Target 8: The conservation status of all migratory species, especially threatened species, has considerably improved throughout their range.

 

Note: Most of the implementation mechanisms and opportunities noted throughout the other parts of this Companion Volume have as their ultimate purpose the improvement of the conservation status of migratory species, i.e. the same purpose as described by Target 8.  Rather than repeating all that content under this one target, (or listing all the CMS Family Agreements and MoUs, all of which expect relevant implementation measures, along with the Convention itself), the items noted here focus particularly on the issue of monitoring and assessing the conservation status of the species concerned.

 

Anthropogenic Pressure

►    Improve the resilience of migratory species and their habitats to climate change, and ensure habitat availability for the full lifecycle of the species, now and in the future, inter alia through the following actions:

o Cooperate in respect of transboundary protected areas and populations, ensuring that barriers to migration are to the greatest possible extent eliminated or mitigated, and that migratory species are managed under commonly agreed guidelines. Where appropriate, this should be done within the framework of applicable CMS instruments.

o Identify migratory species that have special connectivity needs - those that are resource, area, and or dispersal limited.

• Consider ex-situ measures and assisted colonization, including translocation, as appropriate, for those migratory species most severely threatened by climate change while bearing in mind the need to minimize the potential for unintended ecological consequences, in line with CBD COP Decision X/33 on Biodiversity and Climate Change, para 8(e).

• Periodically monitor the effectiveness of conservation actions in order to guide ongoing efforts and apply suitable adaptive responses as appropriate.

• Make use of available funding mechanisms to support the maintenance of ecosystem services, with the close involvement of local communities, in order to improve the conservation status of migratory species. (Parties and relevant stakeholders).

 

►    The CMS COP Resolution 12.16 on Recreational In-Water Interaction with Aquatic Mammals includes:

4. Also recommends that when vessel-based and in-water activities occur concurrently, measures adopted by the Parties ensure the safety of marine wildlife and human participants;

5. Encourages Parties to facilitate research allowing an assessment of the long-term effects and biological significance of disturbances, noting that this requires information on the biology, behaviour and ecology of the species, adequate historical data, and suitable modelling techniques that use behavioural observation collected over shorter time frames to predict potential long-term effects on populations, and use these predictions to inform management decisions; and

6. Strongly encourages Parties to review any measures periodically to enable any impacts detected through research and monitoring of the populations to be taken into account as necessary

 

Aquatic Species

 

►    The ASCOBANS Conservation Plan for Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena L.) in the North Sea includes:

Action 7 - Monitoring trends in distribution and abundance of harbour porpoises in the region:

1) Monitor whether the management actions of the Conservation Plan are meeting the management objectives with respect to abundance and distribution;

2) Provide regular information on the abundance and distribution of harbour porpoises in the region; and

3) Build upon the advances made by the SCANS II project and the recommendations therein to develop an agreed monitoring programme (involving one or more scientific workshops) and to implement it.

►    The ASCOBANS Conservation Plan for the Harbour Porpoise population in the Western Baltic, the Belt Sea and the Kattegat includes:

Objective 4 - Monitoring the status of the population:

7) Estimate trends in abundance of harbour porpoises in the Western Baltic, the Belt Sea and the Kattegat.

· Conduct synoptic absolute abundance surveys regularly;

· The surveys should be coordinated among Denmark, Germany and Sweden; and

· The method and timing of the surveys should be comparable to previous SCANS surveys.

►    The MoU concerning the conservation of the Manatee and small cetaceans of Western Africa and Macaronesia: Action Plan for the conservation of small cetaceans of Western Africa and Macaronesia (WAAM MoU) includes:

Objective 5 - Research and Monitoring:

5.2) Facilitate coordinated data collection to improve knowledge of […] conservation status of small cetaceans.

►    The Conservation and Management Plan of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA Marine Turtle MoU) includes:

Objective 1 - Reduce direct and indirect causes of marine turtle mortality:

1.1.a) Collate and organise existing data on threats to marine turtle populations.

