WDC Blog - From the Front Line

For those of us based in Europe these are difficult days. The Euro crisis is not only incapacitating the EU in implementing EU environmental legislation (see the recent web postings on Morgan), but it’s also allowing what may appear to some as ideological attacks against this very same EU law and policy to go unchecked.

In the UK, the Coalition Government has put us on notice that it will not allow EU wildlife legislation to stand in the way of economic development. Gone are the days of the UK’s Prime Minister cuddling huskies and now in comes the might of the Treasury with a flame-thrower to the very protective measures that have brought some respite to our increasingly devastated oceans and wildlife.

We are, to say the least, in shock that the Coalition Government is considering reviewing the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives in England simply to create less of a burden on new developments. It is almost as if some ideologues are taking this period of uncertainty and austerity to pull down all the legislation that they have felt stood in the way of exploiting the marine environment for the last few decades.

In his Autumn Statement the UK’s Chancellor stated  “If we burden [British businesses] with endless social and environmental goals – however worthy in their own right – then not only will we not achieve those goals, but the businesses will fail, jobs will be lost, and our country will be poorer."

The Chancellor denounced the burden of 'endless social and environmental goals' on industry and went onto say, "we will make sure that gold plating of EU rules on things like Habitats aren’t placing ridiculous costs on British businesses."

The UK’s Habitats Regulations, which implement the EU’s Habitats and Species Directive, were brought into place by a Conservative Government in 1994 and have been a foundation stone on which protection for whales and dolphins and other marine life has depended. The UK is already the most lax implementer of the Directive and any dilution of the current law can only mean more loss of marine habitat and the diminishing number of whales and dolphins around the coast.

But maybe we should have seen this coming. A few weeks ago we saw the Liberal Democrat Minister Chris Huhne give permission for the start of exploratory drilling in the Atlantic Frontier, despite the fact that the EU has suggested that stricter environmental controls should be considered after the spill in the Gulf.

WDCS understands that Defra are now to undertake a review of the Habitat Regulations but we are greatly concerned that this will allow for every Tom, Dick and Harry with a grudge to bear to get their knives into the legislation. At a time when oil companies and other developers are arguing that they should not be facing restrictions, this will be a field day for their lobbyists.

WDCS believes that Defra now have a responsibility to champion the environment and show that the long term value of protecting our marine and natural environment is as important as the short term gains that come from opening up these last few frontiers to exploitation.

Link to the Defra review

Stand by...

Friday afternoon. The final session:

So this morning we saw the following species added to the appendices:

Red-footed Falcon
Far-eastern Curlew
Bristle-thighed Curlew
Manta Ray
Argali (a species of sheep)
The Bobolink (now clarified as being a bird)

And a plan of action identified for the handsome Saker falcon.

In addition Norway removed some reservations on marine species.

Lunchtime bore witness to another onslaught of fine (and free) Norwegian food and a presentation entitled ‘Redd+ and Biodiversity’ about the orang-utan and where Heidi Sorensen, the Norwegian State Secretary was speaking.

Many delegates wonder around Bergen in the rain saying good bye to the streets and shops and the views although it grew gradually darker as they walked.

So there are a whole slew of resolutions now to be given their final approval – or not – as the case may be. Have we mentioned that ticking clock again yet?

Left on the table are inter alia (!) just a few resolutions:

Res.10.1 21b Financial and Administrative Matters and Terms of Reference for the Administration of the Trust Fund
Res.10.2 19c Modus Operandi for Conservation Emergencies
Res.10.3.Rev.1 19a The Role of Ecological Networks in the Conservation of Migratory Species
Res.10.4 19 e vi Marine Debris
Res.10.5. Rev 1 18a CMS Strategic Plan 2015–2020
Res.10.6 18a Capacity Building Strategy (2012-14)
Res.10.7 18d Outreach and Communications Issues
Res.10.8 12c Cooperation between the Inter-governmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES) and CMS
Res.10.9 9/13a Future Structure and Strategies of the CMS and CMS Family
UNEP/CMS/ Res.10.10 19 f i Guidance on Global Flyway Conservation and Options for Policy Arrangements
Res.10.11 19 b Power Lines and Migratory Species
Res.10.12 19 e i Migratory Freshwater Fish
Res.10.13 19 f iv Standardized Nomenclature of Birds Listed on the CMS Appendices
Res.10.14 19 e ii Bycatch of CMS-listed Species in Gillnet Fisheries
Res.10.15 19 e iv Global Programme of Work for Cetaceans
Res.10.16 16 a Priorities for CMS Agreements
Res.10.18.Rev.1 12b Guidelines on the Integration of Migratory Species into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
and Other Outcomes from CBD COP10
Res.10.19 19d Migratory Species Conservation in the Light of Climate Change
Res.10.20.Rev.1 28 Arrangements for Hosting the Tenth and Eleventh Meetings of the Conference of the Parties
Res.10.21 12 a Synergies and Partnerships
Res.10.22 19 i Wildlife Disease and Migratory Species
Res.10.23 15a Concerted and Cooperative Actions
Res.10.24 19 e v Further Steps to Abate Underwater Noise Pollution for the Protection of Cetaceans and Other Biota
Res.10.25 21d Enhancing Engagement with the Global Environment Facility
Res.10.26 19 f iii Minimizing the Risk of Poisoning to Migratory Birds
Res.10.27 19 f ii Improving the Conservation Status of Migratory Landbirds in the African Eurasian Region

Resolution on emergencies comes first and the EU has a couple of amendments; New Zealand has another. Then it is passed.

We will not cover the passage of all the resolutions here but pick up where there are problems and where resolutions that are of particular importance to marine interests are dealt with.

Marine Debris floats in after a while. Barry reminds us that it is important. There are no comments. The Chair agrees it is important and the gavel importantly comes down on it (which means its is passed.)

The strategic plan wanders in. Chairman Storkerson looks around. There are a few comments and the gavel falls.

The resolution for ‘capacity building’ follows. There seems to be a problem with what is posted on the web with this document.

Incidentally our old friend Rhingo the gorilla has left the stage at the front of the room (his image that is). A reindeer now adorns the banner on the left side of the stage. This is presumably because Rhingo is needed somewhere else (there is a two day gorilla meeting after the CoP closes) and possibly because the reindeer is slightly more Christmassy. Certainly we noted over lunch that the town itself is now increasingly embracing Christmas and decorated fir trees and other seasonal adornments have sprouted in many corners.

A journalist outside is shouting into her phone – ‘This is going to take xxxxxxx ages; I thought we would have been out of here much earlier….’.

Back in plenary the resolution addressing power lines is having some problems and, after a while, some helpful guidelines are inserted and it buzzes through.

Time drifts by, and then Zeb Hogan, the Councillor for Fish, tells us about the migratory fish resolution. The EU tweaks him {editor – no, tweaks the resolution – pay attention and stop sneaking out looking for cake}.

Resolution 10.13 looks at bird taxonomy. The retiring John O’Sullivan (Councillor for Birds) takes the congregation calmly through the text.

A gavel falls.

Bycatch Resolution 10.14 arises. Barrington Baker presents and flash bulbs pop around him. The Chairman himself adds a comment and he looks to the floor. The EU takes the floor and makes and withdraws a comment in the same intervention.

Ecuador agrees with 10.14 but notes that is mucho importivo that a change is made in document 10.40 (the bycatch review). This sounds very much like an intervention she made a couple of days ago. She asks for the information about Ecuador to be withdrawn and Ecuador will provide new information.

The Chairman says that is acceptable to the secretariat and as we agree with the resolution… but Barry is waving a flag. Did you say document is withdrawn? No says chairman Storkerson, we will add their information as an annex. Ecuador says we do want the report deleted just additional information to be recorded. The text with respect to Ecuador should be modified. The gavel is poised and… bang.

We then come to 10.15 rev 1 – THE GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR CETACEANS. Barrington explains that this resolution seeks support for a work plan for cetaceans. He repeats again that many editorial changes were made and calls for the resolution to be supported.

The Chairman looks to plenary, can we adopt as it stands?

Norway takes to the floor and she repeats that Norway has removed reservations – because best available science can be used … NAMMCO the marine mammal commission – she lists its members, provides this. The Commission’s work meets high scholarly standards and NAMMCO appears to us as a natural coordination partner. (This is doubly interesting as the resolution specifically makes no mention of NAMMCO.)

