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Third Hemispheric Conference of the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative

Asunción, Paraguay
22-25 July, 2008

Background

The Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI) seeks to contribute significantly to the conservation of the migratory species of the Western Hemisphere by strengthening communication and cooperation among nations, international conventions and civil society, and by expanding constituencies and political support. All entities that support the vision, mission and objectives of this initiative are invited to be partners in its implementation.  The Third Hemispheric conference will gather governmental wildlife officials and representatives from non-governmental organizations and conventions interested in international dialogue and cooperation on this issue.
As a way of background, this conference builds on three prior hemispheric events. First, the leaders at the 2001 Summit of the Americas called for advancing conservation of plants, animals, and ecosystems through “the development of a hemispheric strategy to support the conservation of migratory wildlife throughout the Americas.” Second, the 2003 Western Hemisphere Migratory Bird Conference in Chile brought together for the first time in 40 years governmental wildlife agency heads from Canada to Argentina. The Conference participants identified priority needs, agreed to develop a cooperative hemispheric initiative to conserve shared migratory species, and established an Interim Steering Committee to facilitate work toward this end. Finally, the second Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Conference took place in Costa Rica in 2006. Participants outlined a hemispheric plan for capacity building relevant to migratory species conservation in the region.  
The Third Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Conference will be held in Asuncion, Paraguay, July 22-25, 2008, at the Yacht & Golf Club Paraguayo. The objectives of the event are to update activities since the 2006 conference in Costa Rica, to take further steps towards establishment of a permanent forum for the conservation of migratory wildlife, and to conduct thematic sessions of interest to the region, including issues such as adaptation to climate change, marine turtle conservation, and migratory bird conservation.