Suddenly Manila! CMS CoP12

The great meeting hall during the 'high level panel'

Suddenly it is the Twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP12). Which, as its theme has 'Their Future is Our Future – Sustainable Development for Wildlife & People'. 

This is the first time that CMS has met in Asia since the international treaty was adopted in Bonn, Germany in 1979 and came into force in 1985. CMS has some 120 parties (nations that have adhered to it) and at this meeting ('the CoP') hundreds of people from all over the world are in attendance. We  are meeting in the vast concrete structure of the Philippines International Conference centre and here - over the next few days - 31 proposals from 24 countries to add species to the Convention’s two Appendices will be considered alongside a slew of other issues impacting global wildlife such as marine debris and climate change.

But first bring on the dancing girls..... and boys. 

The first day of meetings here (Sunday) features the 'Standing Committee' which considers matter such as how to manage the large number of proposals on the agenda and the executive secretary of CMS explains that there will be taxonomic working groups to consider proposals before they come back to the CoW (the meeting of the whole). There will be a marine working group (dealing with marine species), a terrestrial one and the third will focus on bird-related matters.

The standing committee in action - Bradnee Chambers, second from left

After this administrative session, a 'High Level Panel' breaks out and the podium hosts a long line of dignitaries from various countries and some experts who - each in their own way - are encouraged to consider the theme of the CoP and how we might do better. 

A scene from the High Level Panel

The sprightly Philippines moderator

The third part of the day is taken up with the 'Champions' event and here various nations are thanked for their contributions to CMS. This included Germany, the EU and Monaco (the last for its work on marine conservation).  

The delegate from Monaco takes her award 

Abu Dhabi gets an award for its work on Dugongs

Finally... we move in a long stream of people to the nearest hotel for the 'Champions Reception'. A nice vegetarian buffet and a floor show - which is a remarkable mix of different dance traditions - is enjoyed by all. 

Dancers with coconut shells in unexpected places

Delegates are all given a fine 'goody bag' by the hosts - this includes two notebooks, a T-shirt, a flask, a document wallet, a dugong-shaped memory stick and much more.