4 November 2014: Held on the sidelines of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP11), participants at an event, titled ‘Advancing the Conservation of Key Species Together,’ highlighted the linkages and cooperative action between the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and CMS.

The event was organized by the CITES Secretariat and moderated by David Morgan, CITES. Morgan noted that effective synergies will promote more cost effective actions, coherent messages for external partners, and conservation success. Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary, CMS, highlighted cooperation and collaboration between the two conventions, saying that the CMS is incorporating CITES’ models into its programme of work and its budget.

John Scanlon, Secretary-General, CITES, spoke about the pragmatic approach on synergies taken by the CITES and CMS Secretariats. He noted that this collaboration promotes the targeting and successful conservation of specific species, highlighting the Saiga antelope. Melanie Virtue, CMS Secretariat, described work planned for the CMS-CITES Joint Work Programme for 2015-2020, including on regional management of species and community-based management of resources, and on non-detrimental trade and sustainable use. [IISD RS Coverage of CMS COP11] [IISD RS sources]