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8TH MEETING OF CMS SCIENTIFIC
COUNCIL:
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Significant progress, as a list of projects
for a wide range of species was approved in principle
for funding by CMS. The Council also discussed CMS Appendices
listings, with recommendations for the inclusion of
new species, appointed new focal points, reviewed tracking
devices and was updated on the development of existing
and future Agreements. Full report available soon on
this site.
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SECRETARIAT NEWS:
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Two new staff members were recruited in
the last few months: Ms. Bothena Bendahmane as Administrative
/ Fund Management Officer, Mr. Carles Carboneras as
Information Officer.
In addition, Dr. Michael Paul has been seconded by the
German Government until the end of September 1998.
At the same time, Dr. Eugeniusz Nowak, who had been
acting as Scientific Advisor, retired at the end of
June.
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EUROBATS:
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The European Bat Agreement had its second
Meeting of the Parties 1-3 July in Bonn. Report available
from Eurobats' website. Read
there also about European Bat Night 2 on August 29th!
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AEWA:
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The AEWA Interim Secretariat is working
intensively in order to achieve the necessary ratifications
for the Agreement to enter into force early in 1999.
The Government of South Africa has offered to host the
First Meeting of the Parties in Cape Town in October/November
1999 (back-to-back with CMS COP6), provided that AEWA
has come into force by then.
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ASCOBANS:
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Mr. Holger Auel, a marine biologist from
the University of Kiel (Germany), was appointed by the
German Nature Conservation Agency as the new Secretary
of ASCOBANS. At the same time, the Secretariat has moved
from Cambridge to Bonn, and is now co-located with the
UNEP/CMS Secretariat in the United Nations premises.
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SIBERIAN CRANE:
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Both central and western Asian populations
seem to be holding their numbers. Reports from India
and Iran indicate that a small number of birds continue
to undertake the long migratory journey, including young
birds of the year. Conservation actions and research
activities in Russia and Iran also seem to be producing
the desired effects. New projects and activities are
on the way. Click here
for a full report.
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SLENDER-BILLED CURLEW:
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Yemen and Greece signed the MoU in the
last few months, bringing the total up to 17 Range States
and 3 co-operating organizations. The species is the
focus of much attention and a Slender-billed Curlew
Working Group (SbCWG) was officially established under
CMS. An Action Plan is currently being prepared in UNEP/CMS
format and it has been agreed to fund a research expedition
to the Persian Gulf to try to locate new wintering grounds.
Read all about it here.
