In response to alarming new evidence indicating that many migratory species are on the brink of extinction, governments convened at a major UN wildlife conservation meeting today and agreed to bolster conservation efforts. This includes new or enhanced treaty protections for 40 species and populations of birds, aquatic wildlife, and terrestrial animals.
During the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) COP15, held in Brazil, the Parties adopted a series of measures aimed at strengthening global and regional conservation initiatives for iconic species such as the cheetah, striped hyena, snowy owl, giant otter, great hammerhead shark, and various shorebird species facing significant population declines. The 40 additional species or populations have been listed on CMS Appendices I (species in danger of extinction) and II (species in need of coordinated international action), bringing the total number of species under the 47-year-old Convention to over 1,200. Additionally, Parties approved new conservation strategies focusing on the Amazon and other critical regions.
The week-long conference began with urgent warnings regarding the declining trends of key indicators for many treaty-protected species, emphasizing that habitat loss, overexploitation, and infrastructure barriers are exacerbating declines among migratory species that traverse national borders. The conference also underscored the need to tackle various threats, including deep-sea mining, climate change, plastic pollution, underwater noise, illegal wildlife killing, fisheries bycatch, and marine pollution.
CMS COP15 opened with strong political and scientific messages highlighting the accelerating decline of migratory species and the necessity for international cooperation to address these challenges effectively. The interim State of the World’s Migratory Species report indicated negative trends in key biodiversity indicators, with rising extinction risks and ongoing population declines.
Prominent leaders, including Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña, emphasized the urgency of addressing threats such as habitat fragmentation and illegal killing. Parties also stressed the importance of ecological connectivity, international collaboration, and enhanced partnerships with organizations like CITES and IPBES. There was a notable call to integrate Indigenous and local knowledge into scientific considerations, highlighting the need for a balanced approach between scientific rigor and diverse knowledge systems.
CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel remarked, “We came to Campo Grande knowing that the populations of half the species protected under this treaty are in decline. We leave with stronger protections and more ambitious plans, but the species themselves are not waiting for our next meeting. Implementation has to begin tomorrow. Expanded protections for cheetahs, snowy owls, giant otters, great hammerhead sharks, and many more demonstrate that nations can act when the science is clear. Our duty now is to close the distance between what we’ve agreed and what happens on the ground for these animals.”
The outcomes of CMS COP15 highlight a critical juncture in wildlife conservation, as nations unite to take decisive action to protect migratory species facing existential threats.