Objective 3 - Improve understanding of marine turtle ecology and populations through research, monitoring and:

3.1.b) Initiate and/or continue long-term monitoring of priority marine turtle populations in order to assess conservation status;

3.3.a) Prioritise populations for conservation actions;

3.3.b) Identify population trends; and

3.3.c) Use research results to improve management, mitigate threats and assess the efficacy of conservation activities (e.g. hatchery management practices, habitat loss, etc).

Objective 5 - Enhance national, regional and international cooperation:

5.4.g) Develop a streamlined format for reporting and exchanging information (through the MoU Secretariat and among signatory States) on the state of marine turtle conservation at the national level.

►    The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs (Dugon dugong) and their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MoU) includes:

Objective 1 – Reduce direct and indirect causes of dugong mortality:

1.1) Identify, assess and evaluate the threats to dugong populations and develop appropriate measures to address these threats

Objective 2 – Improve our understanding of dugong through research and monitoring:

2.1) Determine the distribution and abundance of dugong populations to provide a base for future conservation efforts and actions.

2.2) Conduct research and monitoring into dugong.

2.3) Collect and analyse data that supports the identification of sources of mortality, the mitigation of threats and improved approaches to conservation practices.

►    The CMS COP Resolution 12.17 on the Conservation and Management of Whales and their Habitats in the South Atlantic Region includes:

1. Adopts the “Action Plan for the Protection and Conservation of South Atlantic Whales” (heretofore referred to as the “Action Plan”, contained in the Annex), and urges Parties and encourages non-Parties and stakeholders to implement and support the Action Plan as a matter of priority;

2. Calls on Parties, in particular Range States, to strengthen existing measures under CMS and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements, including through collaborative arrangements with other Parties and institutions, especially where these contribute to the goals of the Action Plan, in order to address threats and promote the conservation of great whale species in the South Atlantic area, with special regard to those listed in Appendices I and II;

►   Decision 12.54 on the Conservation and Management of Whales and their Habitats in the South Atlantic Region, directed to Parties: Parties are requested to report on progress in implementing the Action Plan for the Protection and Conservation of South Atlantic Whales (Annex 1 to UNEP/CMS/Resolution 12.17 on Conservation and management of Whales and their Habitats in the South Atlantic Region), including monitoring and efficacy of measures taken, to the Conference of the Parties at each of its meetings.

►   Decision 12.16 on the CMS Global Programme of Work for Cetaceans (2012-2014)directed to the Scientific Council: Subject to the availability of resources, the Scientific Council should review the regional threats for the CMS-listed aquatic mammals not included in the Global Programme of Work for Cetaceans and prepare for the CMS Conference of the Parties at its 13th meeting a robust assessment of threats and regional priorities as well as similar work programmes for these other aquatic mammal species.

 

Avian Species

 

►    The CMS COP 12.10 (Manila 2017) on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Vultures includes:

1. Adopts the 12-year Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) 2017-2029, and urges Parties and encourages non-Party Range States, partners and stakeholders to implement the Vulture MsAP as a matter of priority locally, nationally and regionally as well as at flyway level;

3. Urges Parties and encourages non-Party Range States to implement existing measures under CMS, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU), especially where these contribute to the objectives of the Vulture MsAP, in order to increase the resilience of African-Eurasian vultures and their potential to adapt to environmental change;

 

►    The  CMS COP Resolution 11.17 (Rev. COP12) on Action Plan for Migratory Landbirds in the African-Eurasian Region (AEMLAP) includes

8. Requests the Scientific Council and the Working Group, in liaison with the MLSG to promote work to address key gaps in knowledge and future research directions, in particular through the analysis of existing long-term and large-scale datasets, the European Atlas of Bird Migration, the use of new and emerging tracking technologies, field studies of migrant birds in Africa, use of survey and demographic data from the Eurasian breed,

12. Encourages Parties and non-Parties to maintain or develop, as necessary, national common bird monitoring schemes with a view to the establishment of national wild bird indices as indicators of sustainable land use and ecosystem health, which can eventually form the basis of a global wild bird indicator that can be utilised by the different MEAs and international processes that deal with sustainable land management;

15. Calls on Parties and the Scientific Council to report progress in implementing the Action Plan, including monitoring and efficacy of measures taken, to COP13 in 2020.

