In News:

Recently, at 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) forty new species were added to the protected list category.

Key Details:

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), widely known as the Bonn Convention, is the only global intergovernmental treaty dedicated exclusively to the conservation of terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species.

• Genesis: Signed in Bonn, Germany, on June 23, 1979.
• Aegis: It operates under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Core Philosophy: Recognizes that migratory species do not respect political borders and their survival depends on international cooperation across their entire migratory range ("Range States").

Statutory Structure: Appendices and Agreements

The Convention provides for varying degrees of protection through two primary Appendices:

• Appendix I (Endangered Species): Lists migratory species in danger of extinction. Parties that are Range States of these species must strictly prohibit the "taking" (hunting, fishing, capturing) of these animals.
• Appendix II (Unfavourable Conservation Status): Lists species that would benefit significantly from international cooperation. It encourages Range States to conclude global or regional Agreements or less formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

Milestone Outcomes of COP15 (Campo Grande, Brazil, 2026)

The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15), held in March 2026 under the theme "Connecting Nature to Sustain Life," marked a pivotal moment for global biodiversity.

A. Expanded Protection for 40 New Species

Governments agreed to grant new or enhanced protection to 40 species facing steep population declines. Significant additions include:

• Terrestrial: The Cheetah (Zimbabwe population), Striped Hyena, and Giant Otter.
• Avian: The Snowy Owl, Hudsonian Godwit, and several Gadfly petrels.
• Aquatic: The Great Hammerhead Shark, Scalloped Hammerhead, and the Amazonian Migratory Catfish (Dourada and Piramutaba).

B. The "State of the World’s Migratory Species" Interim Report (2026)

The conference highlighted alarming scientific data:

• 49% of CMS-listed species are currently experiencing population declines.
• 24% of these species are now at risk of extinction.
• Primary Threats: Habitat loss/fragmentation, overexploitation (illegal hunting and bycatch), and infrastructure barriers (such as dams and wind turbines).

C. Key Resolutions and Initiatives

• Atlas of Migratory Routes of the Americas: A first-of-its-kind scientific tool consolidating data on 622 species to guide integrated environmental policies.
• Amazonian Multi-Species Plans: Specific conservation frameworks were approved for the Amazon region, focusing on freshwater connectivity.
• Emerging Threats: Resolutions were passed to address deep-sea mining, underwater noise, and plastic pollution.
• Multilateralism: Brazil assumed the CMS COP Presidency, emphasizing that "ecological connectivity" is essential for achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.