South Africa says that she was waiting for the EU to make a comment and this is to do with the period that it applies to. The EU asks for consistency check across all reservations to make sure that dates are correct. The gavel falls but Denmark dramatically calls for the floor and notes that both the Denmark and … the Faroe Island have accepted the resolution. There is much murmuring of surprise, but it is done.

We move on to the important climate change resolution. The EU has several changes. The chair repeats them and one encourages the assistance of the energy sector. There are no other changes and the resolution is adopted.

Here is a little excerpt from the resolution for your interest:

‘Requests Parties and the Scientific Council, and encourages the scientific community, IUCN and other relevant organizations to:

a) identify and promote a standardized methodology for evaluating the susceptibility of species to climate change;

b) identify those Appendix I and II listed species, as well as other migratory species on the IUCN Red List, that are most susceptible to climate change, such as the polar bear, and subsequently consider whether these should be listed or uplisted on the CMS Appendices, as appropriate…’

(That should keep the newly-appointed climate change councillor busy and good to see a precise mention of another marine mammal – the polar bear – in there!)

A little later the important marine noise pollution thunders in. The EU wants to delete the UN… presumably just in the context of this resolution … and has some other minor technical issues.

We note that most members of the CMS Secretariat have been allowed out of the basement today for prolonged periods of time. Aline in particular seems to have been trapped continuously on stage oscillating from hiding behind the chairman to the front desk and with occasional visits from Melanie Virtue and others. Heidrun (of marine resolutions fame) is believed – just a little earlier after the marine resolutions were agreed - to have donned her yellow sou’wester and run laughing from the building out into the tempest. Hopefully she will be retrieved later.

The afternoon moves on… at one point an EU official is jumping high into the air and waving an invisible lasso in the air as he calls an emergency coordination of the European nations. In due course, they are corralled and herded off stage left.

A little later central African elephants come to an agreement [Editor: no – an agreement will be developed for them; I know it's late but please concentrate.]

As we leave Norway we would like to extend our thanks and congratulations to many people – including our good hardworking and dedicated friends in the Secretariat who we hope will not mind our blogging about them too much; the remarkable and small band of CMS scientific experts including Col, Colin, John, Bill and Barry; thank you also all you conservation-minded countries and all those delegates who care about the animals that have been considered here. Good luck fellow NGOs here who we have been working closely with including The Migratory Wildlife Network, Birdlife International and HSI. Remember that you can find a much fuller and more sensible coverage of the COP on the pages of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin. Don’t forget the bobolink; good luck gorillas for your meeting at the weekend and goodbye.



PS: Looking for that perfect Christmas gift? WDCS recommends: Whales and Dolphins - Culture, Cognition and Human Perceptions edited by Philiipa Brakes and Mark Simmonds and with contributions from all around the world. Want to know more about these animals and our interactions with them? Then get this book. Details: here

But what of the Bobolink?

It is tense in the big meeting hall. There are rumours that parties may have been looking at the wrong versions of revised resolutions. There are rumours that something has gone wrong down in the dungeon in document control or on the website. There are rumours that some parties will be unhappy and this will block things from going forward at this last and final stage. Marine debris in particular has got clogged up somewhere and, presumably, as the stuff just won’t degrade, this could be highly ensnaring.

Meanwhile the rain is hammering down outside, the skies are dark and a storm may be gathering.

A frazzled European delegate passes by noting that he has been up all night firstly dealing with financial issues and then the Future Shape resolution re-write. (He seems to be in pretty good shape given the marathon session.)

The plenary is slow to start. Presumably correct versions of resolutions are being run to ground and scattered sleepy and bedraggled delegates are being retrieved from the city’s drains.

The Norwegian Secretary of State now addresses the meeting. She is very pleased to be here. Seeing so many people collected together makes her an optimist. You have not had an easy task she adds. Being an environmentalist is not easy (much nodding on the NGO benches). I became involved because of the love of animals, she adds. My colleagues (the other Norwegian Minister) told you how much we Norwegians love the migratory species and he told you what the Spring means to us, and hence how many Norwegians are born in January. However, he came from the south of Norway, I am from the middle, so I was born in February. Gentle laughter follows.

She continues: The lesser white-fronted goose a hundred years ago was numerous. Now they are so rare that the researchers know them all by name. We now work with all the countries on their migration route.

Wetlands are the most productive habitat on earth and she is pleased to see synergies being developed between conventions. Yesterday she attended the workshop on electrocution and collision with power lines. Millions of birds are being killed. It is good to see that people are becoming engaged. The work in Germany is impressive and inspiring.

Climate change and biodiversity loss are the biggest threat to humanity. And she then tells us a joke that she was ‘surprised’ to hear from a climate scientist:

One planet talks to another. The first planet says I am not well; I have homo sapiens! The other says don’t worry it will not last for long.

We need to send a strong message to the climate change meeting. The polar bear is an important indicator species. The situation for the little auk is similar. It has a very stressful life and it brings back food to [its] small children. As it becomes warmer so there is a prey change and this now threatens nesting success.

We must obtain climate change safeguards including protection for migratory species.

State Secretary Heidi Sørensen then goes on to say the following: “I am pleased to announce that Norway has decided to repeal the reservations of all species of whales and sharks on CMS Appendix II and the Great White shark on CMS Appendix I. This includes following different species of cetaceans: White-beaked dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Killer whale, Narwhal, Pygmy right whale, Antarctic minke whale, Bryde’s whale, Fin whale, Sei whale, Sperm whale in addition to the Great white shark and Basking Shark. All these species will benefit from international collaboration for their management and conservation. We already cooperate with other countries on small cetaceans, for instance when it comes to bycatch in fisheries.”

The newly appointed chairman Dr Spina is now called to address the congregation. He is delighted to have been appointed and looks forward to his future work; he thanks his predecessor.

A list of distinguished scientists who are the appointed experts for the Scientific Council are now identified. This includes Bill Perrin for Aquatic Mammals and Barrington Baker for Bycatch. That rare old bird John O’Sullivan (the bird expert) is sadly retiring after 18 years.

Is there applause? No [shame there should have been for the retiring councillors] but we move swiftly on

The retiring Scientific Council Chair, John, reminds the congregation that it has been recommended that they should appoint a new councillor for climate change. (A proposal that originated in the Scientific Council and originally made we believe by the observer there for Luxembourg.)

Chairman Storkerson says that he understands that there has been discussion. Has anyone been identified?

The Secretariat says that there has been a climate change working group and the Chair person is Dr Colin Galbraith. A man with great expertise and it would seem to make good sense to designate him as the councillor.

Storkerson agrees. Colin is a ‘good guy’ and his promotion is acknowledged by applause. Some happy NGO-types celebrate this development with a subtle hand-shake.

The credentials committee chair from New Zealand then gives a long report on which credentials are in order. She adds that only Heads of States, Secretaries of States and foreign ministers are usually allowed to sign credentials and this is currently ambiguous at CMS and should be clarified and brought into line with international law. (So delegates if your credentials were signed this year by your environment or other minister that may not be acceptable next year.) Credentials signed by Ambassadors will also not be acceptable (the credentials committee previously were mistaken in this and apologise)

We now turn to the reports from the four in-session working groups.

Barry reports in very swiftly on the marine working group. The Committee of the Whole has agreed them says Barrington Baker and they were placed on the website reviewed over-night.

That is brief says the Chair thank you.

The newly-appointed climate change councillor Colin Galbraith (now wearing an old hat) reports in on the ongoing discussions on the Saker Falcon. They have agreed that concerted actions should begin for this bird immediately

The strategic plan working group has agreed a resolution text says the EU.

The bleary-eyed joint group on Budget and Future shape now reports in. This is the group that had no sleep. Their chairman Alfred carefully gives the groups detailed report. There is of course concern about costs.

The Chair thanks Alfred for his report and says that we must show the world that we mean business!