 

►    The International Single Species Action Plan for the Black-faced Spoonbill includes:

Objective 4 - Conservation actions recommended:

4.2) Calls for a detailed survey of the Black-faced Spoon Bill, monitoring of sites, continued monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, as well as international cooperation to ensure the protection of the species.

 

►    The  CMS COP Resolution 12.11 (Manila 2017) on Flyways  includes:

6. Calls on Parties to effectively implement the POW as applicable and in accordance with the circumstances of each Party and invites non-Parties and other stakeholders, with the support of the Secretariat, to strengthen national and local capacity for flyway conservation including, inter alia, by developing partnerships with key stakeholders and organizing training courses; translating and disseminating documents, sharing protocols and regulations; transferring technology; designating and improving management of critically and internationally important sites; understanding the ecological functionality of flyways through research of migratory birds and their habitats; strengthening monitoring programmes; and promoting the conservation of migratory birds and ensuring any use of migratory birds is sustainable;

15. Invites Parties to implement Resolution 11.26 on climate change and continue taking action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on migratory bird species, including addressing immediate threats that might reduce adaptive potential, ensuring adequate environmental safeguards for renewable energy projects, monitoring the status of migratory birds and their habitats, developing indicators to identify the effects of climate change, promoting adaptive management, seeking new partnerships with other international bodies and considering how to assist species to adapt to climate change (e.g. through securing critical site networks);

19. Recommends that Parties enhance and strengthen monitoring of migratory bird populations and the important sites they rely upon (including surveying new sites to fill information gaps), and to increase capacity for and sustainability of such monitoring in the long term, where appropriate by institutionalizing it as an ongoing activity within government, in partnership with other organizations, including through provision of support initiatives such as the Global Waterbird Fund (established in response to the invitation of AEWA and the Ramsar Convention and managed by Wetlands International) in order to present to key stakeholders with up-to-date information on the distribution, status and trends of migratory birds and the sites and habitats that they need;

 

►    The Programme of Work on Migratory Birds and Flyways (2014-2023), attached as Annex I to Resolution 12.11 includes:

Theme A: Ensuring Migratory Bird Conservation through Flyway/ Ecological Networks and Critical Sites and Habitats and Addressing Key Threats

Theme B: Flyway-specific Actions

 

►    The  CMS COP Resolution 11.18 (Rev.COP12) on Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) Global Action Plan (SAKERGAP)

1. Congratulates the Saker Falcon Task Force on its work, including especially the transparent consensus-building approach that has been employed, and recognizes the importance of the development of the Saker Falcon Global Action Plan (SakerGAP) for the conservation and management of the species;

2. Adopts the ten-year SakerGAP presented as UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.1.5.2 as the basis for action on the conservation and management of the Saker Falcon in the coming triennium and beyond, with the overall goal ‘to re-establish a healthy and self-sustaining wild Saker Falcon population throughout its range, and to ensure that any use is sustainable’;

3. Decides to continue the Concerted Action for the Saker Falcon during the next triennium at least, to enable initial implementation of the SakerGAP to begin;

 4. Further decides to continue the Saker Falcon Task Force, under the auspices of the Coordinating Unit of the CMS Raptors MoU, and instructs the Task Force to:

a) Actively promote the implementation of the SakerGAP, including by continuing to facilitate engagement, communication, cooperation and collaboration between the stakeholders;

b) Further develop, refine and implement an adaptive management and monitoring framework to improve the present conservation status of the Saker Falcon through, inter alia, regulated and sustainable use; and

c) Keep under review the option to down-list the species;

Terrestrial Species

►    The CMS COP Resolution 12.18 (Manila 2017) on Conservation of the African Wild Ass (Equus africanus)includes:

