• Should the instrument be a legally binding Agreement? Or an MOU? (a legally binding Agreement will need to be ratified)
• What species should be covered? Instruments can cover just one species (e.g. Great Bustard), several species (Sharks MOU) or many species from a range of taxonomic groups (e.g. AEWA).
• What geographic range should the instrument cover? Some CMS instruments cover just two countries (Ruddy-headed Goose and Huemul MOUs), some cover a sub-region (e.g. Southern South AmericanGrassland Birds and ASCOBANS), some several continents (e.g. AEWA) and others are global (e.g. Sharks MOU).
• What conservation measures should be agreed under the instrument? Here the NFP will have to consult other ministries as activities for which they are responsible might be affected (fisheries and water, forestry, planning and development, agriculture, mineral extraction).