Clarification: here is the list of Norway’s reservations as recorded on the CMS website:

White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris and
Atlantic white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus (Appendix II): 12.1.89
Orca Orcinus orca and
Narwhal Monodon monoceros
(Appendix II): 11.12.91

Letter from Norway’s foreign minister to FRG
dated 20.12.02:
Formal reservation lodged against inclusion of:
Antarctic minke whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis (Appendix II),

Bryde’s whale B.edeni (App. II),
Fin whale B. physalus (App. 1+II),

Sei whale B.borealis (App. I+II),
Pygmy right whale Carpera marginata (App.II),
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus (App. I+II),
Orca Orcinus orca (App. II),
Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias (App. I+II)


Note verbale from the Royal Norwegian Embassy to the German Foreign Office dated
24 February 2006 entered a reservation against the inclusion of the Basking Shark (Cethorhinus maximus) in Appendices I and II.

A coffee break now occurs.

Chair Storkerson is now waving his gavel in the air. He means to take all listing proposals in a block. The bobolink is now mentioned. We have not heard of it for several days and feared it had become extinct.

There is one exception – the Saker Falcon.

The Chairman now wields his ‘hammer or whatever you call it in English’ and all species but this poor little falcon are listed.

Uzbekistan is now given the floor and talks about the Saker Falcon proposal. There was evidently much debate and a complex resolution has been passed forward which details future work.

The Migratory Wildlife Network notes quietly to surrounding NGO-types that the Saker Falcon may be too beautiful for its own good. (The WDCS delegation knows how this feels.)

The Swiss delegation calls for precision from the chairman. We need to know exactly what resolutions we are dealing with. (Things probably need to work like clockwork.)

Chairman Storkerson smiles kindly back at Switzerland and notes the number of the relevant resolution. He also notes that we will not come to the other resolutions until this afternoon. The plan for the Saker is approved.

We move to the resolution for the repeal of previous resolutions introduced by Robert Ragg of the Secretariat recently ejected from mission control in the basement for this purpose. Recommendations include that resolutions should be time-limited and they should be consolidated, but not always.

The EU (in the form of the distinguished lawyer from DEFRA) thinks more work needs to be done on this. Some resolutions referred to have already been retired others proposed for retirement have not in fact been concluded. Hence, more time needs to be spent to sort this out.

Chairman Storkeson concludes that this resolution is not ready for adopted and sees some nodding (possibly those people who were up all night). We move on to relations with process of the appointment of the new CMS Executive Secretary (the reader will recall that the news that the current incumbent, Elizabeth, is retiring broke earlier in the week).

Monaco now signs the MoU on raptors and sharks and is applauded.

The end of the Whole.

After the final meeting of the marine working group over lunch and swift ingestion of too many calories, we return to the meeting of the CMS Whole.

There are some important bird matters being discussed…. Please ask BirdLife International what they were.

Finally the Cetacean Work Programme wrapped in its resolution unfurls in the Meeting in the Whole.

Professor Bill Perrin, the CMS appointed expert on marine mammals is on stage: In 2005 CoP 8 passed resolution 8.22 on human impacts on cetaceans. This called for various things including the development of a work programme. This identified various bodies for liaison – and he lists them, including, for example, the IWC and its scientific committee.

8.22 also identified particular threats including ship-strikes, bycatch and marine noise. Whaling and the issue of marine bushmeat was included in the review but not Res. 8.22 and whaling is acknowledged to be in the domain of the IWC and is therefore not considered in the recommendations here. Marine bushmeat is an emerging and critical issue for many cetaceans and it is included here. The work is considered in a regional context and from the review a global programme of work was developed.

The resolution enshrining this has been through various reviews. The CMS Scientific Committee was particularly grateful to the cetacean specialist group of the IUCN and various others. There are two sections – an expanded role for the aquatic mammals working group and the second more substantive section, covers the work plan across regions and species. The key MEAS (Multinational Environmental Agreements) for collaboration are also covered here.

Bill hands over to Heidi who now goes through the changes on the big screen, she is flanked by the redoubtable Barry Baker who now comments: “As Chair of the Marine Working Group there have been protracted discussions and in finalising this there has been patience and understanding from various parties and NGOs who have differing views. There has been a good spirit of cooperation. This is a long document, some 20 pages. We cannot go through it paragraph by paragraph but it will be made available. If you have any points please bring them to me or the Secretariat.”

Heidi adds that you will see lots of tracked changes. Many are ‘purely editorial’ and where we have just moved paragraphs. She goes on to broadly describe other changes.

Many avian-orientated delegates are taking tea. Marine delegates are glued to their seats.

The Chair of the Whole says I have sought your indulgence to submit comments to the Secretariat and I now want to move this document to the plenary. No flags are raised and it is so decided… no Egypt decides on a last minute flag-raising.

Egypt: this is very interesting but there will be costs and this will be huge.

Heidi replies: This is a very important point. The way that it is drafted, all the work will be done by the Scientific Council and the Secretariat – no actions are required by the Parties; so whilst additional resources would help, we believe much can be implemented with the resources as they are

Egypt: but when we come to implementation, the whole issue of capacity building will be crucial. In Egypt we are doing as much as we can; for example we are trying to hire a boat and I think again and again resources need to be considered.

[Pause and we move into underwater noise.]

Germany (Oliver) now introduces the marine noise resolution, noting the threat to cetaceans and other species and explains that this new resolution introduces the issue of noise related to marine wind parks. He notes that there are a range of things that can be done to reduce noise and disturbance from these developments and Heidi is next called on to roll the text around on the big screen. She notes a new paragraph on Marine Protected Areas.

Egypt takes to the floor again. This is a very important issue. I am not sure about shipping; but you have oil and gas exploration in many places. They do the best that they can to reduce the issue by very simple techniques. It is fine to introduce this nice resolution but again and again we need the resources.

Argentina thanks Heidi and Barry and congratulates the rest of the group for accommodating her as a one person delegation. Although a paragraph was agreed, in principle the Parties agreed that in addition to paragraph 6 we should mention UNCLOS – if anyone disagrees we can discuss outside the plenary.

The Chairman likes this idea and now tells us that we have reviewed all the resolutions that we were meant to review.

Agenda items 18(b) and 18(c) are now touched on. Melanie Virtue opens up these issues which relate to the annual year of the campaigns – so we have had ‘Year of the Dolphin’ and ‘Year of the Gorilla’. She shows us some pictures of CMS Ambassador Ian Redmond OBE and Jane Goodall, the famous primate scientist.

More photographs of gorillas and Ian follow. Some skating gorillas are also featured.

2011-12 has been the two Years of the Bat.

A short film about gorillas follows and some well-earned applause for the gorilla ambassador.

Egypt wants to celebrate his bats but he has a problem because unlike Europeans, people in his country do not like them and cultural issues need to be considered. Have you evaluated how effective these ‘year of the XXX’ have been, he asks.

The USA now takes to the floor to note the number of people killed in defending the gorillas and speaks of their work to support the widows of those who have lost their lives in these efforts.

Melanie Virtue thanks parties for their support and explains to Egypt than an evaluation of the Year Of initiatives has been made.

She next tells us about the CMS Ambassadors, Kookie, Peter, Stanley and Ian.

She asks delegates to suggest ways in which the Ambassadors can be of use.

Finally we move to small grants and out for a cup of tea, which Team WDCS has failed to return with.

The Chairman of the Whole raises his gavel – his gives a remarkably long list of things that have been agreed and then closes the meeting.

Plenary tomorrow – the final hurdle.

For a more sensible report on the CoP please look at the Earth Negotiations Bulletin: http://www.iisd.ca/cms/cop10/

Moving towards conclusion.

Hail hammered on the roof of the WDCS attic rooms last night and our dreams were not so sweet but, come the morning, we enter the Meeting of the Whole and the Chair seeks interventions on the climate change resolution.

Various countries speak of their support. Norway indicates that it is ‘broadly supportive’ and willing to discuss any new elements further with others.

WCS supports the application of a standardised methodology and calls for impacts on marine species to be given adequate attention. The resolution now passes through the Whole and will appear again in plenary tomorrow.

Nigel of Australia is now on the stage. He had a lovely reception last night at a ‘very interesting venue’ (that would be Bergen Aquarium). He moves from the gastronomic success of his evening to the matter in hand – Marine Debris. There is a resolution and the efforts on this topic, of Barry Baker and his Marine Working Group are noted.

60-80% of marine debris is plastics; 80% is land-sourced. Climate change will only exacerbate things further explains Nigel using a powerful power-point.

