State of the World's Migratory Species Report - CMS

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals - CMS

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The first-ever State of the World’s Migratory Species report was launched today by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN biodiversity treaty, at the opening of a major UN wildlife conservation conference (CMS COP14).

Read and download the STATE OF THE WORLD'S MIGRATORY SPECIES Report here

"Migratory species rely on a variety of specific habitats at different times in their lifecycles. They regularly travel, sometimes thousands of miles, to reach these places. They face enormous challenges and threats along the way, as well at their destinations where they breed or feed. When species cross national borders, their survival depends on the efforts of all countries in which they are found.

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) was established in 1979 for this very reason: international cooperation is essential for the conservation of migratory species. It is uniquely placed to bring countries and stakeholders together to agree on the actions needed to ensure that these species survive and thrive.
Effective policies and actions for migratory species require a solid scientific grounding to understand their conservation status, the areas they depend on, and the threats that they face. The information presented in this ground-breaking report, the first ever State of the World’s Migratory Species, represents a significant milestone in efforts to synthesize and communicate the knowledge needed to drive forward action. The report finds that the conservation status of migratory species overall is deteriorating. Species listed for protection under CMS, despite positive successes, reflect this broader trend. The conservation needs and threats to migratory species need to be addressed with greater effectiveness, at a broader scale, and with renewed determination. In particular, urgent action is needed to prevent the extinction of species that are categorised as Critically Endangered and Endangered, which includes a substantial proportion of all of the marine and freshwater fish species (79%) and marine turtles (43%) that are listed under CMS. The report also highlights nearly 400 threatened species not currently covered by the Convention that deserve greater attention."

(extract of Report Foreword by Amy Fraenkel - CMS Executive Secretary)

Read "Humans have altered the Earth so much that migratory animals are facing extinction" here

a CNN article by Angela Dewan and Rachel Ramirez on the Report .