The 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) will be held 20-25 November, in Bergen, Norway. More than 300 representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as scientists will come together to discuss urgent conservation responses to address the rapid decline of migratory animal species across the globe.
"Networking for Migratory Species" is the theme of CMS COP 10. CMS, also called the Bonn Convention, is an international treaty concluded under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) dedicated to the conservation of migratory animals such as birds, whales and dolphins, sharks, gorillas, marine turtles and elephants. CMS has committed itself to protecting migratory animals and preserving their habitats.
The 17th Meeting of the CMS Scientific Council will be held 17-18 November. The Scientific Council provides advice on scientific issues and priorities for research and conservation. It also considers the listing of new species on the Convention's two Appendices.
High on the agenda at this year's meeting and emphasizing the theme of the COP will be ecological networks as a tool to conserve migratory species. The impact of climate change on migratory animals, conservation of whales and dolphins as well as flyways as instruments for migratory birds on a global scale will be discussed. Another focus will be on CMS's initiative regarding endangered large mammals in Central Asia.
