5 November 2014: The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) have signed a Partnership Agreement extension, including a US$1.3 million financial contribution. Under the original Agreement, a CMS office was established in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2009.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD, and Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary, signed the agreement in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Quito, Ecuador, respectively. The CMS Abu Dhabi office coordinates activities to address common threats to migratory species of national and regional importance including birds, marine mammals and marine turtles.

During the same signing ceremony, held during the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (CMS COP11), Sweden signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MoU). Samoa is also expected to sign the MoU during the COP. Switzerland and the Czech Republic signed the MoU on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU).

Finally, CMS and the Humane Society International concluded a cooperation agreement. [CMS Press Release on cooperation with EAD] [CMS Press Release on ceremony] [IISD RS coverage of CMS COP11]