Projects
to Save Africa's Rarest Ape Unveiled by UN
and Wildlife Groups |
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 London/Bonn/Nairobi,
15 January 2009--Three projects aimed
at countering the slide towards extinction of
one of human-kind's closest relatives were spotlighted
today as events to mark the international Year
of the Gorilla (YOG) 2009 got underway with
a "Gorillas on Thin Ice" event.
As part of the launch of the United Nations
Environment Program’s (UNEP) international
Year of the Gorilla (YoG) in the United Kingdom,
a troupe of skaters dressed as gorillas is to
take to the rink at The Natural History Museum
in London.
(Read
on)
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here to view more images
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 Bonn,
7 January 2009: The Earth Negotiations
Bulletin (ENB) reports of the CMS Conference
of Parties, held in Rome, Italy 1-5 December
2008 is available online on the International
Institute for Sustainable development (IISD)
web page.
ENB produced daily
journals of the COP together with a summary
of the entire Conference and the associated
meetings.
(Read
on) |
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Gorillas on Thin
Ice - Year of the Gorilla 2009 Fund-Raiser
Skates-Off at The Natural History Museum Ice
Rink |
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 7
January 2009, London/Bonn/Nairobi --Nemo
the Disney clownfish has done it and so have
Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty— now it
is time for ‘Gorillas on Ice!’
As part of the
2009 international Year of the Gorilla (YoG),
co-ordinated by the United Nations and to herald
the Charles Darwin bi-centenary celebrations
next month, a troupe of skaters dressed as primates
are to take to the rink at The Natural History
Museum in London.
(Read
on)
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David
Stroud honoured for his outstanding achievements
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 London,
5 January 2009 - Congratulations to
Mr. David Alan Stroud who has been appointed
a Member of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE) in the UK's 2009 New Year Honours list.
This prestigious honour is an acknowledgement
of Mr. Stroud’s commitment to nature conservation
throughout the last 30 years.
(Read
on)
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Fisheries and conservation
bodies announce new alliance to safeguard
marine mammals and ecosystems in Greece |
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 Heraklion
/ Greece, 11 December 2008 – Representatives
of fisheries, local and regional authorities
in Crete met conservation bodies in Greece for
the first time to discuss measures to protect
the marine environment. CMS which participated
in the Conference together with its regional
agreement on the conservation of whales and
dolphins in the Mediterranean and the Black
Sea, ACCOBAMS, had facilitated the meeting as
a further - and final - step forward in the
Year of the Dolphin.
(Read
on)
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“Elastic
Elasmobranchs” – 50 Shark Range
States Opt for Flexible CMS Agreement in Rome |
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Terry_Goss.jpg) Bonn/Rome
9 Dec 2008. At a three day meeting
which concluded yesterday in Rome, representatives
of 51 Shark Range State governments, chaired
by Chile, decided to create a new agreement
and Action Plan next year to conserve up to
7 threatened species of migratory sharks. This
will be the first ever agreement under CMS for
fish.
(Read
on)
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Guía de
Familia CMS Enciclopedia Disponible en Español |
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 Bonn,
9 diciembre 2008: La segunda versión
de la Guía de la Familia CMS ha sido
editada en Español recientemente durante
la ultima COP realizada en Roma, Italia.
haga
click aqui
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Bonn, 9 December
2008 – With several million supporters
and a network of offices and projects in more
than 100 countries on five continents, WWF is
one of the world's largest independent conservation
organizations, and played an active role at
the recent COP in Rome. WWF's report on COP
is available here.
(Read
on)
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Migratory Species
Get Conservation Boost at International Wildlife
Conference
New protection for Sharks, Whales and African
wild dogs |
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Rome/Bonn, 5 December
2008 – The future for 21 migratory species,
from the reclusive Irrawaddy Dolphin to the
Egyptian Vulture and the Cheetah, today got
brighter under a UN wildlife treaty.
100 governments and 70 international NGO bodies
met this week at the FAO (Food Agricultural
Organisation) Headquarters in Rome for the ninth
Conference of the Parties to the UN Environment
Programme’s (UNEP) Convention on the Conservation
of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
(Read
on)
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3D Dolphin Film
is Box Office Hit |
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Santa Monica (CA)
and London (UK), December 3, 2008 3D Entertainment
Distribution proudly announced today that its
latest IMAX® theatre release, "Dolphins
and Whales 3D: Tribes of the Ocean" presented
by Jean-Michel Cousteau, crossed the US$ 10
million mark at the worldwide box office this
past weekend. Benefitting from a staggered release
at IMAX® 3D theatres, the film was first
launched domestically in mid-February before
opening in selected international territories
including Australia, Germany, Poland and Russia.
(Read
on) links to outside website
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Conservation Agreement
for Andean Flamingos signed at CMS Conference
of Parties |
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 Rome,
4 December - Bolivia, Chile and Peru have agreed
to take measures to protect the populations
of high Andean flamingos, which have been subject
to drastic reduction and fragmentation of their
habitats and have a delicate state of conservation.
