Bonn, 7 April 2017– with COP12 less than six months away, deadlines are beginning to loom already, one such being 24 April, by which time National Reports should be submitted to the Secretariat.

National Reporting is an integral part of the overall implementation process of CMS.  Reporting usually occurs at the end of the intersessional period before the meetings of the decision-making bodies. However, it should also be seen as a continuous underlying process influencing the planning of activities, their implementation and the assessment of progress made under the Convention.

For CMS and its Agreements - which are legally binding - reporting is an obligation for each Party. This guarantees an accurate account of how Parties are implementing the Convention and of progress in the conservation of migratory species.  At the same time, it records efforts on sustainable development. The reports received are analyzed and compiled and then presented to the Conference of the Parties.

More details about the National Reporting process can be found in Chapter 6 of the Manual for the National Focal Pointsfor CMS and its Instruments, Section 6.5 of which describes the steps for compiling National Reports.

To obtain your credentials to use the Online Reporting System, please contact Hanah Al-Samaraie, the Associate Capacity-Building Officer, who can be reached at [email protected] or on +49 228 815 2460.