Santiago, 8 November. The Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species reported on activities of common interest to the 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, held in Santiago, Chile, from 3-15 November 2002.

 

The CMS report emphasises that despite their different approaches, the goals of the two conventions are mutually reinforcing and their activities are perfectly complementary. Many species are listed in the appendices of both CMS and CITES. The two conventions must work together as partners to achieve the ultimate objectives of conservation and, where appropriate, sustainable use of migratory species. In so doing, they can contribute to a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010, as agreed by Governments in Johannesburg at the recent WSSD.[click here to view the report]

 

CITES provides an international legal framework to address international trade-related threats, while CMS provides the basis for a comprehensive, coordinated approach to migratory species conservation. The convention secretariats concluded a memorandum of understanding in September 2002,committing themselves to enhance their collaboration in a number of areas.

Speaking in the Plenary Session, on 8 November, CMS Deputy Executive Secretary, Douglas Hykle, highlighted the actual and potential linkages between CMS and CITES for many species and groups, adding that "the CMS Secretariat believes cooperation with CITES is not only necesssary and desirable, but unavoidable". He appealed to representatives of CMS Parties and Agreements in attendance to take account of the decisions adopted at the recent CMS COP7 and to strive to ensure consistency and complementarity between CITES and CMS.

[Editors note: on 14 November, Committee II of CITES COP12 adopted a decision directing the CITES Standing Committee to keep under review the CMS-CITES Memorandum of Understanding as well as a more detailed joint work programme to be developed in early 2003, and to assure that CITES initiatives in respect of several species or groups complement and benefit from actions already under way in CMS.]