1. Encourages current and former Range States to implement the Roadmap for the Conservation of the African Wild Ass, contained in UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.19 as the principal strategy for conservation of the African wild ass;

2. Urges current and former Range States to include conservation measures stated in the Roadmap for the Conservation of the African Wild Ass within their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs);

3. Invites Range States to develop and implement national legislation to increase the protection of the African wild ass;

► Decision 12.71 on the Conservation of the African Wild Ass, Equus Africanus  Requests Djibouti, Egypt, and Somalia, as former Range States and invites Sudan to conduct research into whether naturally occurring extant populations of the African Wild Ass remain in their territory, and to report their findings to the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties. 

 

►    The  CMS COP Resolution 12.19 (Manila 2017)  on Endorsement of the African Elephant Action Plan includes:

1. Endorses the African Elephant Action Plan, contained in the Annex to this Resolution as the principal strategy adopted by the African Elephant Range States under the aegis of CITES for the conservation of African Elephants including on matters relevant to the CMS;

 

 ►    The  CMS COP Resolution 09.22 (Rev. COP12) on Tigers and Other Asian Big Cats includes:

1. Urges Parties and Range States to enhance mutual transboundary cooperation for the conservation and management of tigers and other Asian big cat species throughout the species’ range and potential donor countries to provide or increase financial support for conservation of Asian big cat species;

 2. Requests the Scientific Council and the Secretariat to ensure that all means that can effectively contribute to an improvement of the conservation status of Asian big cats and to awareness raising on the threats that they face are taken within the framework of Resolution 11.24, The Central Asian Mammals Initiative; and

3. Encourages the Secretariat to explore areas for complementing the ongoing efforts of existing international organizations and Conventions for the conservation of tigers and other Asian big cats, and to report to the Scientific Council and the COP.

 

Decisions 12.55 -12.60 in the Joint CMS-CITES African Carnivores Initiative include:

Decision 12.55directed to: Parties

Parties are urged to recognize the importance of the African Carnivores Initiative in implementing CMS Resolutions and Decisions relating to the African Lion (Panthera leo), the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the Leopard (Panthera pardus) and the African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) and seeking synergies, inter alia through the joint CMS-CITES Work Programme with work under CITES to implement complementary CITES Resolutions and Decision. 

Decision 12.56 directed to Range States

Range States are urged to work through the African Carnivores Initiative to implement CMS Resolutions and Decisions relating to the African Lion (Panthera leo), the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the Leopard (Panthera pardus) and the African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), as a way to increase efficiency and effectiveness of their actions.

Decision 12.57 directed to Parties, IGOs and NGOs:

Parties, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are encouraged to provide financial and technical support to the Range State Parties of the African Lion (Panthera leo), the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the Leopard (Panthera pardus) and the African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) and to the Secretariat for their work through the African Carnivores Initiative in implementing the relevant CMS Resolutions and Decisions. 

 

Decision 12.61-12.66 on the Conservation and Management of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)include:

Decision 12.62 directed to Parties: Parties are requested to:

a) Collaborate in implementing the Decisions contained in Decision 12.61, paragraphs a) 1-7.´;

b) Develop and implement within communities, evidence-based strategies that reduce livestock depredation by Cheetah and African Wild Dog;

c) Develop and implement within communities, evidence-based strategies that reduce disease transmission to African Wild Dogs;

d) Promote wildlife-based income generation mechanisms that benefit both people and wildlife;

e) Provide policy environments that better support sustainable wildlife-based enterprises;

f) Ensure that legislation that protects Cheetahs and African Wild Dogs is in place and that penalties for transgression are sufficiently high to act as a deterrent;

g) Enforce protection within protected areas and maintain buffer zones and connectivity outside, in order to secure the large landscapes necessary for Cheetah and African Wild Dog conservation;

h) Ensure that all large-scale infrastructure development, including fencing and roadbuilding, allows Cheetahs and African Wild Dogs to pass through safely;

i) Consider land zoning options to maintain and restore important areas for Cheetah and African Wild Dog conservation outside protected areas;

