convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (cms)

 Recently, India hosted the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS)  at Gandhinagar.

Key points:

• It was brought in the notice that CMS needs more funding to accurately assess the status of wildlife that have been listed under the most protected species list.
• Developing countries strongly opposed a proposal from the secretariat of the Convention to deny rights of voting and listing proposals to those parties with monetary contributions in arrears of three years or more.
• It was highlighted that there was a 73 per cent decline in the individual species that were listed under Appendix I of the global CMS treaty and a 48 per cent decline in species listed under Appendix II.

 About CMS:

• CMS is the global and UN-based intergovernmental organization established exclusively for conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species.
• It has been in force under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme to protect the migratory species.
• It is also referred to as the Bonn Convention, it provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. 
• It brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.
• The Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making organ of this convention.
• India has been a Party to the CMS since 1983.

 Classification of species:

•  Under this convention, migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I.
•  Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live.
• Efforts are also made for mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them.
•  Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention.

What are migratory species?

• Migratory species are those animals that move from one habitat to another during different times of the year, due to various factors such as food, sunlight, temperature, climate, etc.
• The movement between habitats can sometimes exceed thousands of miles/kilometres for some migratory birds and mammals.
•  A migratory route can involve nesting and also requires the availability of habitats before and after each migration.

Source- The Hindu