5 January 2012: Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), was appointed Deputy Director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as of 9 January 2012. Mrema announced her decision to step down as Executive Secretary at the 38th meeting of the CMS Standing Committee and the most recent Conference of the Parties to the CMS (COP 10).

Mrema joined the UNEP/CMS Secretariat as Officer in July 2009, and later the same year became Executive Secretary. During her tenure at CMS, the first global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on migratory sharks was concluded and cooperation was stimulated with other organizations and partners, according to CMS. She led the Future Shape process aimed at developing a new Strategic Plan for the CMS Family at COP 10.

Mrema will continue to manage the UNEP/CMS Secretariat from Nairobi, Kenya, in an acting capacity, together with her new duties at DEPI, until a successor is appointed. This arrangement will apply to the management of the ASCOBANS Secretariat and the Gorilla Agreement Interim Secretariat as well. The Deputy Executive Secretary of UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Bert Lenten, will manage day-to-day operations of the Secretariat. [CMS News]