Decisions 12.91 to 12.93 - Improving Ways of Addressing Connectivity in the Conservation of Migratory Species

Parties are invited to:

a) Review the means by which the measures for addressing connectivity in the conservation of migratory species set out in Decisions of the Conference of the Parties including UNEP/CMS/Resolutions 12.7 on The Role of Ecological Networks in the Conservation of Migratory Species, 12.26 on Improving Ways of Addressing Connectivity in the Conservation of Migratory Species and others can be applied more effectively through their national laws, policies and plans and through international cooperation;

b) Support the development of the African-Eurasian Bird Migration Atlas and the proposed CMS Global Atlas of Migratory Animal Movements, as well as the further redevelopment and application of the African-Eurasian Critical Site Network tool, as contributions to the provision of a sound scientific basis for action and as contributions also to the fostering of greater public awareness concerning connectivity issues;

c) Provide support, both financial and in kind, for the work of the Scientific Council described below.

The Scientific Council, subject to the availability of resources, should undertake the following tasks for enhancing the scientific understanding of connectivity issues in relation to migratory species:

a) Review the scope for existing major databases to support relevant analyses and syntheses of information on connectivity, and identify options inter alia for ensuring sustainability and enhanced operability and coordination of such databases for this purpose;

b) Investigate options for creating relevant data and knowledge holding capabilities and for enhancing analysis capabilities under the auspices of the CMS, in collaboration with suitably qualified institutions and processes;

c) Investigate and report on the linkages between migratory species connectivity and ecosystem resilience;

d) Having regard in particular to the Strategic Plan for Migratory Species, assess the needs and develop focused objectives for new research on key connectivity issues, including but not limited to climate change, which affect the conservation status of each of the major taxonomic groups of migratory wild animals covered by CMS in each of the world’s major land and oceanic regions, and produce a report on the findings of this assessment prior to the 13th meeting of the Conference of Parties;

e) Consider the need for additional guidance within the framework of the CMS on assessing threats to migratory species connectivity in particular priority situations identified by the work described in sub-paragraph (d) above; and

f) Make recommendations as appropriate arising from the work described in this Decision.

The Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, shall:

a) Explore options for establishing a working mechanism which would inter alia promote the sharing and review of information on connectivity within and between the instruments of the CMS Family, biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements and others, and where appropriate would facilitate joint attention by such instruments, agreements and organizations at strategic level to the matters covered by UNEP/CMS/Resolution 12.26 on Improving Ways of Addressing Connectivity in the Conservation of Migratory Species;

b) Develop proposals for consideration by Parties on guidance for further improving the effective application of measures for addressing connectivity in the conservation of migratory species through national laws, policies and plans and through international cooperation;

c) In cooperation with partners and as soon as possible after the conclusion of the 12th meeting of the Conference of Parties, mobilize the provision of support to interested Parties who are otherwise unable to do so from their own resources to undertake wide dissemination and deployment of a large number of energy-efficient and low-cost radio base stations coupled with radio transmitters in solar-powered "life-long" tags for tracking migratory species so as to improve knowledge about connectivity issues affecting these species; and

d) In cooperation with partners, identify opportunities for reserving small allocations of the radio frequency spectrum in a standardized way among interested Range States for tracking migratory species and transferring data from radio tags.

Parties are invited to:

a) address connectivity, including through international cooperation, in the conservation of migratory species set out in Decisions and Resolutions of the Conference of the Parties, making use of available guidance, as appropriate, and include connectivity in the implementation of other relevant and applicable international agreements, such as in commitments, including National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and include such actions in the National Report to be submitted to the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

b) support (i) the application of the African-Eurasian Bird Migration Atlas; (ii) the development of the proposed CMS Global Atlas of Migratory Animal Movements in digital format, (iii) the further redevelopment and application of the African-Eurasian Critical Site Network tool as well as the development and application of the tool to cover other major flyways, and (iv) the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) system, as contributions to the provision of a sound scientific basis for action and as contributions also to the fostering of greater public awareness concerning connectivity issues;

c) provide support, both financial and in kind, for the implementation of Resolution 12.26 (Rev.COP13) Improving Ways of Addressing Connectivity in the Conservation of Migratory Species and Decisions 13.114 and 13.115.

The Scientific Council is requested, subject to the availability of resources, to undertake the following tasks for enhancing the scientific understanding of connectivity issues in relation to migratory species:

a) review the scope for existing major databases to support relevant analyses and syntheses of information on connectivity, and identify options inter alia for ensuring sustainability and enhanced operability and coordination of such databases for this purpose;

b) investigate options for creating relevant data and knowledge holding capabilities and for enhancing analysis capabilities under the auspices of the CMS, in collaboration with suitably qualified institutions and processes;

c) investigate and report on the linkages between migratory species connectivity and ecosystem resilience;

d) having regard in particular to the Strategic Plan for Migratory Species, assess the needs and develop focused objectives for new research on key connectivity issues, including but not limited to climate change, which affect the conservation status of each of the major taxonomic groups of migratory wild animals covered by CMS in each of the world’s major land and oceanic regions, and produce a report on the findings of this assessment prior to the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties;

e) consider the need for additional guidance within the framework of the CMS on assessing threats to migratory species connectivity in particular priority situations identified by the work described in sub-paragraph (d) above; and

f) make recommendations as appropriate arising from the work described in this Decision;

The Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, shall support Parties in implementing Resolution 12.26 (Rev.COP13) Improving Ways of Addressing Connectivity in the Conservation of Migratory Species by providing specific guidance for further improving the effective application of measures for addressing connectivity in the conservation of migratory species through national laws, policies and plans and through international cooperation.