Joint Meeting of the Bern Convention Network of Special Focal Points on Eradication of Illegal Killing, Trapping and Trade in Wild Birds and the CMS Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean

Joint Meeting of MIKT and Bern Convention on IKB

UN Campus Bonn, Germany & Online (MIKT 6)

13-15 May 2025 

The Joint Meeting of the Bern Convention Network of Special Focal Points (SFPs) on Eradication of Illegal Killing, Trapping, and Trade in Wild Birds, and the CMS Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) will take place from 13-15 May 2025 at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format, enabling both in-person and online participation. 

This Joint Meeting will bring together members and observers of CMS MIKT and of the Bern Convention, as well as experts and other stakeholders. It provides a platform to discuss recent developments, strengthen international cooperation, and advance the implementation of the Rome Strategic Plan 2020-2030: Eradicating Illegal Killing, Taking, and Trade in Wild Birds in Europe and the Mediterranean Region. 

The meeting will commence on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, at 09:30hrs (CEST) and conclude on Thursday, 15 May 2025, at 13:30hrs (CEST). 

Goal of the meeting 

The primary objectives of the meeting are to: 

• Review progress and achievements in implementing the Rome Strategic Plan, with updates from MIKT members, Bern Convention SFPs, and observers. 
• Be informed of findings from the Scoreboard 2023 exercise, assessing national efforts and progress in combating illegal killing, taking and trade of wild birds (IKB). 
• Exchange best practices in enforcement, highlighting successful national efforts in prioritizing IKB enforcement. 
• Explore technological advancements that aid in IKB monitoring, improve data collection, and support regular surveillance efforts for countries. 
• Discuss the process to conduct a mid-term assessment of the Rome Strategic Plan and elaborate the MIKT Workplan (2026-2030). 
• Review progress on National Action Plans (NAPs), identify best practices, and define next steps for effective implementation. 
• Discuss funding opportunities to support IKB mitigation efforts and enhance regional and international cooperation. 

Background 

Illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory birds (IKB) has been of growing concern in the Mediterranean region over the past decades. In response to this threat, the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (CMS COP11, Quito, 2014) adopted CMS Resolution 11.16 (Rev. COP14) to establish an Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT). MIKT members and observers have been actively working towards the eradication of IKB. This will be the 6th meeting of the Task Force (MIKT6) after its meetings in Cairo in 2016 (MIKT1), in Malta in 2017 (MIKT2), in Rome in 2019 (MIKT 3), online in 2021 (MIKT4) and in Valencia in 2022 (MIKT5). Since 2017 these meetings have been held jointly with the Bern Convention SPFs on IKB. 

 For further details about the meeting, please refer to the Meeting Documents section below. 

Fact Sheet for Participants  Zoom Protocol  Photo Gallery of the Meeting