North America

Meetings: Actions to be done / followed-up

  Preparing for meetings:
Initiate nomination of delegation at the national level and pre-register them via the online registration system
Request credentials and full powers, where applicable, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of State or Head
of Government

Value and Use of Information Provided in National Reports

The data and information gathered in the National Reports, when objective and comprehensive, are of great value for many processes and user groups. For this reason it is important that the data be as complete and accurate as possible.
National Reports functions as a “one-stop-shop” for a country’s official information on migratory species and the measures undertaken to conserve them. Through this, the Government fulfills its obligations under CMS and its instruments.

Benefits of National Reporting for the Reporting Country

National Reporting under CMS and its instruments, if carried out properly, has numerous benefits for the reporting countries:
• The National Reporting process can serve as an incentive for the systematic collection of data and information related to migratory species. It also provides for the regular updating of this data and information and for some countries can provide a unique framework for collating and archiving data and information.

Legal Basis for National Reporting

All CMS Family instruments include provisions for the preparation and submission of National Reports
prior to meetings of their decision-making body. However, obligations differ depending on the legal status
of the CMS instrument. For CMS and its Agreements - which are legally binding - reporting is an obligation
for each Party. However, there is no mandatory reporting requirement under the MOUs, which are legally
non-binding in nature. Nonetheless, Signatories to these MOUs are requested to make periodic reports

How National Reporting Fits into the Overall Implementation Process

National Reporting is an integral part of the overall implementation process of the CMS Family instruments. This process usually occurs at the end of the intersessional period before the meetings of the decision-making bodies. However, it should also be seen as a continuous underlying process influencing the planning of activities, their implementation and the assessment of progress made under CMS and each of its instruments.

Introduction

National Reports are the official documents by which countries report to the decision-making bodies of the CMS Family and/or its instruments on the measures they have undertaken to implement the priorities of the instruments. National Reports provide an official record of national implementation of each instrument over time and collectively they draw the picture of the overall implementation of the instrument.

Meetings of the CMS Family Decision-making Bodies

“During the Meetings of the CMS Family I experience the inspiring power of transboundary co-operation. I want to bring that feeling to my colleagues back home.”

Nancy Cespedes as Head of delegation at CMS meetings

 

As Member States constitute the decision-making bodies, it is their representatives that participate in these processes, alongside non-voting observers (e.g. representatives from non-Party States and NGOs.)

Financial Matters

The role of NFPs with regards to resource mobilization is twofold:

Communication and Dissemination of Information

Communication is a key element of any NFP’s responsibilities. NFPs are the main points of contact on matters:

  • within the Member State (at the government level and beyond)
  • between the Secretariat/Coordinating Unit and the Member State, and
  • between Member States.

It is therefore crucial to establish a regular flow of information and communication. “Staying up-to-date” regarding developments under CMS and its instruments is the starting point.
It is recommended that the NFPs regularly communicate: At the national level, with:

Appointment of Members to Subsidiary Bodies

Appointment of experts to Scientific and Technical Subsidiary Bodies

CMS and some of its instruments establish a number of subsidiary bodies to which Member States are invited to appoint expert members to provide technical and scientific advice. In the case of ASCOBANS members of the Advisory Committee have a double function.