A gathering in Campo Grande, Brazil concluded with nations agreeing to provide enhanced protection for 40 migratory animal species navigating borders and habitats. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Executive Secretary, Amy Fraenkel, highlighted the expanded safeguards for cheetahs, snowy owls, giant otters, and great hammerhead sharks, emphasizing the importance of clear scientific evidence prompting action.
This marked the 15th meeting of countries party to the 1979 UN treaty, with Canada being the only nation not to have ratified it. The iconic species are now included in the treaty’s appendices, which cover a spectrum from stringent protections to fostering cooperation to prevent species extinction and endangerment.
These globally traveling species, such as the snowy owl, have breeding grounds in the Canadian archipelago but wander the Arctic, facing threats like climate change impacting their prey, the lemmings. With their addition to Appendix II, countries are urged to collaborate on potential joint action plans for snowy owl protection.
Furthermore, two species of hammerhead sharks have been added to the list for greater conservation attention due to their vulnerable status. Marine ecologist Pelayo Salinas de León emphasized the critical need to include them in Appendix I to aid in their population recovery efforts.
The total species count across both CMS appendices now exceeds 1,200. While the CMS involves over 130 ratified countries under the Bonn Convention, criticisms have been raised regarding its efficacy due to voluntary measures and funding limitations, with major farming and fishing nations like the United States, China, and Japan not being part of the convention.
Despite these challenges, the recent meeting in Brazil led to progress, with South American nations agreeing to add various species to the protected list, including giant otters, catfish, and neotropical birds that migrate across the continent. The gathering was seen as a step towards concrete proposals and regional cooperation, emphasizing the need for implementation to protect these migratory species effectively.
In conjunction with treaties like CITES, the meeting serves to draw attention to the remarkable creatures traversing the planet and the urgency of their conservation. The next meeting is scheduled for 2029 in Bonn, Germany, marking 50 years since the treaty’s inception.