j) Investigate opportunities to ensure that Cheetah and African Wild Dog conservation are integrated into relevant educational curricula at national and subnational levels, including schools, universities and professional training colleges; 

k) Collaborate and exchange best conservation practices regarding the preservation and restoration of African Wild Dog and Cheetah populations, and cooperate with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and other interested organizations in taking actions at the national and regional level, in particular with regard to: habitat conservation; the establishment of ecological corridors to address habitat fragmentation; the management of infectious diseases; the restoration of prey-basis; human-wildlife conflicts; and trade, including trade in captive bred specimens;

l) Assist the Secretariat, to present a summary report to the Standing Committee at its 48th and 49th meetings on the progress in implementing the Decisions.  

Decision 12.63 directed to Range and Consumer States for African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)

In support of CITES Decisions 17.235 to 17.238, Range and Consumer States of African Wild Dog are encouraged to share with Burkina Faso information about:

a) Measures implemented by range States to prevent illegal trade in African Wild Dog;

b) Trade in African Wild Dog, including levels and sources of specimens in trade;

c) Collaboration amongst Range States of African Wild Dog and exchange of best conservation practices for the preservation and restoration of the species; and collaboration with CMS, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and other interested organisations in taking actions at the national and regional level, in particular with regard to: habitat conservation, the establishment of ecological corridors, the management of infectious diseases, the restoration of prey-basis and humanwildlife conflict.  

Decision 12.66 directed to Parties, IGOs & NGOs, donors and other entities:

Parties, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are encouraged to support the Cheetah and African Wild Dog Range States and the Secretariat in their efforts to conserve and restore these species across their range; and in implementing the Decisions contained in Decision 12.61, paragraph a), sub-paragraphs 1-7 and Decision 12.62 paragraphs b) – k). 

 

►   Decision 12.67- 12.70 on the Conservation and Management of the African Lion (Panthera leo) include:

Decision 12.68 directed to Parties, Parties are requested to:

a) Collaborate in implementing the Decisions contained in Decision 12.67 a), paragraphs i – ix;

Decision 12.70 directed to: Parties, IGOs & NGOs, Others:

Parties, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are encouraged to support the African Lion Range States and the Secretariat in their efforts to conserve and restore this iconic species across the continent, taking into consideration existing landuse practices; and in implementing the Decisions contained in Decision 12.67 a), paragraphs i. – ix.

Interdisciplinary

►     The COP Resolution 12.06 (Manila 2017) on Wildlife Disease and Migratory Species, includes:

1. Calls for fully integrated approaches, at both national and international levels, to address HPAI and other animal borne diseases by bringing ornithological, wildlife, and wetland management expertise together with those traditionally responsible for public health and zoonosis, including veterinary, agricultural, virological, epidemiological, and medical expertise

8. Notes the overriding importance of enhanced biosecurity measures, including adequate farming and aquaculture standards, and the need for competent authorities to develop strategies that limit the risk of disease transmission between wild and domestic animals (through enhanced biosecurity measures) and humans;

 

► The Resolution 12.07 on The Role of Ecological Networks in the Conservation of Migratory Species includes:

4. Encourages Parties and other Range States, when identifying areas of importance to migratory terrestrial, avian and aquatic species, to take into account and make explicit by description, schematic maps or conceptual models the relationship between those areas and other areas which may be ecologically linked to them, in physical terms, for example as connecting corridors, or in other ecological terms, for example as breeding areas related to non-breeding areas, stopover sites, feeding and resting places;

8. Further encourages Parties and relevant organizations, when implementing systems of protected areas, and other relevant site- and area-based conservation measures, to: a) select areas in such a way as to address the needs of migratory species as far as possible throughout their life cycles and migratory ranges

 

►    The CMS COP Resolution 12.28 on Concerted Actions, include:

1. Determines that Concerted Actions are priority conservation measures, projects, or institutional arrangements undertaken to improve the conservation status of selected Appendix I and Appendix II species or selected groups of Appendix I and Appendix II species that

a) involve measures that are the collective responsibility of Parties acting in concert; or

b) are designed to support the conclusion of an instrument under Article IV of the Convention and enable conservation measures to be progressed in the meantime or represent an alternative to such an instrument;

