14 April 2014: The Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has reported on a workshop at which national representatives and experts on climate change discussed a Programme of Work for CMS member States on combating the effects of climate change on migratory animals. Colin Galbraith, CMS Scientific Councillor for Climate Change, who chaired the meeting, said the workshop confirmed that climate change is one of the most important threats to migratory species and the ecosystems on which they depend. The workshop was held in Guácimo, Costa Rica, from 9-11 April 2014.

Participants discussed the preparation of a CMS Programme of Work on Climate Change and Migratory Species, in line with Resolution 10.19 of the Conference of the Parties (COP). The Programme of Work builds upon the Technical Workshop on the Impact of Climate Change on Migratory Species, held in Tour du Valat, France, in 2011. It urges parties to develop and implement monitoring regimes in order to assess species vulnerability to climate change and to prepare targeted action plans. It also calls on parties to implement actions at the ecosystem level to improve the resilience of migratory species and their habitats.

Workshop participants also considered a draft resolution, which will support the adoption of the Programme of Work and highlight priority areas for climate mitigation with regard to migratory species. The resolution will be submitted to the CMS COP 11, scheduled for Quito, Ecuador, 4-9 November 2014. [CMS News] [CMS Editorial: Climate Change May Affect Your Travel Plans – and Those of Millions of Animals‘] [Wild Migration News]