Concerted Actions Ongoing

What are Concerted Actions?

Concerted Actions are a vital instrument to implement the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Based on advice from the Scientific Council, since COP4, Parties have been designating species for Cooperative or Concerted Actions. At COP12, CMS Parties consolidated the process and adopted Resolution 12.28 (Rev. COP14) Concerted Actions putting in place detailed guidelines and a template for submitting Concerted Actions.

Concerted Actions can be considered as conservation initiatives addressing one or more taxa listed on CMS Appendices, to be implemented by relevant bodies under the auspices of the Convention within a given time frame. Concerted Actions involve multiple Range States of CMS-listed species. A special aspect of Concerted Actions is that they can be submitted to COP by anyone – not just CMS Parties. This provides an opportunity for different stakeholders to initiate conservation actions under CMS. 

Paragraph 1 of Resolution 12.28 (Rev. COP14) Concerted Actions defines “Concerted Actions” as: 

“priority conservation measures, projects, or institutional arrangements undertaken to improve the conservation status of selected Appendix I and Appendix II species or selected groups of Appendix I and Appendix II species that:

a) involve measures that are the collective responsibility of Parties acting in concert; or 

b) are designed to support the conclusion of an instrument under Article IV of the Convention and enable conservation measures to be progressed in the meantime or represent an alternative to such an instrument”

Concerted Actions generally consist of a description of the target species, geographical range, summary of activities, associated benefits, timeframe, relationship to other CMS actions, conservation priority, relevance, absence of better remedies, readiness and feasibility, likelihood of success, magnitude of likely impact, cost-effectiveness and consultations planned/undertaken.

Implementation of Concerted Actions

The Guidelines to the Implementation of the Concerted Actions Process (Annex 1 of Resolution 12.28 (Rev. COP14)) specify all steps from the submission of a proposal up until the closure of a Concerted Action.

Step 1: Submission of a proposal for Concerted Actions to the Conference of the Parties shall be made through the Secretariat least 150 days prior to COP. The specific deadline will be communicated by the Secretariat for each COP. Proposals must be submitted using the template provided by the Secretariat on the webpage of the upcoming COP. 

Step 2: Assessment of proposal by the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council (ScC-SC) at its meeting preceding COP.

Step 3: Recommendation by the ScC-SC to the COP to approve, amend or reject the Concerted Action.

Step 4: Decision of the COP to approve, amend or reject the proposed actions.

Step 5: Implementation and monitoring during the intersessional period. 

Step 6: Report on implementation to the next COP to allow monitoring of progress using the template provided by the Secretariat, including proposed next steps such as to renew following submission of a new proposal (see Step 1), or closure of the Concerted Action. A Concerted Action can also be closed without the approval of the COP. 

Benefits of Concerted Actions

The Concerted Actions:

• Are endorsed at the global level by all Parties that comprise the CMS COP;

• Constitute a conservation tool that is relatively light in terms of procedures, institutions, processes and can be adjusted easily and quickly (a benefit over agreements);

• Are monitored and guided by the CMS Scientific Council;

• Could serve as a fundraising tool, given the endorsement by Parties;

• Give guidance to Parties and other stakeholders on activities for the conservation of high priority species that have received international endorsement and can trigger international cooperation among Parties and with civil society; and

• Provide a way for Parties and other stakeholders to highlight their efforts to enhance the conservation of vulnerable populations of CMS-listed species. 

Examples of activities under Concerted Actions

• Development of Action Plans and Conservation Strategies (see for example Concerted Action for the Giraffe)

• Research to better understand the conservation status and needs of a species/population (see for example Concerted Action for the Franciscana Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei))
• Identification of critical habitats and establishment of (networks of) protected areas (see for example Concerted Action for the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca))

• Population surveys and monitoring (see for example Concerted Action for the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx))

• Threat assessment and mitigation (see for example Concerted Action for the Antipodean Albatross) 

• Regional workshops or policy meetings to enhance coordination (see for example Concerted Action for the Straw-Colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum))

• Data collection, sharing and management (e.g. standardization, joint analysis, comprehensive data collection system) (see for example Concerted Action for the Great Bustard in Asia)

• Awareness raising and outreach (see for example Concerted Action for the Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the Arabian Sea)

• Development of best practices and guidelines (see for example Concerted Action for Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Behavioural Diversity and Cultures)

• Establishment and support of collaborative research and conservation network (see for example Concerted Action for Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus) of the Eastern Tropical Pacific)

The below list presents ongoing Concerted Actions adopted by the latest CMS Conference of the Parties (COP).

Previous Concerted Actions can be found on the document page of the respective COP under the tab “Concerted Actions”.