conservation of migratory birds & their habitats in the Americas
flyways (to be facilitated by CMS & WHMSI).
– Exploring for Pacific Meeting (Dec 2013)
5. Planning for organisation of FWG Meeting (2014)
Thank you