UN Conference on the Conservation of Migratory Species provides a ray of hope for species conservation
New global initiative established to connect protected areas - Protected status of numerous migratory species increased - WWF strengthens its global commitment
The environmental organization WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) is delighted with the results of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In the course of the negotiations, bottlenose dolphins, sand tiger sharks, pelicans and 15 other migratory animal species were promised better global protection - at least on paper.
"The inclusion of these additional animals in the CMS list of endangered migratory species provides a ray of hope for global species conservation and gives us hope that the protection of biodiversity can succeed through determined international cooperation," says marine expert Simone Niedermüller, who attended the conference in Samarkand on behalf of WWF Austria. "We are particularly pleased that our demands for better protection of sharks and rays, such as angel sharks and eagle rays in the Mediterranean, were agreed to," says Niedermüller.
The conference was also the first time that a global initiative to connect protected areas (Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity, GPEC for short) was created by various organizations, including the WWF. It aims to define, protect and connect important areas so that animals can migrate along safe routes.
"The destruction, fragmentation and fragmentation of natural habitats is the greatest threat to migratory animal species. The initiative aims to prevent precisely this and create safe corridors worldwide - on land and in the water," says Niedermüller from WWF Austria.
Conference on migratory species threatened with extinction opens
A status quo report published at the start of the UN conference gave a poor report card for the status of migratory species worldwide: almost half (44%) of the listed populations of migratory species are declining worldwide. One in five species is even acutely endangered - 97 percent of migratory fish species.
"Animals know neither national borders nor shipping routes - they have been migrating instinctively for centuries and fulfill extremely important, cross-border functions in global ecosystems. Ultimately, their protection also serves us humans," warns Niedermüller.
Background:
The CMS Agreement, also known as the Bonn Convention, divides migratory animal species into two lists according to their endangered status: "Appendix I" lists those species that are acutely threatened in their population. The individual states undertake to strictly protect these species. "Appendix II" lists those migratory species that require or would benefit from international cooperation for their protection. The individual states are therefore required to conclude global or regional agreements to protect these species.
