Bonn, 5 June 2007. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) launched on 5th June for the International Environment Day a poster for primary school children. The double-sided colour A1 poster was produced in cooperation with the pupils and teachers at the Bonn International School (BIS). The poster contains pictures drawn and painted by pupils aged 5-11 and essays written on various migratory species.

Commenting on the good work of the children, Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary of CMS said, “All the staff at CMS are impressed by the level of interest shown by the children. Conserving rare wildlife and protecting the environment in general are obviously a cause close to their hearts. It is clear that the up-coming generation wants to take better care of the planet than their predecessors did.”

The cooperation with BIS also gave the children a chance to take an active role in the campaign through various activities. Besides the poster, their contribution to the production of environmentally friendly carry-bags is commendable. These are white cotton bags that have a picture on one side made from a collage of various drawings by the Grade 3 pupils from BIS with the message “If we don’t save them, who will?” This is part of the ongoing campaign to protect dolphins led by CMS in partnership with the tourism group TUI-AG and World Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS). Bags will be sold on the International Environment Day and the children would like to direct revenue from the sale to projects on the conservation of these species.

Celebrations for the International Day at the BIS on 9th June will be cheerful; however no balloons will be thrown in the air. This follows a concerned cry from the grade 3 class pupils after learning on the effects of balloons especially on animals such as fish, turtles and birds that can mistakenly eat them and die.

“This collaboration with UNEP/CMS comes at the right time for BIS. The school is not only turning green. It is turning 10! After 10 years of developing environmental awareness, the school is reaching its maturity and able to work with the United Nations to send a strong message to the international community and future generations on the need for a balanced and sustainable relationship between us and our environment”, said Peter Murphy, Director of BIS. “Students at BIS are taking the lead in sharing the message – their level of understanding is really impressive.”

The Bonn Mayor Ms. Bärbel Dieckman is happy on the joint effort of the UNEP/CMS and Bonn International School, working with children towards protection of the environment. Through these activities children are learning the worth of the environment and are able to pass the knowledge and share it with others. We are especially proud of this initiative taking place within Bonn to aid in the campaign for dolphin conservation.

For more information please contact:

UNEP/CMS Secretariat
Paola Deda
Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: +49 228 815-2409
Fax: +49 228 815-2449
pdeda@cms.int
www.cms.int

Peter Murphy
Bonn International School
Martin-Luther-King Str.14
53175 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: +49 228 308 54 250
Fax: +49 228 308 54 351
peter.murphy@bis.bonn.org

 

Notes to editors

Children’s poster
The double sided colour A1 poster is specially designed for primary school children. One side of the poster contains pictures drawn and painted by pupils aged 5-11 and essays witten on various migratory species. The other side of the poster explains how the Convention works, which species it seeks to protect, the threats faced by migratory species and the challenges involved in protecting our natural heritage.

UNEP/CMS
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species and their habitats throughout their range. It is an intergovernmental treaty, concluded under the aegis of UNEP, concerned with the conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. UNEP/CMS is addressing all threats to the survival of migratory animals and to the migration process itself such as light pollution, climate change, by-catch, wind turbines, ship strikes, power lines, as well as habitat degradation and loss. The Convention was adopted in Bonn, Germany, on 23 June 1979 and entered into force on 1 November 1983. Today, 103 countries are Parties to the Convention.

Bonn International School (BIS)
Several CMS staff, including the Executive Secretary send their children to Bonn International School. BIS is a state-of-the art school, providing children from ages 3 to 19 with a high quality education in a warm and caring environment. The school, located in a beautiful tree-lined suburb is one of only 140 schools worldwide which offers the International Baccalaureate (IB), highly recognized by many Universities throughout the world.
At BIS, students are not only engaged academically but learn the importance of intercultural understanding and respect. They acquire skills and knowledge to help them thrive in an increasingly mobile and interdependent world. BIS students are challenged to apply knowledge creatively, assume personal responsibility and meet high academic standards. BIS is home to over 400 students from 60 countries. See: www.bis.bonn.org (click).

On the Year of the Dolphin please visit www.Yod2007.org (click here)