Paris, January 25 – On the occasion of the Conference on Biodiversity: Science and Governance convened by the French President, Jacques Chirac, the first ever French version of the CMS mobile exhibition was launched by Ms. Véronique Herrenschmidt, Chair of the Bern Convention and CMS Focal Point for France and the CMS Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Robert Hepworth. The exhibition also contained new panels on endangered North African antelopes and the new Southern Ocean albatross agreement.

The new French exhibition was made possible by the generous funding provided by the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development. A French language version of the exhibition will act as an important communication tool to improve the Convention’s outreach in the Francophone world.

During his address, Robert Hepworth presented a new version of the CMS acronym in French – CEM (Conservation-Especes-Migatrices) which will be used in future French-language versions of CMS Publications. “About 25% of CMS’ existing 90 Parties are wholly or partly French speaking, and it is important to increase their engagement with the Convention if we are to succeed in our mission to protect migratory species world-wide”, said the Acting Executive Secretary.

Please view the following documents for further information:

Opening Speech by Ms. Véronique Herrenschmidt, Chair of the Bern Convention (available soon)

Speech by Mr. Robert Hepworth, Acting Executive Secretary of CMS

CEM communiqué de presse (The official press release for the opening of the exhibition in French)

INVITATION à l’inauguration de l’exposition Animaux migrateurs – Passeport pour 2010

INVITATION to the opening of the exhibition “Animal Migrants – A Passport to 2010

Poster for the opening of the exhibition