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Working Groups

Working Groups are normally established either in a formal or informal manner in the context of the bodies (decision-making and subsidiary) of CMS and its instruments. Some of these Working Groups operate only during the meeting of these bodies while others have the mandate to work intersessionally to provide advice or recommendations. Depending on the nature of their mandate, Working Groups can be composed of Member States’ representatives or scientific experts within or without the technical bodies of these instruments.

A number of further Working Groups on various issues and species have been established under the Agreements and MOUs.

Active Working Groups

Development of a Review Process under the Convention on Migratory Species

The CMS Conference of Parties at its 11th Meeting in Quito, Ecuador in 2014 (COP11) launched an intersessional process to explore possibilities for strengthening implementation of the Convention through the development of a review process and to report to the 12th Meeting of Parties to be held from 22-28 October 2017 in the Philippines (UNEP/CMS/Resolution 11.7).

Preventing Poisoning of Migratory Birds

In 2014, the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (COP11) passed Resolution 11.15 – Preventing Poisoning of Migratory Birds, recalling CMS COP10 Resolution 10.26 - Minimizing the Risk of Poisoning to Migratory Birds. These Resolutions called on Parties to the Convention, non-Party Range States and other stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, to engage in co-operative activities and to elaborate strategies to address poisoning of migratory birds.

Working Group on Climate Change

The Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (COP5, 1997) passed a recommendation calling for the establishment of a small working group to guide the Scientific Council’s decisions on climate change. Recommendation 5.5 provided the foundation for CMS’s climate change mandate, and was further developed by subsequent Resolutions 8.13, 9.7 and 10.19.

Working Group on Flyways

CMS Resolution 9.2 (Rome 2008) established an open-ended working group on global bird flyways within the framework of the Scientific Council to act as a think tank on flyways and frameworks, and tasked with reviewing scientific and technical issues for conservation of migratory birds and their habitats and relevant international instruments, initiatives and processes, as the basis for future CMS policy on flyways. Resolution 10.10 (Bergen 2011) recognized the excellent work of the Flyways Working Group and proposed its continuation to review relevant scientific and technical issues, international initiatives and processes, and to provide guidance and input to the conservation and management of flyways at global and flyway level. Resolution 11.14 (Quito 2014) further requested the continuation of the WG to monitor implementation of the Flyways Programme of Work that was adopted at COP11. The mandate was renewed again at COP12 through Resolution 12.11 on Flyways.

Concluded Working Groups

CMS Future Shape Working Group 2009-11

An Intersessional Working Group has been established by the COP to consider the Future Shape of CMS. The Group is chaired by Switzerland. Australia is Vice-Chair.
Parties, non-Parties and organizations wishing to know more about the work of the group should contact the appropriate regional members.
The membership was elected at COP9 in Rome.

CMS Strategic Plan Working Group 2012-16

At the 10th meeting of the CMS Conference of the Parties (COP10) in Bergen, it was decided in Resolution 10.5 to establish a Working Group to draft the new Strategic Plan for Migratory Species for the period 2015-2023, to be submitted to CMS COP11 for consideration and adoption.