1 July 2014: The 18th meeting of the Scientific Council (ScC18) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) met to prepare for the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (CMS COP11), which is scheduled to take place in Quito, Ecuador, from 4-9 November 2014.

Over the course of the meeting, participants discussed, inter alia: the Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015-2023; the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI), including the draft resolution and the draft Argali Action Plan to be reviewed and submitted to the COP; impacts of invasive alien species on animals listed under CMS; and individual listing proposals submitted to COP11 for the amendment of CMS Appendices, which include the polar bear, the African lion, as well as shark and ray species; the draft Saker Falcon Global Action Plan and associated draft resolution; and the reduction of the risk of bird poisoning and how to address illegal killing of migratory birds.

The Scientific Council, which took place from 1-3 July 2014, in Bonn, Germany, brought together some 80 experts from 50 countries, including appointed experts covering specific threats, taxa and geographic regions. The Council provides scientific advice and makes recommendations to the CMS COP on the latest research, conservation and management measures related to migratory species covered under the Convention. [CMS Press Release] [Biodiversity Policy & Practice Story on CMS Listings] [CMS COP11 Website]