The Secretariat is pleased to bring to your attention the decision of the CMS Standing Committee (UNEP/CMS/StC53/Outcome 2), taken at its 53rd Meeting held on 19-20 October 2022, establishing an Intersessional Working Group (IWG) tasked to develop, with support from the Secretariat, a draft concise Strategic Plan for Migratory Species for consideration by the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (COP14) in 2023.  

This decision implements CMS Decision 13.5, which called on the Standing Committee to consider available options for a follow up to the Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015-2023 and take a decision on next steps.   

With this decision, the Standing Committee affirmed the importance of a strategy to guide the work of the Convention and its timely development considering that the current SPMS expires in 2023, and that the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework will be adopted later this year. The Standing Committee also expressed the desire to have a stepwise process such that some elements of a follow up plan would be developed after COP14.

The decision envisions a significant effort on the part of the Secretariat to support the work of the IWG, including to conduct analyses of relevant documents, prepare background materials, support consultations, convene meetings of the IWG, and prepare a draft strategy.  The IWG’s work would culminate in a proposal to be transmitted to the CMS Standing Committee for its consideration and submission to COP14.

The Secretariat estimates that USD 70,000 is needed to implement this decision and therefore invites Parties and partner organizations to explore any opportunity to provide financial resources for this important process.

Please contact Ms. Laura Cerasi ([email protected]) to indicate your willingness to contribute to these efforts.