Creation of the Working Group

The Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (COP9) passed two resolutions calling for a review to develop appropriate conservation frameworks/agreements for migratory species to be undertaken during the inter-sessional period to COP10. Resolution 9.2 states that the COP “decides to establish an open-ended working group on global bird flyways within the framework of the Scientific Council to act as a think tank on flyways and frameworks, and tasked with reviewing scientific and technical issues for conservation of migratory birds and their habitats (e.g. UNEP/CMS/Conf.9.27 Future Flyways Policy), and relevant international instruments, initiatives and processes, as the basis for future CMS policy on flyways and contributing to the work on the future shape of CMS”.

Scope

The reviews should focus on flyways of the following species groups: waterbirds, seabirds and land birds (including passerines, raptors, grassland and forest birds).

Mandate

• Review scientific/technical knowledge of migratory bird flyways and conservation priorities, and identify major gaps;
• Review existing administrative/management instruments for migratory bird flyways globally; and
• Propose policy options for flyway conservation/management to feed into the Intersessional Process Regarding the Future Shape of CMS.

Period of Operation

The Flyways Working Group was set up in late 2009 with actvities to be undertaken in the intersessional period between COP9 and COP10 (2009-11).

Click here for a list of the Working Group's members.

Click here for documents from the Working Group's meeting in Edinburgh in 2011.