The famous Honolulu Declaration on marine debris is referenced and has been used to inform the Resolution about Debris. This resolution was previously considered in the Marine Working Group and now passes seamlessly through the Whole on its way to approval at the final plenary tomorrow.

Now some fish swim in.

The CMS Scientific Council’s fish councillor now takes to the stage. He reports on progress of a review on migratory fish. Species of concern include several species of sturgeons and the Mekong catfish.

The IUCN (World Conservation Union) thanks the fish expert and mentions work that they have been conducting. He has a list of migratory species at risk and would like to have IUCN mentioned in the preambular paragraph of the relevant resolution.

Next, Aline of the Secretariat is again released from the basement and tells us about emergencies, she notes outbreaks of avian influenza which were widely reported and a variety of other unexplained mortalities. Photographs of dead antelopes are shown.

The resolution (10.2 for those following the paper-work) would establish a flexible response mechanism for emergencies and a small fund.

The EU however does not want to use central resources for this. The advent of emergencies is relatively one-off he adds. Uruguay diplomatically thanks the Secretariat and seeks some small amendments to the resolution.

IUCN takes to the floor again (does he want to be included in the preambular paragraphs?) – no he already has an emergency fund that can be used.

We now enjoy a report from the avian task force and then the EU takes the floor (James of the UK speaking clearly and carefully) to offer several amendments.

Norway makes some amendments and then calls on delegates to please stop downloading films and music (‘heavy stuff’), so the internet provision does not get overloaded in the hall. He has asked the hotel to increase the bandwidth but delegates can help by their behaviour.

Is that the Migratory Wildlife Network looking guilty?

FAO waves a flag. Does he wish to speak on live-streaming? No he comments on emergency responses. He speaks at length of the need to improve coordination.

Meanwhile a large pile of cakes and a big fruit platter are calling.

The Chair calls for WDCS… and the WDCS delegates fall off their chairs as they were not intending to say anything on this matter (whilst being ‘broadly supportive’ of the resolution obviously).

Fortunately WCS (the Wildlife Conservation Society – no relation) takes the floor and talks of their work in this area. They call for an amendment to allow civil society to take part in the process. (Well said.)

Suddenly we are talking about bycatch and the redoubtable Barry Baker the Bycatch Councillor describes the desk-top study that he worked on and then details the changes made to the resolution in his Marine Working Group.

The Chair opens the resolution for discussion.

Ecuador calls for a change to report 10.30 (not the resolution but the review). She wants reality to be reflected.

The EU thinks bycatch is a ‘pressure’ on many migratory species and is ‘broadly supportive’ of the resolution. They have some concerns about the application to sharks listed in Appendix II – they speak of ‘sound exploitation’ and will propose further changes to the resolution.

Barry says that the report on bycatch will be reviewed intercessional and changes will be made – he hopes this is an adequate reply to Ecuador and others with any similar concerns.

However, ACCOBAMS says there are some mistakes in her (Mediterranean) region.

The Chair now tries to move to the famous resolution on the cetacean work plan but Barry intervenes to say that we are not ready yet.

Tick…tick…tick…

The Chair says can we move to underwater noise?

Barry says that is not ready yet either and so instead African-Eurasian land birds fly in. They are widely appreciated.

A 10 minute tea break sees hungry NGOs sprinting out through the side doors and pushing national delegates out of the way in search of cake. A major coffee spill results and mops are urgently deployed.

Ten minutes later the Chair strictly calls for the doors to be locked and for the meeting to resume and we are now back to poisoning birds. This is not recommended and Birdlife International now speaks up for the relevant resolution. This is a major problem and they identify rodenticides, heavy metals and persistent organochlorines amongst the problems. They have an indicative list of the species affected and note that the poisoning of migratory species can also affect humans who eat them. They call on Parties to support resolution 10.26 and financially support it.

The EU is again ‘broadly supportive’ – they would like to alleviate poisoning but think that the role of the working group should be better described. New Zealand has some changes too. Other countries offer support and seemingly minor changes. It seems a working group may be needed.

Taxonomic issues now canter in and the Marine Mammal Councillor speaks about the finless porpoise and recent changes to its classification. CITES now speaks up on the nomenclature. ‘It is hard for us to work together if we do not use the same names… and this may make us look disorganised by our partners in other sectors’. He notes the comments on the finless porpoise and he will recommend to the relevant CITES body that CITES follows CMS in this regard.

The distinguished CMS councillor for birds, John O’Sullivan of BirdLife, says there are several important things missing from the nomenclature resolution which do not reflect what was agreed in the Scientific Council! Australia agrees and a lunchtime summit will follow.

We move on. Another member of the Secretariat staff is released from the dungeon and ascends to the stage to take us (in Spanish) through the strategy and plans for capacity building.

(Meanwhile, in the background of course, high-level consultations on the marine resolutions continue. Will the EU sign or will they be ‘broadly supportive’? Will Norway sign? How is Australia feeling? That clock is ticking so loudly now that we can scarcely hear the other important discussions here.)

There is heavy rain overnight and a few delegates malingering late in the streets may even have been washed away.

However, come the morning the Meeting of the Whole is quorate again and in session in one place and the Future discussions are going on somewhere else.

There is a faint whiff of panic now prevailing and particularly around the marine issue as the relevant working group is struggling in the margins to find suitable compromises and the clock is now ticking loudly. All resolutions should have been passed by their working groups by tomorrow lunchtime.

Meanwhile a large pile of books published by the Norwegian Marine Institute detailing their policy for marine mammals have appeared outside the main hall. These were last seen at the IWC Scientific Committee meeting where all the scientists were awarded a copy. These are placed on the same table as many other non documents (documents that are not officially submitted to the meeting).

The Whole is soon again dealing with the sly ways of birds {Editor- I have already warned you about this!}. And the WDCS delegation is now hidden behind a significant pile of Erich Hoyt’s excellent new (but very heavy) MPA book. They occasionally emerge from behind this bastion to offer copies to unsuspecting delegates as they try to pass by.

Sly-ways are followed by a review of work on terrestrial animals. Issues covered there extend to Concerted Actions for the Sahelo-Sahara antelope, gorillas and elephants.

Bats also now fly in and a new African bat agreement may be in the offing.

Turtles follow and there is a presentation from the World Conservation Monitoring Unit about progress and how to strengthen measures for them.

The US (not a CMS party) now speaks up to offer joint opportunities to work on sea turtle conservation. Others speak likewise.

The distinguished councillor for Turtles, Professor Col (or Colin) Limpus, now thanks WCMC for their report and he notes that there are many successes in countries that also need to be complemented.

Enter the giant manta ray.

This species is seeking to be moved onto both Appendix I and II of CMS. Ecuador presents the proposal and notes that the species is of importance for tourism and tends to congregate in protected areas (well done Manta, one step ahead of some of the other fish species!). The EU supports the proposal. Norway says that they too support the proposal and note that IUCN has moved the species higher on its protected list. The species has a low reproductive rate and hence is very vulnerable. However, there is at least one similar species: the reef manta with which it can be confused. Has the proponent considered this matter? You have to be almost an expert to separate them he adds.

Shark Advocates International are now waving their flag at the back of the room.

Ecuador replies that researchers are looking at the classification issue. Initially in their national park they though they had the alfredi species but in fact the only species is the giant one and there is no confusion. The alfredi does not extend into Ecuadorian waters; hence they amended the proposal and only the giant ray is covered.

The Chair asks Norway if this takes care of your concerns. This is OK for Ecuador says Norway but this is a global listing. Let us take note of this and take it to the next CoP.

Ecuador says yes we would probably support a future listing for the alfredi ray. The Chairman now identifies the Shark Advocates still waving towards the back of the hall. She says the following:

‘On behalf of Shark Advocates International, Humane Society International, and the Norwegian Shark Alliance, we appreciate this opportunity to express our strong support for Ecuador’s proposal to include in the CMS Appendices the giant manta ray: the largest living ray, and an exceptionally vulnerable, highly migratory, and increasingly Threatened marine species.

The giant manta ray has exceptionally limited reproductive capacity, even when compared to other rays and sharks. [Females are thought to mature at 8-10 years of age, produce just one pup after a year-long gestation period, rest for a year or two between pregnancies, and live at least 30 years.]

