2023/026: CMS COP14 Regional Preparatory Workshops (Pre-COPs)

The Secretariat is pleased to inform CMS Parties that regional workshops will be convened in preparation of the Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP14) which will take place from 12 to 17 February 2024 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

These regional workshops (Pre-COPs) aim to provide an opportunity for Parties to have an overview of the priority issues for each region to be considered by the COP and discuss them beforehand. Pre-COPs also aim to provide a better understanding of the Convention and COP functioning, foster the exchange of information among Parties, and strengthen the institutional capacity of Parties by helping them to prepare for the negotiations.  An overview of the key aspects of the organization of these Pre-COPs is presented below.

Background

The Pre-COPs are possible thanks to funding provided by the third phase of the African, Caribbean and Pacific MEAs programme (ACP MEAs 3) of the European Union. Pre-COPs will all be held on-line, which will facilitate participation of a greater number of participants as well as subject-matter experts from the CMS Secretariat. The online format will also allow the Secretariat to hold additional workshops for other regions, without additional costs.

Schedule

There will be 3 separate Pre-COPs:

• 1 Pre-COP for Asia, Africa and Europe. The limited time zone difference among these regions allows one joint workshop. Break-out rooms will be organized at the end of each day to allow regional discussions. The Pre-COP will last 2 days, 6 hours per day, including 1-hour break.
• 1 Pre-COP for Latin America and the Caribbean. The workshop will last 2 days, 6 hours on the first day and 5 hours on the second day, including a 1-hour break.
• 1 Pre-COP for Oceania. Given the time difference between the region and Bonn, the workshop will last 3 days, with 3 hours per day.

The composition of each region is based on the grouping indicated on the linked webpage: https://www.cms.int/en/parties-range-states.

Pre-COPs will be held during the month of October 2023. Although the deadline for publishing all documents for COP14 is now 14 December, the Secretariat will make as many relevant documents as possible available sooner, to allow for their discussion in the Pre-COPs.  

The dates identified for Pre-COPs are indicated in the table below. The Secretariat has identified times that are as compatible as possible with the working hours of the various countries in the regions. The schedule is as follows:

A detailed overview of the corresponding times in all countries in the different regions, according to individual time zones, is available in an annex to this notification.

Provisional Agenda

The programme of Pre-COPs includes the presentation and discussion of COP14 documents that are key to each region.

As done in previous Pre-COPs, there will also be brief sessions addressing the roles and responsibilities of National Focal Points (NFPs), with a view to assisting those who have been recently appointed.

At the end of each day, an additional hour will be offered to the regions to provide an opportunity for a closed discussion, without the presence of the Secretariat, including, for example, on the appointment of members of the Standing Committee and the Scientific Council, selection of representatives in working groups and committees during the COP, and other issues.

The Secretariat has undertaken to identify the COP14 items likely to be of greatest interest for each region which are reflected in the lists of documents and provisional Pre-COPs agendas attached as annexes to this notification.          

Key documents to be discussed at all workshops include:

• The new Strategic Plan for Migratory Species;
• Budget proposal.

Participation

Pre-COPs are mainly aimed at NFPs planning to attend COP14. However, in order to maximize the benefits of these workshops, additional delegates of Parties attending COP14 or involved in related matters are invited to attend as well.

UNEP Regional Office and ACP Regional Hubs representatives will also be invited to attend the workshops. Pre-COPs will be closed to other stakeholders.

Modalities and Interpretation

Pre-COPs will be held via the digital platform ZOOM, which has streamlined operating modes and is easily compatible with remote connections.   

On the basis of the available funds, the Secretariat plans to provide interpretation as follows:

• French and English for Asia, Africa and Europe.
• Spanish and English for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dedicated webpages for each Pre-COP can be accessed here: https://www.cms.int/en/page/cop-14-regional-preparatory-workshop-pre-cops.

Parties are invited to register using the online forms at the following links:

Online registration for Africa, Asia and Europe

Online registration for Latin America and the Caribbean

Online registration for Oceania

If Parties have suggestions on which documents will be discussed at Pre-COPs, they are kindly invited to inform the Secretariat through their regional Standing Committee members by 15 September 2023.

For any additional information please contact [email protected] and [email protected].