The CMS Secretariat is pleased to announce the first Global Workshop on CMS Legislation.

National legislation plays a crucial role in implementing the Convention. This inaugural workshop, organized within the context of the CMS National Legislation Programme (NLP), aims to support CMS Parties in strengthening national legal frameworks for the effective implementation of the Convention.

The Global Workshop on CMS Legislation will take place from 3 to 5 June 2025 at the Secretariat’s headquarters in Bonn, Germany.

Objectives and format of the workshop

The workshop will focus on core aspects of national legislation that are essential to effectively implement the Convention. These include implementation of CMS Article III.5 - the CMS ‘take’ prohibition and permissible exceptions to the ‘take’ prohibition. The workshop will also examine how legislation can support ecological connectivity, and mitigate known and emerging threats for migratory species.

The workshop will include legal experts, representatives of Parties and non-Parties, and other relevant participants. It will be participatory and highly interactive, and will provide opportunities for participants to discuss and compare experiences, helping to identify legislative gaps or complexities, and to formulate best practices for the implementation of the Convention. 

The workshop will be conducted in English language only.

Agenda and documents

The Agenda for the workshop and other meeting and information documents will be made available in due course on the dedicated CMS website for the workshop.

Participation

This notification serves as an invitation for the workshop.

1. The workshop is open to Parties and non-Parties to CMS.

In the case of Parties, the Secretariat encourages the participation of the National Focal Point, and in the case of both Parties and non-Parties, a Legal Officer who should:

• Possess good working knowledge and understanding of biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), preferably CMS;
• Be involved in or highly familiar with the development and/or implementation of national environmental laws and policies;
• If the Party is participating in the NLP, be familiar with the National Legislation Profile and the corresponding recommended actions prepared for the country.

2. The workshop is also open to observers, including representatives from MEA Secretariats, and from intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations with expertise in the development and assessment of legal tools for the implementation of MEAs.

3. In accordance with Decision 14.29 g), representatives from the CITES National Legislation Project, the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme led by the FAO, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) are invited to participate in the workshop as observers.

All participants are expected to be familiar with the Convention and its main principles and should familiarize themselves with the documents that will be circulated to them in advance.

Funding arrangements

In line with the CMS Resolution 14.2 Financial and Administrative Matters, funding will be prioritized for least developed countries and small island developing States. It will be available only for one delegate per Party that is participating in the National Legislation Programme and is eligible for funding. There are some limited resources to provide travel arrangements for these delegates from eligible Parties, which will consist only of travel on the most direct and economical return airfare and daily subsistence allowance (DSA) for the duration of the meeting.

Travel (except for the funded participants), food and accommodation are to be covered by the participants.

Participants are invited to check whether they need an entry visa to Germany and, if necessary, apply for it at the earliest possible opportunity. Should you need a personalized invitation letter or any other assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat.

Information on hotels and local transport will be available on the meeting webpage in the Fact Sheet for participants.

Registration

Please complete the online registration form on the dedicated CMS website for the workshop.

• CMS Parties participating in the CMS National Legislation Programme and who are eligible for funding are encouraged to confirm their participation no later than 30 April 2025 in order to facilitate the necessary logistical arrangements.

• Other participants are kindly requested to confirm their intention to participate in the workshop by completing the online registration form at their earliest convenience and no later than 26 May 2025.

Contacts

If you encounter problems with the online registration or require assistance with your visa application, kindly let the Secretariat know immediately at [email protected].

For further information about the first Global Workshop on CMS Legislation, please contact Mr Nikola Besek, Coordinator of the CMS National Legislation Programme, at [email protected].