The agreement signed at the 9th CMS Conference
of Parties in Rome, a so-called Memorandum of
Understanding, calls on parties to undertake
steps to conserve these birds throughout their
range.
(Read
on)
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UNEP/CMS Nominates
Winner of Research Award on Migratory Species
Conservation |
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 Rome,
2 December - The winner of the UNEP/CMS Thesis
Award of 10,000 Euro sponsored by National Geographic
Deutschland and Deutsche Lufthansa is Dr. Samantha
Petersen, a biologist from South Africa. She
will be and honoured during the 9th Meeting
of the Conference of the Parties in Rome, Italy,
1-5 December 2008. The prize is awarded every
three years in affiliation with the Museum Koenig
research institute and the Global Register of
Migratory Species in Bonn to promote scientific
research and conservation of migratory species,
as defined by the Convention.
(Read
on)
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First Meeting of
the Parties to the CMS Gorilla Agreement endorses
Action Plans |
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 Rome,
29 November. In the run-up to the 9th Meeting
of the CMS Conference of the Parties in Rome,
the parties of the CMS Gorilla Agreement, other
gorilla range states, involved countries and
representatives of conservation NGOs such as
WWF, IUCN and WCS came together for the 1st
Meeting of Parties to this agreement, which
aims to conserve gorillas and their habitats.
(Read
on)
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Media Alert: International
Wildlife Conference
Rome / Italy, 1 - 5 December |
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 The
9th
Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS) will be held
in Rome, 1-5 December 2008. 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.
“2010 and Beyond: Wildlife Renaissance”
is the theme of CMS COP9.
(Read
on)
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Second meeting
of signatories to the Great Bustard agreement
sets the scene for conservation action for
the heaviest flying bird on earth |
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Feodosia/Ukraine, 19 November 2008 – Current
temperatures in southern Ukraine are milder
than usual this year and thus the arrival of
the thousands of Great Bustards that are commonly
seen on the Crimean peninsula at this time appears
to be delayed. Climatic effects and their impact
on migratory birds featured strongly at the
Scientific Symposium and the Second meeting
of Signatories States to the CMS Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation and
Management of the Middle-European Population
of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda).
(Read
on)
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International Action
Plan for the Lesser White-fronted Goose sets
stage for broader Eurasian cooperation along
the species’ flyway |
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Bonn, 10 November 2008 - The recently adopted
“International Single Species Action Plan
for the Conservation of the Lesser White-fronted
Goose (Western Palearctic Population)”
provides a framework for coordinated international
action to conserve this threatened species across
its full migratory range spanning Europe and
parts of Asia.
Adopted at the Fourth Meeting of the Parties
to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird
Agreement in Antananarivo, Madagascar, the plan
sets the stage for strengthened cooperative
conservation action between 22 Eurasian countries
in which this species regularly occurs.
(Read
on)
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Technical meeting
on saiga antelope conservation in Kazakhstan:
a vital step to save this flagship species
of the Eurasian steppes |
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Scientists, conservationists and representatives
from implementing bodies came together in Almaty
from 29th to 31st October 2008 to assess the
status of the medium-term work programme 2007-2011
of the Saiga Antelope Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU), which came into force in 2006. A workshop
assessed how individual saiga populations are
currently being monitored, what optimal methodology
should be used and how such methods could be
practically implemented. The meeting and forthcoming
report on MoU administration will pave the way
for the second Meeting of Signatories. The joint
CITES-CMS activity is envisaged to take place
in 2009.
(Read
on)
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CMS signs agreement
to collaborate with Global Biodiversity Information
Facility (GBIF) |
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Bonn, 30 October: GBIF and
the Convention on Migratory Species agreed to
work together to develop and share biodiversity
data on migratory species. The purpose of the
signed Memorandum of Cooperation is to facilitate
the access to the Global Registry on Migratory
Species, GROMS database (http://www.groms.de/
) by GBIF as well as to GBIF primary data by
the CMS constituency. GROMS contains scientific
information on migratory species, their ranges
and maps of migration routes, seasonal distribution
and populations.
Read
on:
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Regional cooperation
enhanced at Mediterranean Conference on Marine
Turtles |
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Field biologists, conservationists, government
administrators, managers of protected areas
from all Mediterranean countries attended the
Third Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles
in Hamammet, Tunisia 20-23 October to discuss
biology and conservation of marine turtles in
this region.
Scientists presented the most recent scientific
findings and developments in sea turtle research,
management, and conservation aspects in the
Mediterranean region. Thematic sessions focused
on anatomy, physiology and health, nesting beaches,
marine areas, distribution and population, conservation
tools and strategies.
(Read
on)
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UNEP/CMS backed
agreement to protect migratory birds
of prey in Africa and Eurasia |
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Bonn / Abu Dhabi, 23 October 2008 - A meeting
covered by the UN and the Government of Abu
Dhabi, UAE yesterday agreed a new agreement
and action plan. 28 countries signed the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU), led by the Minister
of Abu Dhabi, H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad,
Minister of Environment and Water at an international
meeting in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the United Arab
Emirates. It will enter into force on 1 November.
