A new UN report warns that 49% of migratory species protected under the CMS are declining and 24% face extinction. Major threats include overexploitation, habitat loss, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1), highlighting the urgent need for stronger global conservation cooperation.
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Picture Courtesy: DOWNTOEARTH
Context
The United Nations State of the World’s Migratory Species report has highlighted an alarming acceleration in the decline of migratory species worldwide.
What are the Key Findings of the Report?
Accelerated Population Decline: 49% of species listed under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) now have declining populations.
Increased Extinction Risk: 24% of all CMS-listed species are now facing the threat of extinction.
Shorebirds in Peril: Of the CMS-listed species that moved to a more threatened category on the IUCN Red List, 69% were shorebirds.
The Two Greatest Threats: The report identifies overexploitation (intentional and unintentional capture) and habitat loss due to human activity as the primary drivers of decline, affecting seven out of ten CMS-listed species.
Emerging Threat
The report highlights Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) as a major new threat causing mass mortality events globally.
Anthropogenic Pressures
Beyond H5N1, human pressures continue to threaten migratory species. These often interconnected threats intensify one another.
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Threat |
Details |
Example |
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Habitat Loss & Fragmentation |
Impacts three out of four CMS-listed species. Includes destruction of habitats for agriculture/development and blockage of migration routes by linear infrastructure. |
The Mongolian Gazelle's mobility declined due to increased road/rail traffic. The Mara-Loita Blue Wildebeest population declined by 75% due to land-use changes. |
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Overexploitation & Bycatch |
Unsustainable hunting, trapping, and unintentional capture (bycatch) in fisheries are critical threats. |
Overfishing and bycatch are the primary drivers of extinction risk for sharks and rays, with the highest threats in the Northern Indian Ocean, tropical Atlantic, and Indo-West Pacific. |
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Climate Change |
Acts as a "threat multiplier." It disrupts migration timings, alters habitats (e.g., melts sea ice), and can skew sex ratios. |
In species like sea turtles, rising temperatures can lead to a disproportionate number of female hatchlings, threatening long-term population viability. |
Conservation Success Stories
The report emphasizes that targeted conservation actions can reverse declines and lead to remarkable recoveries.
Way Forward
The way forward requires a multi-pronged strategy focused on international cooperation and addressing root causes.
Strengthen Global Cooperation: Utilize legally binding treaties like the CMS to ensure coordinated, transboundary conservation efforts
Tackle Primary Threats: Intensify efforts to combat habitat loss and overexploitation by integrating biodiversity conservation into all sectors of planning and development.
Enhance Disease Surveillance: Adopt a "One Health" approach to monitor and respond to emerging zoonotic diseases like H5N1 by linking wildlife, domestic animal, and human health systems.
Protect Key Habitats: Prioritize the protection of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), as over half of those vital for migratory species currently lack any protected status.
Source: DOWNTOEARTH
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. With reference to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), consider the following statements: 1. It is an environmental treaty under the aegis of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 2. It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. 3. It is the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats, and migration routes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 3 only D) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: B Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: The CMS (also known as the Bonn Convention) is an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), not the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Statement 2 is correct: The CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. Statement 3 is correct: The CMS is the only global and United Nations-based intergovernmental organization established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species throughout their range. |
The main finding is that the world's migratory species are in a state of rapid decline. The report reveals that 49% of species listed under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) have declining populations, and 24% are threatened with extinction.
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain has emerged as a major new threat. It is causing mass mortality events across an unusually wide range of species, including many protected birds and mammals, thereby adding a severe new pressure on already stressed populations.
The CMS is a legally binding international treaty under the UN aimed at conserving terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species throughout their range. It is significant because it provides a global platform for countries to cooperate on conservation measures for species that cross national borders.
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