2 July 2013: A workshop on improving the capacity of Francophone African National Focal Points in identifying indicators and integrating the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) objectives into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) brought together National Focal Points for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), CMS and CITES from eight Francophone African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Senegal and Togo), supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The workshop, which took place in Douala, Cameroon, from 25-28 June 2013, was hosted by the Cameroon Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection. The meeting was organized by the UNEP Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, the UNEP Regional Office for Africa and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), in consultation with the CBD and CMS Secretariats. It was considered an activity of the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP).

Participants heard presentations on: the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020; the Aichi Targets and the new concept of the CMS Strategic Plan 2015-2013; and case studies on the revision of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) from Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Niger. Participants recognized, among other issues, that the level of consultation of relevant stakeholders in the process of revising their NBSAPs is often not sufficient to effectively ensure the incorporation of relevant objectives of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).

One recommendation highlighted was the need for further guidance at higher political levels for the national consultation processes, as well as the need to ensure integration of the objectives of not only the CMS and CITES, but of all other biodiversity related MEAs. [CMS News]