[The giant manta ray has been classified by IUCN as Vulnerable and therefore Threatened.] The sparsely distributed and highly fragmented regional subpopulations of giant manta often consist of just a couple hundred individuals, which regularly migrate across national boundaries and have been tracked venturing onto the high seas.

The giant mantas’ large size and tendency to move slowly in predictable aggregations make them easy targets to fishing, the greatest threat to their survival. In recent years, increased East Asian demand for manta ray gill rakers for use in Chinese medicine has been driving dramatic increases in directed, likely unsustainable manta fisheries. Some local populations have already been depleted.

At the same time, manta ray eco-tourism is increasingly generating significant economic benefits for local communities across the globe, particularly in Mozambique, Maldives, and Hawaii. A new estimate puts the value of manta-based tourism at $100 million/year globally.

Existing national protections by Range States are insufficient to effectively conserve this migratory species. Inclusion in the CMS Appendices can serve to dramatically improve awareness of the threats faced by manta rays and as a major step toward the effective conservation of these exceptionally vulnerable and valuable animals.

Based on these factors, our organizations respectfully urge adoption of Ecuador’s proposal as well as complementary conservation and research initiatives for the giant manta ray.

Australia next takes the floor – in fact for the first time – and thanks Norway for their hospitality. They are a range state for the species and they support the listing proposal.

The USA speaks up and supports too. Chile also supports.

The Chairman asks if we have exhausted our interventions, but Mozambique waves to say that they also have it in their waters and they too are supportive. Uruguay is also supportive.

We pause for a tea break but first the bycatch councillor Barry Baker, today resplendent in a vast red body-warmer, tells the marine working group to migrate to Hodden (a room in a distant part of the sprawling Scandic hotel complex). Marine-orientated delegates scramble, pausing only to grab a handful of fruit or a cake and their yellow hats, ponchos and umbrellas, which they will need as the heavens are again opened.

The Noise, Bycatch and Cetacean Work Programme resolutions are looked at. The last in particular seems to be floundering a little.

Delegates whiz around over lunch in the rain; much coordination goes on and many umbrellas turn inside out. Several more delegates are washed away by the rain. Teams of young Norwegian volunteers in their CMS T-shirts and shorts are despatched to retrieve them from the town's drains.

After lunch and a dowsing we resume in plenary. The various working groups report on their progress. The credentials committee reads out the names of all the countries with credentials in order. There are many and they include Luxembourg.

The Committee of the Whole resumes. Chairs exchange batons.

We move to resolution 10.16 on Priorities for CMS Agreements. This has a long list of species actions at the end divided up under the headers: Fish, Birds, Marine Reptiles, Terrestrial Mammals and Marine Mammals. The text that precedes this says ‘Endorses the following actions’.

Norway says put all this species stuff in an annex. No says the EU resolutely.

A compromise might be to soften the language that introduces this section so that it becomes advice and not instruction. We shall see.

We come to the issue of whether a work plan in the Indian Ocean should be applied to coastal cetaceans or only small cetaceans. The EU prefers ‘smalls’ only. Others prefer ‘coastal’ and Heidi of the Secretariat now explains that coastal was recommended by the Scientific Council. The EU will coordinate further on this.

The Resolution on Synergies and Partnerships now takes to the stage. (Each resolution has an associated member of staff who moves to the stage and follows changes in real time in a version projected onto the stage. So Melanie Virtue - who was dealing with the 'Priorities' resolution now hands over to one of the Lauras.)

A question now arises from the floor about whether comments sent earlier have been recorded.

The resolution about synergies seems a little sticky – as is the floor around the coffee area where many delegates (notably NGOs) are now updating their calorific supply.

By the time we roll back into the room (having discussed exercise but not having done any for several days apart from chewing) a resolution concerning the relationship with the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) is up for discussion. Melanie is back on stage again to capture amendments.

Note that the process here is that the Committee of the Whole – which is currently meeting – approves changes and then the revised resolutions are brought back to the plenary and finally approved. So in effect we are now meeting in one huge working group.

The resolution which covers the Strategic Plan is now in play (this is another of Melanie’s - a busy day for her: still it could have been worse, she could have been dealing with the marine resolutions). There are many changes here.

The electrocution of birds is now discussed, and this is clearly a bad thing. Those in most danger are the “poor-flyers”, although we’re reassured that this means they’re not as manoeuvrable as other birds and not simply bad at flying. There is also concern about wind turbines which can also knock them from the skies. Poor birds.

Now we are sorry that the coverage is again patchy here but we are now deeply engaged in the Marine Working Group again and the cetacean work plan has become ensnared in some very difficult problems and that ticking clock is very loud now. A very small working group is deployed to work on this matter. Other delegates depart to yet another reception, this time in the Bergen aquarium, and a few others wander off into town and despite their yellow hats are washed down the street by an especially violent cloud burst. Hopefully the Nordic youth will again be able to rescue them.

Just a few pictures to be getting on with....

Stand by for many interesting statistics and a territorial dispute.

‘Good morning’ says the CMS Executive Secretary brightly.

It is still dark outside and many regions have already been coordinating in corners scattered around the hotel complex. Indeed by opening the wrong door at the wrong time an unsuspecting NGO delegate could find him or herself stumbling into the middle of the politics of Africa, or Latin America or even the EU.

Barry Baker the distinguished Scientific Councillor for Bycatch, resplendent in a bright yellow shirt, enters and delegates rush to both congratulate and commiserate with him over his appointment last night to the role of chair of the lively Marine Working Group. This group started its work last night and after appointing its chairman, focused on the draft Marine Debris Resolution. This is widely advertised as the least contentious of the marine resolutions. The group did not finish its work and marine debris will sweep back in again later. Elsewhere the Future Shape working group is already ongoing.

Tuesday starts in the big hall in plenary with the “Meeting of the Whole”. All daylight is again excluded by the black-out blinds. This is going to be a day of many reports. UNEP gives one and then Germany reports on some aspects of progress with the convention, noting, amongst other things, that Russia is being encouraged to join the convention.

With the exception of Elizabeth, most secretariat staff appear to be in hiding this morning. They are probably down in Mission Control in the basement. Young Norwegian helpers clad in distinctive red and white T-shirts and grey shorts for girls and jeans for boys are helping make sure delegates are at ease; can find their seats; close the doors quietly and don’t trip over the many cables now snaking around the room.

UNEP CMC now reports on their analysis of the reports by Parties on their implementation of the Convention. Most Parties have made most CMS Appendix I species highly protected in their countries. Bycatch is the main threat to marine species; habitat destruction, fragmentation and modification are the main threats to terrestrial species; poaching and illegal trade affect many birds, terrestrial mammals and turtles; and man-made ‘obstacles’ including marine turbine developments, noise and pollution are also important threats.

Here come those statistics:

14 Parties reported hosting threatened migratory species not currently listed on Appendix I of CMS. Of these 20 species, most are birds and only two species (two falcons) have been proposed for listing here at COP 10.

11 Parties report that they have threatened species within their borders that are not currently listed on CMS Appendix II. One of these, the Argali sheep, will be considered at this meeting.

40 Parties reported that they were involved in the development of new Agreements; most of these are for birds. Some parties asked for assistance in both the processes of listing new species on the Appendices of CMS and also participation in new Agreement processes. A number of Parties have made voluntary contributions to CMS work including via its Trust Fund. IGOs and NGOs have also made contributions.

91% of parties have protected areas that extend to migratory species.

Satellite telemetry is increasingly being used by many Parties to monitor migratory species.

Parties reported on the implementation of 30 CMS Resolutions and 13 Recommendations. However the responses differed in detail from – ‘yes we have implemented’ to more detailed reports, making analyses difficult.

Argentina offers some comments to this assessment (detailed in Document 10.11). Under the heading fostering cooperation with other agreements she feels that the RFMOs lack the ability to implement measures and it is the Parties that should be doing this.

Argentina will also be submitting a number of notes to the Secretariat concerning South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the Malvinas, which she says are part of Argentina and occupied illegally by the United Kingdom. Argentina requires that double nomenclature is required for these Islands and calls on the Secretariat to circulate these notes to the meeting and annex them to the report of the meeting.

The UK is waving its name plate.

