June 2012: The May/June issue of the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Bulletin features an editorial by Bert Lenten, CMS Officer in Charge, on the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), noting that the outcome recognizes the importance of biodiversity for sustainable development.

The Bulletin also reports on: breeding success of High Andean Flamingos in Bolivia and Argentina during 2011-2012; the draft Work Plan for 2012-2014 developed by the Interim Coordinating Unit of the CMS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Raptors outlining objectives and actions; and, in light of further Saiga antelope deaths, epidemiological research, preventive action by animal health authorities and careful sampling to mitigate future outbreaks of disease as part of the 2011-2015 Medium Term International Work Programme adopted under the Saiga MOU.

In addition, the Bulletin notes that the Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater of the Mediterranean has been listed by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).

It also reports on CMS’ participation in a workshop on “Consolidating Criteria to Identify Sites of Global Relevance for Biodiversity” convened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, aiming at developing a single methodology to enable countries to identify areas of critical importance for the persistence of biodiversity. [Publication: CMS Bulletin 5/6 2012]