International news

The “Eyes on the Flyways” Conference, held at the Natural History Museum in Brussels on 24 May, was the concluding event of the LIFE EuroSAP project which set out to tackle the threats facing sixteen endangered bird species in Eurasia. Funded by the EU, LIFE EuroSAP involves 13 partners and covers 16 species the populations of which have been in continuing decline.

Thanks to the wonders of modern industrial technology we are now producing 20 times as much plastic as we were doing in 1964. If the current trend continues, output will double in 20 years and double again by 2050. Our hunger for the convenience of plastic products is insatiable. Buy it, use it, throw it away, buy another one -- drinks come in plastic bottles with plastic drinking straws; food comes wrapped in cling film; fast food is served in polystyrene containers with plastic cutlery.

1004 Berggorillas leben im östlichen Afrika, berichten Forscher und zeigen imposante Bilder der Menschenaffen. Trotzdem bleibt die Art vom Aussterben bedroht.

In the margins of the 3rd meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council being held in Bonn this week, a signing ceremony took place marking the conclusion of a partnership agreement between the Born Free Foundation and CMS. Signing the Agreement on behalf of the Born Free Foundation was the charity’s Head of Policy, Mark Jones.

If every Nigerian reuses one plastic bag (polythene bag) a day, we shall be saving our gutters and water ways from being clogged by an estimated 100 million waste plastic bags every day.

The third meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council is taking place in Bonn this week (29 May-1 June), its first gathering since last year’s Conference of the Parties in Manila. The Sessional Committee will consider strategic and institutional matters such as the Scientific Council’s rules of procedure, the subject areas of the COP-appointees, will review the implementation of its Programme of Work for 2016-2017 and develop the one for the triennium 2018-2020.

Representatives of over 20 Range States of the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) and a number of IGOs and NGOs met in Malmö, Sweden, to discuss options for a mechanism to enhance international cooperation to conserve the critically endangered species. The meeting, chaired by a representative of the Swedish Government, was hosted by the World Maritime University, which recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of its foundation and is the only UN entity based in the country.

The Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemicals (SETAC) held its 28th meeting in Rome from 13 to 17 May 2018, under the central theme “Responsible and Innovative Research for Environmental Quality”. One of the programme highlights was a special symposium on “Migratory Species at Risk, the Role of Pesticides and other Chemicals”, which took place on 15 May co-organized by CMS and the Wildlife Toxicology Interest Group which operates under SETAC.

Dolphins, whales and porpoises (cetaceans) are fascinating animals that continue to capture the imagination of humans as evidenced by the increasing number of whale watchers taking to the seas in search of a glimpse of these majestic creatures. They are amongst the most intelligent animals on our planet and play a critical role in maintaining marine ecosystem health and therefore human health.. Yet, a dolphin, porpoise or whale is accidentally killed in fishing operations somewhere in the world about every two minutes.