India, however, takes the floor and notes various initiatives in his country. Measures include giving the highest degree of legal protection to many species and the need to address deaths resulting from electrocution.

The UK deeply regrets the need to make an intervention following that from the distinguished delegate from Argentina. They do not believe that this is the correct forum to make such statements. The UK does not have any doubt over its sovereignty over the Falkland, Sandwich and South Georgia islands and refers to the UN Charter and other international law which underline these rights. She adds that there can be no negotiation until the Falkland Islanders so wish, and they are regularly consulted on this matter. The use of any dual nomenclature is not supported by the UN and the UK rejects dual nomenclature. We frequently repeat our position at international meetings on this matter. Please include this statement as an annex she concludes.

One of the Secretariat’s Lauras has now been released from the basement and addresses the Meeting of the Whole on the issue of ‘Partnerships’. There are MoUs with the Bern Convention and many others and of course relationships within the CMS family.

Laura noted that WDCS is a ‘long standing and supportive partner’ which has helped in many ways, including with the Pacific MOU for cetaceans. WWF Russia has helped with the bukara deer. The Natural History Museum of Bonn is also mentioned.

NBSAPs: are the national implementation plans for biodiversity and their importance is described and then we move on to liaison with CBD and polar bears suddenly appear on the screens at the front of the room. A little later some windmills by a road appear. These are milestones on the long path ahead of us.

Following this latest presentation from the Secretariat (Francisco) a large number of flags are raised. It is a long way from the front of the room where the Chair of the Whole is sitting to the NGO benches and he squints as he tries to recognise who is asking for the floor.

The EU supports the resolution on cooperation and encourages more work with CBD.

Egypt found the presentations a little confusing. A lot of progress but little achieved, he says sadly.

Guinea asks Laura about the map she showed which shows fires in southern and western Africa. What were those fires about?

Chile thanks Franciso for his inspiring presentation.

Another delegate says OK we should harmonise with CBD but also with AWEA. How can we set about finding funding to revise our NBSAPs.

India speaks to his protected areas and ongoing work with IUCN. They have also organised a meeting of 8 elephant range states and from this came a declaration. They plan in 2013 to have a meeting of many more range states and hope they will be assisted in this. They look forward to a new Asian agreement for elephants.

Morocco speaks about synergies between secretariats and he believes that cooperation cannot be efficient unless the focal points are working together.

The Seychelles thanks the hosts and commends the CMS Secretariat for efforts to streamline its work.

IUCN refers to the 4th meeting of the chairs of the scientific bodies of the biodiversity-related conventions. IUCN produced a document coming from this and they now await comments from the conventions on this. It shows that CBS {Editor: should that be CMS?} can contribute to a number of the key targets.

Bird Life would like to see the development of effective framework for implementation at national level. She offers some words to amend the relevant resolution and this would read something like this: ‘Urges parties to develop national biodiversity working groups’ including various representatives (including NGOs) to ensure national implementation of the MEAs. There is a grumble of agreement from the NGO benches.

The CITES Secretariat notes that the secretariats agreed a joint work plan at the Standing Committee on Saturday. We are ‘walking the walk’ he says. There will a side event tomorrow lunchtime he advertises.

RAMSAR suggest some text to be added to resolution 10.21. He says this will address the lack of species-focused effort at CBD. The test would note CMS as the lead for migratory species and the need to more coherently address conservation at the species level.

The Secretariat answers on the earlier map query – we are trying to show fragmentation and problems, we were not trying to show fire as a specific issue for Africa.

Melanie Virtue of the Secretariat has now been released from the basement and reports on scientific liaison. This has a great acronym IPBES – The Intergovernmental Science-Policy platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

The EU sees value in the IPBES but has some changes to the resolution that it would like to make.

After coffee there is seemingly some disagreement between the Chairman of the Whole and the EU as to whether the changes to the resolution proposed (which sound like they may be substantive) should be read-out. In the end they are not.

Elizabeth now speaks about repealing of resolutions. She proposes bringing forward operative paragraphs from previous resolutions into new ones.

Argentina now calls again for the list of observers in writing. No such list has come to her yet.

Observers are now encouraged by the Chairman not to speak but rely on their written statements previously submitted and our opportunity to make a comment on our re-commitment to the work of CMS is denied.

We now hear about the overlap between the areas covered by the ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS agreements. Under this item Egypt reports that is will accede to ACCOBAMS and extend the agreement’s area to the Red Sea. Exciting news!

And now the Netherlands is missing but needed to comment on the review of the ASCOBANS Secretariat. Forces are dispatched from Supreme Control in the basement to locate them. He is in the Future Shape meeting, so can we return to this say the EU?

Elizabeth now tells us about the arrangement for the ASCOBANS secretariat which is co-hosted in Bonn by CMS. Meanwhile a Dutch delegate – looking somewhat harassed – now enters the room.

Martin of the Netherlands who chaired the working group on ASCOBANS arrangements can now make his report. Amongst other things he notes that the Baltic countries wish to maintain their own working group. He expects the current arrangements to be supported, although he cannot predict the future.

Without further comment from the Parties, or anyone else (not that anyone else would be encouraged to say anything), the current arrangements stand.

We move to agenda 10.21 concerning the strategic plan. The EU thinks some essential information is missing which would allow them to evaluate if targets have been achieved.

This discussion is perhaps slightly odd as whilst we consider the strategic plan here in the Whole; somewhere not so far away, the Future of the Convention is being considered.

Outside in the coffee area two candles burn in the window and a large pile of books about Poland are stacked. Neither seems entirely relevant to the meeting but perhaps the candles are to draw the delegates into the light and act as a prayer for the migratory species here being debated.

The Migratory Wildlife Network bravely asks for amendments to be circulated so NGOs can see them too.

Laura of the secretariat now ‘wears a different hat’ (actually she does not seem to he wearing a hat – not even a yellow rain-hat – at all) and talks about financial matters. Approximately €1 million have been given to CMS as voluntary contributions. The main donors are countries but some money has also come from UNEP and elsewhere.

We then turn to GEF (the Global Environment Fund). Should we be seeking help from them? Again there is a draft resolution on this matter.

Argentina notes that the CMS convention deals with migratory species and GEF deals with different things.

Finally, some animals trot back in again and we move away from organisational, administrative and financial matters for a while. The Scientific Councillor for Terrestrial Mammals tells us about the antelopes. Sadly some are now critically endangered. An image of a dead antelope partially buried in the sand fills the big screens.

The oryx and addax are enjoying semi-captive management in Morocco where habitat restoration is also in progress. In Southeast Niger the Termit Tin Touma area hosts the last wild addax and many other important and attractive species. A reserve is being developed there.

Over lunch, the Marine Working Group met again. It left the marine debris resolution floating (spinning around in a gyre) and moved instead to look at the cetaceans work plan enshrined in another resolution. There is much grumbling from various delegates and many words are tweaked but the group’s chair Barry Baker still manages to make progress.

We move on in the big hall to species that are being considered for ‘concerted action’ introduced by Ms Cool of the Secretariat (spellings will be checked later). Here the CITES secretariat (as they did in the Scientific Committee) notes that they believe that there is only one species of elephant in Africa. Two are mentioned in the official list in front of the Parties. The Migratory Wildlife Network asks for clarification from the Scientific Council about how many species are recognised and the Secretariat responds that in the reference book they are using there are two.

Bird Life mentions some other species that should be brought forward for action. The red knot and the bristle-thighed curlew are added after a small discussion. No hang on… they are not…

The UK (for the EU) says we need to consider this within our region before we can agree.

Melanie Virtue now moves us on to new and future agreements. The implicit assumption that the CMS secretariat will just go on servicing MOUs and Agreements cannot stand says Melanie. She repeats how important the role of partners are in supporting many of these agreements. She also asks if new Agreements or MOUs are the only way forward; can we extend existing agreements or even look for other (non-CMS) bodies to act? Some ‘gap-analysis’ for elephants has been conducted by the Migratory Wildlife Network on this theme.

She moves on to talk about a possible instrument for cetaceans in the SE Asian region. No lead country has emerged to lead this work. It is very difficult without a lead nation she says.

India notes again the agreements his country is supporting.

The EU and its member states broadly support this draft resolution and suggests some minor amendments. One of these is that all species should be treated equally.

