Four regional UNEP Biodiversity MEAs Focal Points met with the Secretariats of the CMS, CITES and Ramsar to address MEA coordination.
It was highlighted that such Focal Points will play an important role in increasing synergies among the Conventions at the national level.
20 June 2012: Four regional UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Biodiversity Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) Focal Points met with the Secretariats of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) to address MEA coordination.
UNEP hosts a biodiversity MEA Focal Point in each of five UNEP regional offices – Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, West Asia, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe. The Focal Points’ role is to provide technical and advisory support directly to MEA secretariats, as well as to enhance countries’ capacities to implement biodiversity-related agreements. Thanks to funding from the Governments of Norway, Spain and Sweden, UNEP, and a project called the “ENRTP Strategic Cooperation Agreement (SCA) between European Commission and UNEP,” the Focal Point posts, as well as an operational budget, will be secured for the next three years.
It was highlighted that such Focal Points will play an important role in implementing joint work plans with the other biodiversity-related conventions, as well as increasing synergies among the Conventions at the national level. [CMS Press Release]