4. Requests the Scientific Council to:

 a) nominate, for each species and/or taxonomic group listed for Concerted Action, a member of the Council or a designated alternative expert to be responsible for providing a concise written report to each meeting of the Council on progress in the implementation of actions for the species or taxonomic group concerned in accordance with the Guidelines to the Implementation of the Concerted Actions Process contained in Annex 1 to this Resolution;

b) confirm at each subsequent meeting of the Scientific Council that these nominations remain valid or agree alternative nominations as necessary

6. Instructs the Secretariat and the Scientific Council to encourage and assist Parties to take Concerted Actions to implement the provisions of the Convention, where possible through existing instruments of bilateral or multilateral cooperation;

8. Adopts the lists of species designated for Concerted Actions contained in Annex 3 of this Resolution and encourages Parties and other stakeholders to implement the activities included in the proposals for the designation of the species submitted in accordance with the Guidelines to the Implementation of the Concerted Actions Process contained in Annex 1 to this Resolution

 

►The CMS COP Resolution 12.09 (Manila, 2017) on the Establishment of a Review Mechanism and National Legislation Programme

1. Decides to establish a review mechanism to facilitate compliance with the obligations set out in Articles III.4, III.5, III.7, and VI.2 of the Convention (“implementation matters”);

2. Decides also to establish a National Legislation Programme to support strengthening the implementation of the Convention through national legislation and support Parties, if needed, in developing or improving relevant national legislation.

 

Please, also continuing in implementing the following instruments:

►    The  Americas Flyways Framework: A Framework For The Conservation Of Migratory Birds In The Americasattached to Resolution 12.11as Annex 2

►    The Action Plan for the Americas Flyways 2018-2023attached to Resolution 12.11as Annex 3

►    The Action Plan for the Far Eastern Curlewadopted through COP Resolution 12.12

►    The Action Plan the Baer’s Pochard adoptedthrough COP Resolution 12.12

►    The Action Plan for the European Rolleradopted through COP Resolution 12.12

►    The Multi-Species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) adopted through COP Resolution 12.10 on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Vultures

►    Decision 12.36 on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Vultures, directed to Parties, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, that decides as follows: Parties, non-Party Range States and stakeholders are encouraged to:

a) Develop partnerships with anti-poaching initiatives and conservation groups concerned with poisoning of other taxonomic groups, including developing training courses, translating and disseminating examples of best practice, sharing protocols and regulations, transferring technology, and promoting the use of online tools to address specific issues that are relevant to the Vulture Multispecies Action Plan;

b) Contribute, with the support of the Secretariat, to the proposed workshop hosted by CMS-United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), referred to in UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.1.2 on the Conservation of Migratory Landbirds in the African-Eurasian Region (especially in relation to sustainable land use in Africa), to ensure the needs of vultures are provided for in the development of a plan (to be proposed for adoption at the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties) on the integration of biodiversity requirements, as indicated by wild birds, into the land degradation neutrality delivery at national level with a focus on West Africa (countries of the Sahel and Guinea Savannah) and potentially also North-West Africa (countries of the Maghreb), subject to the availability of resources

►    The Action Plan for the Protection and Conservation of South Atlantic Whales included as Annex in CMS COP Resolution 12.17

►    The Roadmap for The Conservation of The African Wild Ass, Equus Africanusadopted through CMS COP Resolution 12.18

►The Single Species Action Plan for the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) in the South PacificOcean adopted through CMS Resolution 11.21and Decision 12.17 on Marine Turtles

►    The  CMS COP Resolution 11.20 on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks and Rays

 

EUROBATS

The EUROBATS MOP Resolution 8.3 Monitoring of Daily and Seasonal Movements of Bats includes:

1. Ensure effective protection of migratory species and their habitats

 

The EUROBATS MOP Resolution 8.8 Guidelines for Bat Rscue and Rehabilitation includes:

Develop appropriate national guidelines, drawing on the general guidance to be finalised by the Advisory Committee (refer to annex to the Resolution)

 

The EUROBATS MOP Resolution 8.9 Bats, Insulation and Lining Materials includes:

4. Take into account, when assessing the importance of individual losses, that the cumulative impact of fatalities and loss of bat roosts in buildings can lead to detrimental effects on bat populations.

