Bonn,
16 June 2011 - Climate change is already having
a significant impact on migratory species across the globe.
Birds are starting to arrive and breed earlier, turtles
are being observed at higher latitudes and some long-distance
migrants are starting to decline due to climate change.
Future predictions point to many more declines, extinctions
and a total reshuffle of ecosystems as they stand today.

While the interactions between climate
change and biodiversity are complex, there is a pressing
need for governments to agree on joint activities to tackle
the problem. An expert workshop was convened from 6-8 June
at the Tour du Valat research station in the South of France
under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS) to make recommendations on how best the international
community could assist migratory species in dealing with
climate change. Experts brought together ecological, genetic,
climatic and legal insight in order to formulate a roadmap
for action ranging from appropriate monitoring, identification
of most vulnerable species and spatial planning to the role
of local people and legal matters in this context.

The recommendations will become the heart
of the climate change resolution, which will be tabled at
the forthcoming Tenth Conference of the Parties (COP) in
Bergen, Norway, for CMS Parties to adopt. The resolution
will build upon the existing climate change mandate from
COP5, COP8 and COP9. It is hoped that the new resolution
will provide Parties with concise and specific guidance
on adaptation and mitigation measures. The management tools
for conservation are likely to remain the same in the light
of climate change, but their application will change. Adaptive
management will be essential in order for policies to be
implemented with sufficient flexibility.

For the Meeting Agenda, click here.