Context :

• The 15th Conference of Parties (CMS COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals was held in Campo Grande, Brazil.

Key Points :

• Venue: Brazil, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (this city is considered the gateway to the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland)
• Brazil hosted this global conference for the first time
• Theme: "Connecting Nature to Sustain Life"
• Participation: More than 130 member countries
• CMS COP14 was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where 14 species including Eurasian lynx, Pallas’s cat and sand tiger shark were added to the CMS appendices

Major Outcomes :

• Important outcome: Around 40 new migratory species were decided to be included in the conservation list, including cheetah, striped hyena and snowy owl
• Strategic Plan: Emphasis was laid on the implementation of the Samarkand Strategic Plan 2024–2032 and linking it with the ‘Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’

Species Classification Mechanism (Simple Rewritten Form):

• Appendix I (High-risk species): This category includes migratory species that are on the verge of extinction in the wild or are assessed as Critically Endangered to Endangered (IUCN); it mandates strict conservation measures and transboundary cooperation
• Appendix II (Need for conservation cooperation): This includes species ranging from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered; it promotes international cooperation and agreements for their conservation and management
• Agreements and MoUs: CMS encourages legally binding agreements as well as non-binding Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for the conservation of migratory species, enabling countries to work together
• Scientific Assessment: It publishes global assessments like the ‘State of Migratory Species Report (2026)’, which support evidence-based policymaking

‘State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Report 2026’ :

• Released during the conference, according to which nearly 49% of migratory species protected under CMS are declining
• Another 24% are on the verge of extinction
• The decline may be due to overexploitation such as fishing and hunting, habitat loss, and fragmentation of migratory corridors
• "Some species are responding to coordinated conservation measures, but many continue to face increasing pressures along their migratory routes."
• A total of 188 migratory species are currently facing the risk of extinction, including 28 terrestrial mammals, 23 aquatic mammals, 103 bird species, 8 reptile species and 26 fish species
• 26 CMS-listed species, including 18 migratory shorebirds, have entered the high-risk category

Migratory Species Champion Awards:

Long-term conservation efforts were recognized by honoring 9 new champions:

• Government of Uzbekistan: For conservation of the Central Asian Flyway and migratory mammals
• Government of Australia: For protection of migratory shorebirds and their habitats
• Government of Monaco: For conservation of marine turtles and marine ecosystems
• Government of Flanders (Belgium): For aquatic ecosystems and aquatic migratory species
• French Biodiversity Agency (AFB): For international cooperation and scientific mapping of species
• Saudi Arabia (National Center for Wildlife): For restoration of endangered species (such as oryx and other desert migratory animals)
• European Commission: For global biodiversity policies and financial support
• German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN): For conservation of migratory birds in Central Asia and Africa
• Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME): For marine life protection and pollution control

Migratory Species :

• • These are wild animals (aquatic, avian, terrestrial) that migrate cyclically and predictably from one region to another for food, breeding or favorable climate
• • These species often cross international boundaries and depend on different habitats for various stages of their life cycle
• Key Aspects of Migratory Species:
• • Nature: Migration occurs for feeding, breeding or stopover
• • Types: Includes birds like Siberian crane, aquatic animals like whales, and terrestrial animals like elephant or reindeer
• • Importance: Their conservation is essential for ecological balance; international treaties like the Bonn Convention (CMS) play a role
• • Threats: Climate change and habitat destruction

Examples of Migratory Species :

• Birds: Bar-tailed godwit, Arctic tern
• Mammals: Terrestrial mammals include wildebeest, saiga antelope; marine mammals include humpback whale, gray whale
• Fish: Salmon, European eel
• Reptiles: Leatherback turtle, Olive ridley turtle
• Insects: Monarch butterfly, globe skimmer dragonfly

India’s Initiatives for Conservation of Migratory Species :

Convention on Migratory Species (CMS / Bonn Convention) :

CMS Appendices :

India and CMS :