Global Workshop on CMS Legislation

UN Campus Bonn, Germany

3-5 June 2025

The Global Workshop on CMS Legislation, organized within the context of the CMS National Legislation Programme, will take place from 3 to 5 June 2025 at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany. 

The workshop is open to Parties and non-Parties to CMS. 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 the MEAs are also invited to participate in the workshop. 

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

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. 

Please complete the online registration form to register for the meeting. 

Registration Form

Objectives of the workshop 

The Global Workshop on CMS Legislation aims to support CMS Parties in strengthening national legal frameworks for the effective implementation of CMS. 

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. 

Background 

CMS Resolution 12.9 Establishment of a Review Mechanism and a National Legislation Programme, adopted by the 12th meeting of the CMS Conferences of the Parties (COP12, Manila, 2017), provides the basis for the CMS National Legislation Programme (NLP). 

The CMS National Legislation Programme is a supportive, non-adversarial and facilitative activity, which aims to strengthen the implementation of the Convention through national legislation and support Parties, if needed, in developing or improving relevant national legislation. It was established to provide assistance to Parties in complying with CMS provisions, specifically to ensure long-term compliance with Articles III.4 a) and b) and III.5 of the Convention. 

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 CMS National Legislation Programme, at [email protected]