Nicola Hodgins of WDCS now intervenes (and is delighted that she didn’t appear on the big screens at the front of the hall):

‘Thank you Chairman, WDCS would like to re-affirm its commitment to supporting CMS and its daughter agreements, and urges range state parties of SE Asia and the Indian Ocean to demonstrate their commitment to cetacean conservation by commencing the necessary negotiations for what may need to be two separate cetacean-related agreements. In particular we hope that a lead party will step forward for each agreement and a timetable for action will be developed’.

The Redoubtable Rebecca Regenery of Humane Society International now takes to the floor and says firmly and clearly:

‘HSI has played an active role in the development of agreements under CMS, including ACAP and the Gorillas, Migratory Sharks, Marine Turtle, and Pacific Cetacean MoUs. HSI and other NGOs provide expertise and resources to these and future agreements’.

She welcomes the new signatories to the CMS Migratory Sharks MoU and note that this is the only international agreement that focuses on conservation of migratory sharks.

HSI commits to continuing to assist and support progress for the Migratory Shark MoU and will continue to assist with development and implementation of the Conservation Plan.

And finally, HSI Australia is pleased to have recently signed a partnership agreement with CMS and we look forward to continuing to work with CMS family.


Now we are back to the sly ways of birds and resolution 10.10. Just how sly are those birds?

{Editor: fly-ways not sly-ways. Please pay attention.}

Meanwhile the Migratory Species Network has decided that their desk and papers need a good wash and anointed them with a large glass of water. Helpful young ladies from the Secretariat appear with serviettes and help to polish away the dampness.

Meanwhile in the background to this spectacle there is some discussion about a mass migration of large numbers of migratory avian specialists. The avian experts have been migrating between a number of important meetings. The main flock consists of a Flyways Working Group and they have been oscillating between many relevant conventions (and probably their feeding and breeding grounds). One is singled out for special comment; The Professor Galbraith is a striking long-legged variety with deceptively dull plumage (probably good camouflage) but, as a long-standing CMS Scientific Councillor, he often forms the focus of the flock.

A gap analysis of bird coverage around the world shows that some birds lack coverage – this includes many seabirds. 30% of seabirds are considered threatened around the world.

A straggle of harassed NGO delegates now appear in the main hall; they have been driven out of the Future discussion because that meeting is now going into budgetary matters and no one but Parties is allowed to attend. They have now migrated back into the hall and the on-going record-breaking presentation on birds. This concludes with a call to strengthen cooperation with the Arctic Council and strengthen mechanisms.

{Please forgive the patchy coverage here; we were distracted by a number of non-avian matters, including tea and cakes. The Norwegians keep feeding us: Piles of fresh fruit nestle against stacks of profiteroles and a variety of gateauxs. It is a cornucopia of calories. Soon we will be too fat to get into the cabins of our aircraft and we will have to overwinter in Norway, where everyone else is lean and fit and they will punish us by making us wear lycra and forcing us into a programme of winter sports}.

Finally the birds flock off and we have a little ceremony for an award. This is the Lufthansa prize for the best student thesis. Over sixty students entered the competition. The winning thesis looked at the relationship between the honeybee and the elephant. The runners-up conducted research on the bobcats, herbivores in the Serengeti and migratory raptors.

Lucy King, the winner now takes to the stage and reports on her work. She shows that bees can be used as an elephant deterrent and that elephants produce a specific deep belly rumble that is associated with bees… and just as it is getting interesting we have to leave for a meeting of the Marine Working Group.

Marine debris now resurfaces and the cetacean resolution has been taken away for high-level political consideration.

Meanwhile, a little later somewhere else in the hotel another reception breaks out.

This is sponsored by Germany and we enter the room to find CMS Ambassador Stanley Johnson on stage encouraging people to donate to the convention. Along the way he notes the problems experienced by many migratory birds and in his characteristic good natured and avuncular manner stutters over the name of one and ends up entreating the congregation to

‘Save the Cornflake’.

The mispronounced bird would, in fact, be a corncrake.

Stanley went on to demonstrate his considerable fundraising skills by making a sincere plea for people, organisations, nations, to pledge money to CMS to enable it to continue its work to protect migratory animals.

Congratulations to the US federal judge who, for the second time in less than six months, has thrown out a lawsuit by the Alaskan State challenging an endangered species listing, this time involving Cook Inlet's beluga whales.

Alaskan state officials were reported to have been concerned that recovery efforts for belugas could threaten oil and gas development and shipping in the Inlet.

It appears that Escopeta Oil Co., which recently announced a major gas discovery in Cook Inlet, had intervened in the lawsuit on the side of the state against the US Government's listing of the belugas as endangered

"We maintain that the listing process was defective because it did not sufficiently involve the state or consider the conservation measures already in place to protect Cook Inlet belugas," a representative of the state said.

But in his ruling, the federal judge took note of the state's conservation measures and rejected them as inadequate.

"Ultimately, whatever conservation efforts were already being made by the state ... clearly had not demonstrated a degree of effectiveness sufficient to alleviate concern over the small population size in Cook Inlet, since the population had shown no signs of recovery and was indeed continuing to decline," the judge wrote in his decision.

So from everyone at WDCS congratulations to all those who campaigned to maintain the protected status of the belugas and congratulations to the US Government for getting this one right

Read more on this story

Can we expect more communal singing today?

It is still dark on the streets but there is a faint tinge of pink in the sky to the west as the CMS delegates are making their way to the conference centre for the first full working day of the COP.

In the big hall a few early delegates wander around slightly confused as their place names are not yet distributed, so they cannot home in on where to sit. Their migration has been interrupted. A few enthusiastic NGOs sit respectfully towards the back of the room (we know our place) and await their place names too. A small legion of secretariat staff soon move around the room and country designations are soon distributed. But then they are picked up by a more senior member of secretariat staff and repositioned. Country delegates are now arriving in numbers and desperately hunt for their place names filling the narrow gangways to the centre and sides of the room.

A senior member of secretariat staff is holding Luxembourg behind his back. The Luxembourg delegate watches quietly from the back of the room. The Luxembourg plaque is then replaced on the stage in a pile alongside many others country names that are not quite ripe for positioning. After a while it is retrieved again and replaced on a table. The Luxembourg delegate moves elegantly across the room and takes his seat. Other nations waiting in the wings do likewise.

Meanwhile a team of strong people from WDCS and the Migratory Wildlife Network are distributing to delegates a copy of the weighty tome that is the second version of Erich Hoyt’s superb text on Marine Protected Areas for Cetaceans.

No NGOs name plates are distributed. They mill around gently vying for position at the back of the room.

Elizabeth the Executive Secretary of CMS comes to the microphone to apologise for the confusion and notes that in the coffee break all delegates should leave the room, so name plates can be properly located.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee opens the meeting and he and Elizabeth welcome everyone. She waves the new CMS publication, Living Planet-Connected Planet, in the air. It will be formally launched today. She hopes it will guide us. She again welcomes everyone and thanks partners and others for their support. Amongst other things she speaks of the new CMS website but she also stresses the need for adequate resources for the work of the convention. Does the African elephant need new resources?

A list of some half a dozen new countries that have adhered to the convention is noted and one of these, Armenia, takes the microphone to wish the meeting well and notes some relevant initiatives in his country. Ethiopia does the same and thanks the host for its warm hospitality.

The Kingdom of Swaziland reports that they are planning to join the convention and they are in the process of completing adherence. They are committed to the conservation and sustainable use of their migratory species.

We are reminded by Elizabeth of rule 15.2 which deals with voting rights. In the unlikely event that the COP decides to take a decision by vote (which she stresses has never happened in the history of the convention) countries must have paid their dues. The rules of procedure are then adopted, as the Chair sees ‘nodding’.

The Chair of the Standing Committee now seeks a Chair for the main COP and its main working group, which is known as the Committee of the Whole and it is traditional that the host country provides this. The Norwegian delegation proposes a name and there is applause. (We hope to clarify this name in due course.)

Chile proposed Uruguay for Chair of the Committee of the Whole. This is accepted.

The Chairman of the whole conference is established as Mr Oystein Storkersen from Norway. He moves to the stage clutching his faux skin conference bag and makes a short speech.

