Bonn/Washington, 14 Apri – The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of International
Conservation (USFWS DIC) has given CMS an office as a
welcoming gesture support to help CMS establish a focal
point in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C., the U.S. capital, is a thriving political
hub that is the centre for all major branches of U.S.
government and contains some of the U.S.A’s leading
organisations. The new regional office representative,
Elaine Yu, recently spent time in Bonn being briefed on
CMS issues. She will connect with partners in the U.S.A,
communicate CMS's conservation message to new audiences
and promote U.S. accession.
The new CMS "hub" in Washington results from
two visits which CMS Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth
made last year to America. Following a series of constructive
discussions with several Government agencies, including
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and State Department, the Fish and Wildlife Service suggested
it might be able to help with office space if CMS could
fund an officer in the US capital. Robert Hepworth and
Herb Raffaele of FWS were able to turn the idea into reality
within a few months.
Commenting on the announcement, the Executive Secretary
said " CMS is doubly fortunate, first to benefit
from FWS' generosity and than to have found a dynamic
young officer in the shape of Elaine Yu to represent us
in Washington both with the US Government and with other
key partners and institutions in North America. She will
work in close liaison with the UNEP Regional Office for
North America (RONA) whose Director, Amy Fraenkel, is
a staunch supporter of the Convention's ideals. There
is a genuine opportunity now for CMS to build up a constituency
of support in North America, leading to the eventual accession
of both the US and Canada".
Since her arrival, Elaine Yu has commented on USFWS DIC
officers’ inspiring dedication to the conservation
and management of wildlife internationally through their
Wildlife Without Borders programme’s Global, Regional,
and Species initiatives. Combined, DIC’s Initiatives
take on various forms to address conservation globally
such as awarding grants to projects aimed at conserving
endangered species abroad through Multinational Species
Conservation Funds, developing tailored long-term wildlife
conservation and management programmes, and engaging in
international conservation treaties and conventions such
as the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative
(WHMSI). Herb Raffaele, Chief of USFWS DIC, has also been
a distinguished long-time collaborator with CMS, and sits
on the steering committee of WHMSI along with the CMS
Information Officer, Francisco Rilla Manta.
This new opportunity to reach out from the USFWS DIC office
has extended CMS's possibilities to connect with other
agencies and organisations that share a similar vision.
Within the Washington D.C. area, Ms Yu has already met
with the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums
(AMMPA) for an MoU partnership signing, and the U.S. Department
of Commerce’s NOAA regarding the future signing
of a Letter of Cooperation.
CMS appreciates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife International
Division's actions to help CMS promote international cooperation
to conserve migratory species in North America and worldwide.
Contact:
Elaine Yu
UNEP/CMS Focal Point – North America
4401 North Fairfax Dr.
Suite #100-J
Arlington, VA 22203
United States of America
Cellphone: +001 510.881.6091
Fax: +001 703.358.2115
Email: eyu@cms.int
www.cms.int
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