Decisions 15.196 to 15.197 - Ecological Connectivity
Crosscutting Conservation Issues
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Decision directed to: Scientific Council
The Scientific Council is requested, pending availability of resources, to:
a) provide guidance to the Secretariat and support the implementation of Decision 15.197;
b) make any further recommendations, as appropriate, that may be needed within the framework of CMS to address migratory species connectivity, in particular with respect to activities undertaken under Decision 15.197, including identifying data gaps revealed by the Ecological Connectivity and Infrastructure Survey, advising on priority taxonomic groups and regions, and providing scientific direction on assessing links between connectivity, ecosystem integrity, and climate resilience.
Decision directed to: Secretariat
The Secretariat shall, subject to the availability of resources:
a) convene, in cooperation with the Scientific Council and its Working Group on Infrastructure and Migratory Species, an expert workshop to consider options and develop proposals for creating relevant data- and knowledge-holding capacity and for enhancing analysis capabilities under the auspices of the CMS, building, inter alia, on the outcomes of the Survey on Ecological Connectivity and Infrastructure and the recommendations from the Scientific Council’s Working Group on Infrastructure;
b) commission a comprehensive study on the linkages between migratory species connectivity and ecosystem integrity and resilience, including:
i. an assessment of research needs relating to key connectivity issues affecting the conservation status of major migratory wildlife taxonomic groups in terrestrial, marine and freshwater regions;
ii. identification of emerging threats and key barriers to connectivity;
iii. recommendations for further scientific research and collaboration;
iv. preparation of a report presenting the findings for consideration at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties;
c) support Parties, including through the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity, in implementing Resolution 14.16 (Rev.COP15) Ecological Connectivity through:
i. the development and dissemination of targeted guidance to further strengthen the effective implementation of measures to maintain, enhance and restore ecological connectivity;
ii. creation of practical tools for terrestrial, freshwater and marine connectivity;
iii. promotion of the integration of ecological connectivity into national policy processes, including spatial planning frameworks and NBSAPs;
iv. strengthened coordination with other multilateral environmental agreements and processes relevant to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.