Read
full Press Release [English]
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African Initiative
gives boost to waterbird conservation in Africa |
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23 October 2008 - the decision to increase international
efforts to conserve waterbirds and their habitats
in Africa was made by government representatives
from 80 African, Asian and European countries
attending the Fourth Meeting of the Parties
to AEWA (MOP4) in Antananarivo, Madagascar,
15-19 September 2008.
At the meeting delegates adopted, among others,
AEWA Resolution 4.9 on the Initiative for the
Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and their
Habitats in Africa, which calls for the mobilization
of resources to support the new initiative aimed
at building capacity for and strengthening the
coordination of the conservation of waterbirds
and their habitats in Africa. Read the full
press release:
Read
full Press Release [ english
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français
]
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Grassland Birds
MOU Meeting in Brazil |
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Foz do Iguazu, Brazil 10 October 16,
2008: The first Regional Workshop “MoU
for Grassland Birds. Research, Management and
Conservation Priorities towards an Action Plan”
took place in Foz do Iguazú, Brazil,
between the 6th and 10th October of 2008.
The workshop was
organized by the Secretariat of UNEP/ CMS in
collaboration with the Chico Mendes Institute
of Brazil and the generous contribution of the
government of Spain.
The objectives
were the promotion of the implementation of
the Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation
of Grassland Birds of South America, signed
by the Range States of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
and Uruguay. A draft of the Action Plan was
produced and currently is circulating among
the governmental delegates and stakeholders
to prepare a final version to discuss during
the next Conference of the Parties in Rome.
(Read
on)
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IMO Sends Positive
Signals for Cetaceans |
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The 58th Session of the Marine Environment Protection
Committee (MEPC 58) of the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) was held on 6-10 October
2008 in the IMO headquarters in London, UK.
1) The development
of a guidance document for minimising the risk
of ship strikes with cetaceans.
(Read
on)
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Upcoming Meeting
to Conclude Agreement on Migratory Birds of
Prey in Africa and Eurasia |
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The United Arab
Emirates will co-organise the second meeting
for migratory birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia
in Abu Dhabi from 20 – 22 of October 2008.
Representatives of range states, scientists
and NGOs will come together to negotiate the
final texts of the agreement and the Action
Plan for the conservation of birds of prey.
The Action Plan
will contain sustainable measures to help to
conserve African-Eurasian migratory birds of
prey, establish a favourable conservation status
and address threats to the populations.
Government representatives and supporting organisations
will discuss the implementation of the Action
Plan as well as the structure and location of
the coordination unit of this international
instrument. The preparatory meeting was held
in Loch Lomond, United Kingdom, in October 2007.
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Report of the CMS
Thesis Award Jury published |
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 Bonn,
15 October 2008: The Report of the
CMS Thesis Award jury has been published.
National Geographic
Deutschland, Deutsche Lufthansa, Zoological
Research Museum Koenig and CMS announce the
2008 winner of the UNEP/CMS Thesis Award on
Migratory Species Conservation.
The jury (pictured)
chose the thesis submitted by Dr Samantha Petersen
of South Africa entitled ‘Understanding
and Mitigating Vulnerable Bycatch in southern
African Trawl and Longline Fisheries’ from
among 32 entries from 18 countries.
(Read
on)
Click
here to read the Jury's report
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Second Edition
of CMS Encyclopaedia Available On-Line |
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Bonn,
9 October 2008: The second edition
of the CMS Family Guide is now available online.
The encyclopaedia, which contains over 100 information
sheets, has undergone a thorough review and
has been updated to take account of the growth
of Convention, the negotiation of new agreements
and other developments. A printed version of
the new edition will be available at the CMS
COP in Rome in December.
Read
on
click
here for the Family Guide |
Convention on Migratory
Species declares 2009 Year of the Gorilla |
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 Bonn,
8 October 2008: The Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(UNEP/CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention,
will declare 2009 the Year of the Gorilla (YoG)
on December 1st at its ninth Conference of Parties
in Rome. Partners in this campaign will be the
Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), in
cooperation with UNEP and UNESCO, and the World
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The
Year of the Gorilla is part of the UN Decade
of Education for Sustainable Development.
Press
Release in English|
French
| German
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New MoU for the
Conservation of Small Cetaceans and Manatees
in Western Africa signed in Togo |
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 Bonn,
6 October 2008: CMS has acquired a
new member of its family of regional species
agreements – an MoU to conserve small
whales and manatees in western Africa.
The second inter-governmental meeting on Western
African and Macaronesian aquatic mammals, titled
“WATCH – Western African Talks on
Cetaceans and their Habitats”, was hosted
by the Ministry of Environment of Togo in Lomé,
Togo on 2-3 of October. 22 of the 29 Range States
were represented at the meeting, which had almost
50 participants, including scientific advisors
and members of the CMS staff.
(Read
on)
Small
cetacean species recorded in Macaronesia
Press Release in English| German
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