 

AEWA

The AEWA MOP Resolution 7.2 AEWA's Contribution to Delivering the AICHI 2020 Biodiversity Targets And The Relevance Of The Sustainable Development Goals includes:

1. Approves the following preliminary priorities for seabird conservation action under the Agreement, for application by Parties as appropriate:

·         1.1. Address bycatch in fishing gear by filling seabird bycatch data gaps throughout the AEWA range, through existing regional frameworks and projects; assess the extent and impact of bycatch by artisanal fisheries to AEWA-listed seabirds; and by feeding bycatch data into a flyway assessment of the cumulative impact of seabird mortality (e.g. from harvesting, illegal killing and taking and bycatch) to inform national and regional decision-making on the sustainable use of seabirds;

·         1.2. Address human impacts on prey by assessing the impact of artisanal/recreational fisheries on prey; and ensuring regular representation on selected priority Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) through a collaborative approach with other conservation frameworks;

·         1.3. Assess the extent and impact of artisanal fisheries on AEWA-listed seabirds; assess hunting and egg harvesting (both legal and illegal) by gathering data on the harvest of AEWA-listed seabird species throughout the AEWA range; and feed into a flyway-level assessment of the cumulative impact of seabird mortality (e.g. from harvesting, illegal killing and taking and bycatch) to inform national and regional decision-making on the sustainable use of seabirds;

·         1.4 Address the impact of invasive non-native species, especially predation, by identifying those seabird colonies at risk from such impacts and prioritize them for action;

·         1.5. Address mortality from oil spills and contaminants by identifying the key coastal and at-sea areas where responses to oil spills would be most urgently required within the AEWA region in relation to the presence of AEWA-listed seabirds, including the identification of relevant frameworks tasked with oil spill response; and liaise with identified relevant frameworks to ensure that AEWA seabirds and seabird sites are adequately represented within existing regional oil spill plans;

·         1.6. Address impacts of offshore wind farms on AEWA seabird species in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, by undertaking a program of data-collection by AEWA Parties to validate models of population level impacts and promotion of a pilot project on the North Sea and Baltic Sea within the CMS Energy Task Force;

·         1.7. Identify priority sites by filling gaps in the critical site network for seabirds (breeding, non-breeding, pelagic and coastal areas);and protect and manage identified critical sites

3. Requests Parties, resources permitting, to also treat as priority a pilot assessment of the implications of reduced prey availability for seabirds within the Benguela region, including the impact of prey scarcity on the conservation status of seabirds as well as the feasibility of introducing mitigation measures and thresholds to improve the availability of food for seabirds as appropriate

4. Encourages relevant Parties and non-Party Range States as well as other stakeholders to implement the recommendations of the Assessment on Plastics and Waterbirds:  Incidence and Impacts (document AEWA/MOP 7.28), including:

·         4.1 Reducing  the  risk  of  plastic  ingestion  by  supporting  broad-scale  programmes  to  reduce  the amounts of plastic waste entering the environment;

·         4.2 Reducing entanglement by banning high-risk applications (such as sets of connected plastic rings that are used in multi-packs of beverages, i.e. six-pack rings) where other alternatives are  available,  by  discouraging  the  use  of  high-risk  items  (such  as  balloons  on  strings)  and educating users not to discard particularly risky materials (such as waste fishing gear) in the marine environment;

5. Further calls upon Parties to implement relevant actions in relation to marine plastic debris and microplastics as identified by decisions taken under CMS and UNEA, as relevant and appropriate;

 

AEWA

The AEWA MOP Resolution 7.6 Priorities for The Conservation Of Seabirds in The African-Eurasian Flyways includes:

