CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES (CMS) – ENVIRONMENT
News:
44% of Protected
Migratory Species Showing Population Decline, Says Landmark UN Report
What's
in the news?
●
Recently, the Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) of Wild Animals launched the first-ever
State of the World’s Migratory Species
report.
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It was launched at the opening of a major
UN wildlife conservation conference (CMS COP14).
Key
takeaways:
●
The report was prepared by conservation
scientists at the UN Environment Programme.
Key
Findings of the Report:
1.
Decline in Population:
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Almost half (44 %) of the migratory species
listed under CMS are experiencing a decline in population.
2.
Risk of Extinction:
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Over one-fifth of CMS-listed species are
at risk of extinction and 97% of listed fish are facing this risk.
3.
Lack of Protection:
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51% of Key Biodiversity areas important
for migratory animals listed under CMS lack protection.
●
Also, 58% of monitored sites for these
species experience unsustainable human pressure.
4.
Identified causes:
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The most significant threats to migratory
species are overexploitation and habitat loss caused by human activity.
●
Climate change, pollution, and invasive
species also greatly affect migratory species.
5.
Lack of coverage under CMS:
●
Despite being listed by CMS, many
migratory species remain at risk, with 399 threatened species not yet included
under CMS.
Convention
on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS):
●
It is also referred to as the Bonn Convention, is an environmental
treaty under the aegis of the United
Nations Environment Programme.
●
It was signed in Bonn, Germany, on 23 June
1979.
Aim:
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It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of
migratory animals and their habitats.
Uniqueness:
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CMS is the only global and UN-based
intergovernmental organisation established exclusively for the conservation and
management of terrestrial, aquatic and
avian migratory species throughout their range.
Parties:
●
As of 1 March 2022, the Convention on
Migration Species has 133 parties.
COP:
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The Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making organ of this
convention.
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The parties to the convention acknowledge
the importance of conserving migratory species and the need to pay special
attention to species whose conservation status is unfavourable.
●
Activities by CMS Parties may range from
legally binding treaties (called Agreements) to less formal instruments, such
as Memoranda of Understanding.
Appendices:
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CMS has two Appendices.
○
These appendices list migratory species to
which the Convention applies.
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Appendix
I
lists endangered migratory species and includes prohibitions regarding the take
of these species.
●
Appendix
II
lists species that have an ‘unfavourable conservation status’ (as per the
conditions set out in the Convention) and encourages range states to draft
range-wide agreements for conservation and management of these species.
India
and CMS:
●
India has been a party to the CMS since
1983.
●
India has also signed non-legally binding
MOU with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998),
Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008) and Raptors (2016).
●
India contains a significant bird flyway
network like the Central Asian Flyway.
●
Migratory species like Amur Falcon,
Black-necked Cranes, Dugongs, Humpback Whales, etc are provided temporary
shelter in India.
Go
back to basics:
Migratory
Species:
●
According to Convention on Migratory
Species (CMS), migratory species are animals that undertake regular, cyclical
journeys between habitats owing to food, temperature, shelter, etc.