Kai Wollscheid, Director-General of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) visited the CMS Secretariat in Bonn on 8 January for the annual meeting between CMS and CIC under their partnership agreements signed just over two years ago at CoP8.

Topics discussed included CIC participation at the CMS Conference of Parties in Rome later this year; a joint project in preparation on sustainable use including hunting in relation to wildlife in Niger; and a translation of the CMS brochure on avian influenza which is being financed by the German delegation of CIC, and is due for publication later this year. Mr Wollscheid also had talks with CMS Deputy Executive Secrtarary Lahcen el Kabiri on Sahelo-Saharan antelopes where both CMS and CIC remain concerned about the damaging effects of illegal killing of seriously endangered species.

During the meeting the Executive Secretary accepted an invitation to attend the next CIC general assembly in Marrakech. Morocco in April 2008. The venue will be an opportunity to promote CMS’ flagship project on North West African antelopes, which is delivering practical results through re-introduction schemes.

Read CMS news release on reintroduction of antelopes 10 Dec 2007