2025/004: Implementation of the Single Species Action Plan for the Hawksbill Turtle in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific Ocean Region

In line with Decision 14.96 (quoted below), Parties that are Range States to the Single Species Action Plan (SSAP) for the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific Ocean Region are kindly requested to submit, by 30 April 2025:

1. Nominations for one national government representative to serve on the Steering Group for the SSAP;
2. Nominations for one national expert to serve on the Steering Group for the SSAP; and
3. A report on the implementation of the SSAP, making use of the attached simple template to facilitate effective analysis of responses.

The SSAP specifically addresses issues related to use and trade of Hawksbill Turtles.

Decision 14.100 c) directs the Secretariat to develop a reporting form enabling the Steering Group of the Action Plan and the Scientific Council to assess progress in the implementation of the Action Plan.

Your nominations and responses by 30 April 2025 will enable the Steering Group to provide a report on the implementation of the SSAP and recommendations on its further implementation to the Sessional Committee (Decision 14.99) as part of the preparations for COP15.

For questions and additional information, please contact Ms. Heidrun Frisch-Nwakanma, CMS Secretariat, [email protected].

Decision 14.96^[1]

Parties that are Range States to the SSAP are requested to:

a) as foreseen in CMS/IOSEA/Hawksbill-SSAP/Doc.8 Suggestions for a Governance Structure to Support the Implementation of the Single Species Action Plan,

i. nominate one national government representative (Focal Point) and one national expert per Range State to serve on the Steering Group, and support activities of the Steering Group, in particular by providing regular reports on implementation of the SSAP;

ii. establish National Working Groups consisting of National Focal Points, local stakeholders and scientists, particularly those who would be involved to implement actions;

iii. develop a national work plan focusing on priority actions relevant to their country or territory;

b) address, as a matter of priority, subject to the availability of resources, essential and high priority SSAP actions as soon as possible, and take into account relevant medium-priority actions in national planning; and

c) actively encourage non-Party Range States to adopt the SSAP for their use.