2025/022: Invitation to the Eighth Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC8)
The Eighth Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC8) will take place from 15 to 18 December 2025 at the CMS Secretariat premises, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany.
This notification serves as an invitation to the meeting, which is open to all members and alternate members of the Scientific Council, representatives of CMS Parties, CMS Agreements, partner organizations and other observers. A list of the current members and alternates of the Sessional Committee members is set forth below.
| REGION | MEMBERS | ALTERNATES |
| Africa | Mr. Stephen Okiror Prof. Dr. Edson Gandiwa (vacant) | Mr. Kahsay Gebretensae Asgedom Mr. Selby Remie (vacant) |
| Asia | Dr. Sathyakumar Sambandam Mr. Askar Davletbakov, PhD Mr. Daniel Fernando | (vacant) (vacant) (vacant) |
| Europe | Dr. Joao José Loureiro Ms. Daliborka Stankovic Mr. Rubén Moreno-Opo Diaz-Meco | Dr. Jean Philippe Siblet Dr. James M. Williams (vacant) |
| Oceania | Ms. Narelle Montgomery Mr. Graeme Taylor (vacant) | (vacant) (vacant) (vacant) |
| South & Central America & Caribbean | Mr. Andrei Langeloh Roos Dr. Carlos Mario Orrego Vásquez Dr. Héctor Samuel Vera Alcaraz | (vacant) (vacant) (vacant) |
| COP-APPOINTED COUNCILLORS | ||
Aquatic Mammals Birds Birds Bycatch Climate Change Connectivity/Network Fish Fish Invasive species, disease, feral animals, insects, and marine pests and weeds | Ms. Vanesa Patricia Tossenberger Dr. Rob P. Clay1 Prof. Stephen Garnett1 Dr. Barry G. Baker Prof. Des B.A. Thompson, PhD Dr. Fernando Spina Dr. Zeb S. Hogan2 Dr. Rima Jabado2 Dr. Ruth Cromie | |
Marine Pollution Terrestrial Mammals | Mr. Mark P. Simmonds Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah | |
1 Councillors Clay and Garnett share responsibility for birds, which counts as a single position.
2 Councillors Hogan and Jabado share responsibility for fish, which counts as a single position.
Participation
In accordance with Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the CMS Scientific Council and its Sessional Committee, the following entities have the right to attend the meeting as observers:
- Members of the Scientific Council who do not serve on the Sessional Committee, including alternates to the regional representatives of the Sessional Committee;
- Party or non-Party government representatives;
- Representatives of instruments within the ‘CMS family’ or of multilateral environmental agreements within the ‘biodiversity cluster’;
- Bodies and Organizations recognized in paragraph 19 of CMS Resolution 12.4 (Rev.COP14).
Any agency or body, whether national or international, inter-governmental or non-governmental, qualified in fields relating to the conservation and management of migratory species, wishing to be represented at the meeting may do so, unless at least one third of the members present at the meeting object. Bodies or agencies desiring to be represented at the meeting by observers should inform the Secretariat not less than 45 days before the meeting of the Sessional Committees and submit the names of their representatives to the Convention Secretariat at least 45 days prior to the opening of the meeting.
All observers may participate, but without the right to vote. The Secretariat may, in advance of the meeting, and for practical reasons such as space, limit the number of individuals, such as to a given number per observer entity.
Agenda and documents
The Provisional Agenda for the meeting and other documents for ScC-SC8 will be made available in due course, together with further programme details, on the ScC-SC8 page of the CMS website.
In accordance with the rules of procedure, the deadline for submitting reports and documents to the Secretariat for the consideration of the ScC-SC8 is 15 October 2025.
The template for submitting documents will be made available on the meeting webpage.
Registration
Please complete the online pre-registration form on the ScC-SC8 webpage.
- Members of the Sessional Committee eligible for funding are encouraged to confirm their participation no later than 18 October 2025 in order to facilitate the necessary logistical arrangements.
- Members not eligible for funding are kindly requested to confirm their intention to participate in the meeting by completing the online pre-registration form at their earliest convenience and no later than 1 December 2025.
- Any body or agency that is not a member of the Committee and wishes to participate in the meeting as an observer shall submit a request to the Secretariat no later than 30 October 2025. Completing the CMS registration form shall serve as a request to participate.
Travel arrangements
The Secretariat will arrange the travel for those participants receiving financial support. All participants will be responsible for their own hotel bookings. Information on hotels and local transport will be available on the meeting webpage in the Fact Sheet for participants.
Participants are urged to check whether they need an entry visa to Germany and any transit country, and, if necessary, apply for it at the earliest possible opportunity. Should you need a personalized invitation letter or any other assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat.
All participants are also responsible for having medical and travel insurance.
Contacts
If you encounter problems with the online registration or require assistance with your visa application, kindly let the Secretariat know, please contact:
The Secretariat looks forward to your active participation in this important meeting.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 022_Invitation to ScC-SC8_Clean.pdf | 164.82 KB |
| 022_invitation-to-sccsc8_f.pdf | 144.83 KB |
| 022_invitation to ScC-SC8_s.pdf | 166.5 KB |