International news

Representatives of governments, industry, development banks, UN agencies, NGOs and scientists met in Ulaanbaatar from 24 to 28 August to find solutions to ensure that steppe animals are able to cross roads, railways and fences. The growing exploitation of the natural resources in the Gobi-Steppe ecosystem has led to a dramatic increase of transportation networks, required to meet increasing consumer demand for minerals. The existing roads and railroads have proven to be a significant barrier for wildlife migrations.

The 10th Wadden Sea Day, held on 27 August 2015 in Wilhelmshaven, was dedicated to marine mammals in the Wadden Sea World Heritage. More than 80 scientists, managers, policy makers and other Wadden Sea stakeholders participated in the event to discuss challenges and prospects for the future of these top predators of the Wadden Sea ecosystem. The Wadden Sea Seal populations (mainly harbour seals but increasingly also grey seals) have shown steady growth rates in recent years. The number of animals has reached record values over the last couple of years, despite the major epizootics of 1988 and 2002.

Representatives of countries and wildlife experts met in Cape Town, South Africa on 24 August, to address poisoning of migratory birds, a problem that also threatens important predators. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on Birds of Prey (CMS Raptors MoU), all three instruments administered by the United Nations Environment Programme, have convened the international meeting.

In advance of the forthcoming annual “International Bat Night”, the UNEP/EUROBATS Secretariat organized a bat excursion to the Kottenforst, a 55-square-kilometre large nature reserve close to Bonn

The Mongolian parliament has passed a national law implementing the CMS Guidelines on mitigating the impact of linear infrastructure and related disturbance on mammals in Central Asia just six months after they were adopted at COP11.

The CMS Secretariat, in its capacity as Depository of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MOU), is pleased to announce that the Second Meeting of Signato

Following the decision made at the 2nd Multi-Stakeholder Expert Meeting in Bogis-Bossey, Switzerland in May 2015 and following the notification circulated by the Executive Director of UNEP, Mr.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a Resolution recognizing that wild animals and plants are an irreplaceable part of the natural systems of the Earth and is urging the 193 Governments of UN Member States to deal decisively with both the supply and demand sides of the trade equation.

CMS welcomes the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as the 121st Party to the Convention with effect from 1 August 2015.