CMS COP 10 The final curtain

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.



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