CMS 44th Standing Committee: Scientific Council and Synergies in Focus
Bonn, 14 October 2015 - The 44th Meeting of the CMS Standing Committee (StC) will be held 14-15 October 2015 at the United Nations Premises in Bonn, Germany.
Key topics on the agenda include synergies within the CMS Family, Scientific Council organizational changes as well as an initial review of the implementation of the Programme of Work (POW) of the Convention.
CMS COP11 recognized the importance of improving collaboration, communication and coordination among biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). At the first session of the United Nations Environment Assembly had called on the international community to ensure the full implementation of MEAs and other international and regional environmental commitments in an effective and coordinated manner while promoting synergies among them, acknowledging their positive contribution to sustainable development.
In order to guide the synergies process within the CMS Family, the CMS Secretariat has commissioned an independent analysis that reports on the legal, financial, operational, and administrative implications of actions to enhance synergies. With the establishment of joint communication services among the CMS and AEWA Secretariats, a first pilot in joint services within the CMS Family was launched in January 2014. The Standing Committee is expected to advise on the way forward with regards to increase synergies within the CMS Family.
The Standing Committee will review progress made with respect to the implementation of the POW and on Resolutions adopted at COP 11 such as the Strategic Plan for Migratory Species and the Conservation of Migratory Sharks and Rays.
Delegates will also be expected to review and adopt the Terms of Reference for a working group tasked to explore possibilities for the development of a review process within the Convention - as an initial step for the intersessional process initiated by Resolution 11.7.