There are problems looming in the sky he says. (We cannot see the sky as the blackout blinds are down – possibly to get us used to the fact that daylight in these parts is scarce.) There were two main issues at the mini-CoP that is the Scientific Council he continues. We are good at making guidance and resolutions. We should look at what we are good at but strive not to overlap with other initiatives. Many of our resolutions are difficult to comply with across the world. He also notes the ‘crucial’ Rio 20+ meeting next year. We should seek to enable it to do a better job. There is no point in making more resolutions if they are not implemented at a national level. He is applauded and delegates are ushered out.

A long coffee break follows. People leave coats, bags and computers on seats which rather thwarts plans to reorganise the name plaques. It should be easier tomorrow.

Several working groups are now established. One is financial; another is marine species. The Future of the Convention will also be discussed alongside these. There will also be a Saker Falcon working group. The participation in these working groups is to some extent based on regional representation, so this is next discussed. The UK is chairing the important finance working group.

It is noted that various USA national entities are attending. The USA is not a party.

A long list of NGOs is then read out, including WDCS. Technically they are asking formally to be admitted. The Chair asks if we accept all these groups. A flag is raised. It is Argentina and she asks to see a written list before they approve admission. The Chair agrees. A few NGOs were not listed, including WWF and UNEP WCMC and they rush to microphones to note that they are in fact here.

The spoon-billed sandpiper now takes the stage. An expert, Professor Dave Wilcove, from Princetown University now addresses the Conference. He explains that it is the abundance of many migratory species that makes them so important. For example, the Salmon in the Columbia River Basin: in the 1800s there were 350-500 pounds of salmon in this system but now only 26-30 million pounds. Many non-migratory species, including bears, are dependent on this migratory species and will suffer because of its decline.

In North America, 6-21 million pounds of defoliating insects per day are consumed by migratory songbirds. What would be the effect of losing these birds?

Many uncertainties affect migratory species. Often we have incomplete knowledge about many migratory species. Scientific uncertainty will diminish. We are entering, he claims, the ‘Golden Age’ of migration science, as new technologies will give new insights. Some uncertainties will, of course, continue. In the US there is a migration of dragon flies but we don’t know why and where they are going. (A monitoring tag has recently been fitted for the first time to an insect species.)

Climate change will affect temperature and precipitation patterns. He takes the case of a flycatcher which has not changed the timing of its migration, whilst its food resource has responded to climate change. Such mismatches may be increasing important in the future. He notes the climate threat to sea turtles too.

Invasive species can also be expected to spread around the world: another threat to migratory species.

He proposes five steps to create effective ecological networks for migratory species.

1. Create a ‘red list’ of declining migratory species. (He notes here the threat to the highly migratory monarch butterfly where deforestation in Mexico at one end of its range is adversely affecting it).
2. Protect high-quality habitat across the entire migratory latitudinal and longitudinal range of the species
3. Identify and protect stop-over points.
4. Use incentives and regulations to maintain flexibility.
5. Stronger alliances to address threats to migratory species and here he mentions that even those technologies that seek to address climate change can be a problem for migratory species.

We can do more – we must not do less. The great migrations are irreplaceable, he concludes to supportive applause and the Chair notes that this is all food for thought. Egypt asks for a copy of the presentation to that it can be changed into Arabic.

Into the Future

Before lunch the Chair of the Intercessional Working Group on the Future Shape (of the CMS) gives an update on this work area. He introduces ERIC – the Environmental Regulation and Information Centre – which has made an independent assessment of this issue. He outlines the work to date and concludes that investing in biodiversity is investing in mankind’s future.

The meeting then breaks for a signing ceremony – for new parties to various legal instruments within the CMS family - and we shall come back to this matter after lunch.

Various countries now come forward to sign the Shark MOU, the Aquatic warbler MOU, the Raptors MOU. Italy for example takes to the stage to applause and signs the Shark and Raptors MOU. Germany does the same, as does Romania. A little later the EU signs the Shark MoU. Others follow.

Many people quietly check their emails, pausing only to clap.

A lunch break arrives and delegates set off for lunch in another part of the conference hotel which is a couple of blocks (and potentially a significant soaking) away. Not only is there ample and excellent food here provided by the host nation but a side event on ecological networks.

To provide a flavour of the context of CMS here follows a list of some of the species that it caters for:

Sharks – CMS oversaw the Second Meeting on International Cooperation on Migratory Sharks in 2008 and now we have the MOU in place for them, as signed earlier by various nations and the EU.

African Elephants – there is an MOU for West African elephants too. Its first meeting happened in Ghana in 2009. One of the issues brewing here at the COP is how many species of African elephant should be recognised. Some favour two others, including the CITES Secretariat as we heard last week in the Scientific Council only one and obviously this has implications for their conservation.

Aquatic Warblers and other avian species – they have an MOU too; so do the Siberian Cranes and also the migratory grassland birds of Southern South America. Then there is a houbara bustard MOU.

Saiga Antelopes – another MOU and the Bukhara deer have one too!

Dugongs – and another and its signatories met in 2010.

Bats – there is a fully fledged Agreement for bats in Europe known as ‘Eurobats’, and its party nations last met in the Czech republic in 2010.

Cetaceans – ASCOBANS is the agreement for small cetaceans only in Northern Europe and ACCOBAMS covers all the cetaceans in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (and the adjacent patch of the Atlantic); not to mention the Pacific cetacean MOU and the one for West Africa.

These are all the ‘babies’, as Elizabeth called them yesterday, of CMS. And CMS has been busy striving to help many species, including cetaceans. Can this continue against the backdrop of world economic issues? We shall see.

Other issues here over the next few days include those surrounding the bobolink? So we better find out what that is.

Lunch comes and goes.

We are quorate says the Chair. That means at least half of you are here. He repeats that all working groups are open-ended anyone can join. Each working group needs to appoint its own chair.

ERIC now gives its report on the Future Shape of the CMS and its Family (and presumably its babies). She talks about how the various CMS bodies work cooperatively. Some more than others but there is not, she says, a real family of integration, although ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS work closely together. There is no infranet to help. Scientific bodies tend to be separated. Some MOUs also do not have a coordinator. She goes on to compare staffing levels in CMS with those in other bodies. Staffing seems to be comparable but CMS does support many more separated bodies.

The gorilla body receives little separate funding. It is mainly funded by the Secretariat.

She next details the estimated costs associated with possible changes. For example the working group on the Future… has recommended a number of key reforms and she considers a range of costs.

What issues do you want to focus on? she concludes.

In answer to a question from Pakistan she notes that part of the proposal is for a single scientific body for the whole family.

The EU now takes the floor for the first time and it is the Polish delegate speaking. They do not find the report sufficient. More work needs to be done; anything that needs additional funding will not be acceptable. They propose that COP 10 proposes that a new strategic plan should be developed.

Norway is prepared to develop in further discussions and looks forward to stream-lining and to link the Future process with the strategic plan.

Bert Lenten from the Secretariat, the Deputy CMS Executive Secretary, now gives some details of the work of the secretariat; noting with some conviction that we need to protect species before they disappear and also the long hours worked by the Secretariat as they try to cope with their heavy work load.

Total fix costs are 5.9 million Euros. Costs have increased because of inflation, increased staffing costs and the expansion of work. There is nothing currently in the small grant fund. If Parties want a new website, this will also cost. Bert notes that where there is a will there is away, for example the billions of Euros suddenly found by Europe to save the euro-zone.

Bert gets some applause and the Chairman says we also need to think of innovative ways forward. He tries to move to a coffee break but Mr Salmon of the UK is waving his flag (well actually his name plaque). The Chair says he now sees there is a desire to comment on what Bert said. The EU is given the floor first. She says different costs for different options need to be shown clearly. She is looking for a table to allow comparison with the different budget.

The UK thanks Norway for hosting and congratulates the chair and asks for the practical arrangements of when we meet. Madagascar gives the usual compliments. Would it not be possible to develop a funding mechanism?

The Chair says please do participate in the finance group. Argentina notes that the payment of contributions can turn out to be very expensive for developing nations.

The various working groups are now announced. The important (to us) working group on marine issues will include Germany, Norway, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Argentina and Ecuador. The other working groups are the ‘Future Shape’ and the ‘Strategic Group’.