1. Approves the following preliminary priorities for seabird conservation action under the Agreement, for application by Parties as appropriate:

1.1. Address bycatch in fishing gear by filling seabird bycatch data gaps throughout the AEWA range, through existing regional frameworks and projects; assess the extent and impact of bycatch by artisanal fisheries to AEWA-listed seabirds; and by feeding bycatch data into a flyway assessment of the cumulative impact of seabird mortality (e.g. from harvesting, illegal killing and taking and bycatch) to inform national and regional decision-making on the sustainable use of seabirds;

1.2. Address human impacts on prey by assessing the impact of artisanal/recreational fisheries on prey; and ensuring regular representation on selected priority Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) through a collaborative approach with other conservation frameworks;

1.3. Assess the extent and impact of artisanal fisheries on AEWA-listed seabirds; assess hunting and egg harvesting (both legal and illegal) by gathering data on the harvest of AEWA-listed seabird species throughout the AEWA range; and feed into a flyway-level assessment of the cumulative impact of seabird mortality (e.g. from harvesting, illegal killing and taking and bycatch) to inform national and regional decision-making on the sustainable use of seabirds;

1.4. Address the impact of invasive non-native species, especially predation, by identifying those seabird colonies at risk from such impacts and prioritize them for action;

1.5. Address mortality from oil spills and contaminants by identifying the key coastal and at-sea areas where responses to oil spills would be most urgently required within the AEWA region in relation to the presence of AEWA-listed seabirds, including the identification of relevant frameworks tasked with oil spill response; and liaise with identified relevant frameworks to ensure that AEWA seabirds and seabird sites are adequately represented within existing regional oil spill plans;

1.6. Address impacts of offshore wind farms on AEWA seabird species in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, by undertaking a program of data-collection by AEWA Parties to validate models of population level impacts and promotion of a pilot project on the North Sea and Baltic Sea within the CMS Energy Task Force;

1.7. Identify priority sites by filling gaps in the critical site network for seabirds (breeding, non-breeding, pelagic and coastal areas);and protect and manage identified critical sites;

3. Requests Parties, resources permitting, to also treat as priority a pilot assessment of the implications of reduced prey availability for seabirds within the Benguela region, including the impact of prey scarcity on the conservation status of seabirds as well as the feasibility of introducing mitigation measures and thresholds to improve the availability of food for seabirds as appropriate;

4.Encouragesrelevant Parties and non-Party Range States as well as other stakeholders to implement the recommendations of the Assessment on Plastics and Waterbirds: Incidence and Impacts (document 5AEWA/MOP 7.28), including:

4.1 Reducing the risk of plastic ingestion by supporting broad-scale programmes to reduce the amounts of plastic waste entering the environment;

4.2 Reducing entanglement by banning high-risk applications (such as sets of connected plastic rings that are used in multi-packs of beverages, i.e. six-pack rings) where other alternatives are available, by discouraging the use of high-risk items (such as balloons on strings) and educating users not to discard particularly risky materials (such as waste fishing gear) in the marine environment;

5. Further calls upon Parties to implement relevant actions in relation to marine plastic debris and microplastics as identified by decisions taken under CMS and UNEA, as relevant and appropriate;

6. Calls upon relevant Parties and non-Party Range States as well as other stakeholders to implement the International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Velvet Scote r(document AEWA/MOP 7.23)and the International Multi-species Action Plan for Benguela Current Upwelling System Costal Seabirds adopted by MOP6;

 

The AEWA MOP Resolution 7.7 Strenghtening Monitoring Of Migratory Waterbirds includes:

4. Urges Range States to develop and maintain adequate national monitoring schemes following the principles presented in the revised AEWA Conservation Guidelines on waterbird monitoring and its annexes including the recommended seasons and monitoring methods both for breeding and non-breeding waterbirds so as to identify and monitor international and national important sites, contribute to the production of flyway-level population size and trend estimates for populations listed on Table 1 of the AEWA Action Plan;