Working Groups
Working Groups are normally established either in a formal or informal manner in the context of the bodies (decision-making and subsidiary) of CMS and its instruments. Some of these Working Groups operate only during the meeting of these bodies while others have the mandate to work intersessionally to provide advice or recommendations. Depending on the nature of their mandate, Working Groups can be composed of Member States’ representatives or scientific experts within or without the technical bodies of these instruments.
A number of further Working Groups on various issues and species have been established under the Agreements and MOUs.
Active Working Groups
Creación del Grupo de Trabajo
La Décima Reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes de la CMS (COP10, 2011) aprobó la Resolución 10.27 sobre Mejora del estado de conservación de aves terrestres migratorias en la región de África-Eurasia. En esta resolución, la Conferencia de las Partes pidió al Consejo Científico y la Secretaría apoyar esta iniciativa, entre otras cosas mediante el establecimiento de un Grupo de Trabajo en el marco del Consejo Científico para dirigir la elaboración y la implementación del Plan de Acción.
CMS Appendix I and II list many migratory aquatic mammal species. CMS COPs have also adopted several Resolutions that cover aquatic mammals, their habitats and the threats to which they are exposed. The Aquatic Mammals Working Group was established in 2011 through Resolution 10.15 Global Programme of Work for Cetaceans. When Resolution 10.15 was repealed and consolidated into Resolution 14.9 at COP14, it reiterated the request to the Scientific Council to continue supporting this working group.
The Animal Culture Expert Working Group (ACEWG) was established through Resolution 11.23 to assist the Parties of the Convention on Migratory Species and its associated instruments with understanding the conservation implications of culture and social complexity. Following an initial focus on cetaceans, since 2017 it has considered the conservation implications of social learning and animal culture for all taxonomic groups covered by the Convention.
The Joint Noise Working Group (JNWG) will support the Parties, scientific and advisory bodies and Secretariats of CMS, ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS in the implementation of the mandates of relevant Resolutions of all three organizations, such as CMS Resolution 12.14 and Decisions 13.58-13.60, ACCOBAMS Res 2.16, ACCOBAMS Res.3.10, ACCOBAMS Res.5.15, ACCOBAMS Res.6.17, ACCOBAMS Res 7.13, ASCOBANS Res.6.2, ASCOBANS Res.9.1, ASCOBANS Res.8.11(Rev.MOP9), and any relevant Resolutions still to be passed.
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE MARINE POLLUTION WORKING GROUP
Background
Vultures are under extreme pressure from a range of human activities. Drastic and widespread vulture population declines in recent years in Asia and Africa are reflected by the IUCN Red List status: the majority of species of Old World Vultures are now considered ‘Critically Endangered’.
Creación del Grupo de Trabajo
En 2011, la Décima Reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes de la CMS (COP10) aprobó la Resolución 10.26 sobre Minimización del riesgo de envenenamiento de las aves migratorias. Esta Resolución hacía un llamamiento a las Partes de la Convención, a los Estados no Parte y a otros interesados, incluyendo las organizaciones no gubernamentales, para participar en actividades de cooperación a fin de hacer frente al envenenamiento de las aves migratorias y para el establecimiento de un Grupo de Trabajo, dependiente del Consejo Científico.
CMS COP12 (2017) first adopted Resolution 12.15 Aquatic Wild Meat, which established the thematic Working Group on Aquatic Wild Meat to provide expert advice to CMS Parties, to collaborate with relevant organizations such as the International Whaling Commission (IWC), and to coordinate science and policy participation with the relevant Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements concluded under CMS.
Creación del Grupo de Trabajo
La Quinta Reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes de la CMS (COP5, 1997) aprobó una recomendación pidiendo el establecimiento de un pequeño grupo de trabajo para guiar las decisiones del Consejo Científico sobre cambio climático. La Recomendación 5.5 proporcionó la base para el mandato relativo a cambio climático de la CMS, el cual ha sido desarrollado posteriormente por las resoluciones 8.13, 10.19 y 12.21 (Rev.COP15).
Connectivity is a key word of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the only global legal instrument devoted to the conservation of migratory animals. Recently, increasing attention and importance are being given to the role that connectivity plays in nature conservation, and in the face of both the ongoing biodiversity crisis and escalating climate-driven ecological catastrophes, the role it plays in the protection and retention of ecological integrity.
Creación del Grupo de Trabajo
La Novena Reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes de la CMS (COP9) aprobó dos resoluciones que pedían llevar a cabo un estudio para el desarrollo de acuerdos y marcos de trabajo apropiados para las especies migratorias durante el periodo entre sesiones hasta la COP10.
Article VI, paragraph 1 of the Convention requests the Secretariat to keep an up-to-date list of the Range States of migratory species listed in Appendices I and II, using information received from the Parties. A Working Group on maintaining lists of species listed in CMS Appendices was established by the Seventh Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council (ScC-SC7), held in September 2024, to support the Secretariat in the implementation of Article VI, paragraph 1 of the Convention.
Resolution 12.27 (Rev.COP15)Taxonomy and Nomenclature instructs the Scientific Council to review, at its last meeting before each meeting of the Conference of Parties, the online versions of the fish, bird and marine mammal references for the species listed in the Appendices, and to make recommendations as to whether the name of any listed species should be updated.
Concluded Working Groups
An Intersessional Working Group has been established by the COP to consider the Future Shape of CMS. The Group is chaired by Switzerland. Australia is Vice-Chair.
Parties, non-Parties and organizations wishing to know more about the work of the group should contact the appropriate regional members.
The membership was elected at COP9 in Rome.
Future Shape Process - First Step
Establecimiento del Grupo de trabajo
En la 10ª reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes en la CMS (COP10), celebrada en Bergen, en su Resolución 10.5 se decidió establecer un Grupo de Trabajo que se encargara de redactar el nuevo Plan Estratégico para las especies migratorias para el período 2015-2023, con miras a presentarlo a la COP11 de la CMS para su examen y aprobación.