The role of NFPs includes facilitating the lead-up, in terms of logistical preparation, to a meeting for the delegations attending. Formal invitations from the Secretariat/Coordinating Unit notifying Member States of the meeting contains information regarding the date and venue of the meeting as well as further details, such as registration deadlines and procedures.

Timely preparation can ensure compliance with possible funding deadlines, and the preparation of necessary documents can ensure the full participation of the delegation, including the exercise of voting rights.

Liaising with other organizations that share goals or objectives provides important opportunities for collaboration. For instance, many non-profit organizations are effectively working on conservation and restoration. Some are quite established and spread across different nations, providing a foundation for developing transnational relationships. Moreover, collaboration with different organizations can enhance skills, as many have experience with cross-cutting tools, including communication, advocacy and lobbying, as well as the establishment of partnerships.

Transboundary implementation is integral to the CMS Family instruments due to the migratory nature of the species that they cover. Effective implementation, therefore, must result from cooperation and coordination between multiple nations that are relevant to a specific migratory species. Through liaising and communication, NFPs are important actors in promoting transnational cooperation. Several cooperative programmes have been developed for the management of shared resources of migratory species or the conservation of individual species.

Given the nature of migratory species moving between range states, successful national implementation will depend on collaborations at a transboundary, regional and sub-regional levels.* Achieving effective conservation of migratory species requires cooperation between Range States sharing those ecosystems or situated along a migration route. Assessing which elements of implementation are better achieved through regional and transnational cooperation will be necessary.

The NBSAP and/or NIP should include review, monitoring and evaluation of a country’s implementation activities in order to determine whether CMS and its instruments are bringing about tangible improvement and whether obligations under the instruments are being met.* Monitoring undertaken at the national level is extremely important for gauging the actual impact of CMS and its instruments in their implementation goals.

Once the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) and/or National Implementation Plan (NIP) has been finalized and endorsed at the appropriate level by the government, it should enter into the implementation phase. Promoting and facilitating the implementation of CMS and its instruments are part of the responsibilities of the NFP. It is therefore generally expected that the NFP should play a role in the execution of the NBSAP and/or NIP.

To ensure that CMS and/or any of its instruments are properly implemented at national level the development of a National Strategy and/or Implementation Plan for Migratory Species is required. Decisions and resolutions of the decision-making body of CMS and/or its instruments, together with the programme of work and strategy should be studied carefully to identify what would be applicable for the country. For instance, a country developing a large renewable energy sector would need to consider the implications of resolutions concerning the impact of wind farms.

Whether the NFP is planning to implement CMS and its instruments by integrating implementation planning into existing national implementation tools (such as NBSAPs, Wildlife Acts, etc.), is aiming for a separate national implementation plan, or plans to use both approaches, developing a national consultation process is an indispensable step towards planning the implementation of CMS and its instruments at the national level.

A review of the relevant national legislation in place (e.g. on nature conservation, water protection, environmental planning) provides an overview on how national legislation supports the implementation of the instrument(s) and identifies the overlaps and gaps with these regulations. The review should not only focus on the existence of national legislation but also encompass its enforcement (e.g. control of hunting, poaching, pollution, and habitat destruction) and the experiences and lessons learned regarding the effectiveness of legal instruments.