Bonn, 7 December 2007 – During his recent mission to Australia and Brazil, CMS Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth was able to further strengthen relations with Australia.

Mr. Hepworth promoted strong and positive relations with the key CMS actors in the Australian Government, which plays a vital role in CMS as Standing Committee Chair and as the Convention’s second largest project donor. At a meeting in Canberra, Standing Committee Chairman Andrew McNee confirmed his intention to take a proactive and comprehensive role in CMS issues.

The election of a new Australian Government is likely to be a further stimulus for Australian engagement in CMS and biodiversity as a whole. Discussions were also held with the albatross and petrels agreement (ACAP) on how to exploit synergies with the mother Convention for example on bycatch. As ACAP benefits from office and related support from the Tasmanian state government, ACAP Executive Secretary Warren Papworth offered to explore whether a small CMS office could be accommodated there to serve as a venue for CMS Parties in Oceania.

During a meeting with Australian NGOs, among them Humane Society International (HSI), the latter expressed its interest in establishing good relations with CMS. HSI will be represented at the forthcoming sharks meeting in the Seychelles.