We would like to remind Parties of the deadlines for the submission of documents:

• National Reports - 17 August 2019
• Proposals to amend appendices and documents with a scientific component - 19 September 2019
• Documents without a scientific component - 19 November 2019

The timeline for COP13 is available at https://www.cms.int/en/news/2019010-timeline-cop13

When drafting documents for the 13^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP13), Parties are requested to follow the guidance notes prepared by the Secretariat available at https://www.cms.int/en/meeting/thirteenth-meeting-conference-parties-cms

There are three guidance notes:

1.    Guidance on Drafting Documents, Resolutions and Decisions

2.    Guidance on Drafting Proposals for the Amendment of the Appendices (Listing Proposals)

3.    Guidance on Proposals for Concerted Actions

The Scientific Council, at the 3^rd meeting of its Sessional Committee, determined that, of the species designated for Concerted Actions for the triennium 2018-2020, only those for which a Concerted Action proposal will have been developed and then endorsed by the Sessional Committee and COP13 will be retained on the list of species designated for Concerted Action for the triennium 2021-2023. 

Parties and other stakeholders with an interest in species currently designated for Concerted Action may wish to consider submitting a proposal for a Concerted Action, following the template provided in the guidance note.

For proposals for Concerted Action endorsed by COP12 and that are not expected to be completed by the end of 2020, the proponents may wish to consider submitting a revision of the proposal.  

In addition, proponents of proposals to list additional species on the appendices at COP13, may wish to consider submitting a proposal for a Concerted Action as one of the possible follow up action to the listing.  

For further information, please contact Mr. Marco Barbieri, Scientific Advisor [email protected] or Ms. María José Ortiz, Programme Management Officer, [email protected]