After a round of discussions in Campo Grande, Brazil, nations have pledged to enhance protections for 40 migratory animal species as they move across borders and habitats.
“A broadened safeguard for cheetahs, snowy owls, giant otters, great hammerhead sharks, and more signifies the ability of countries to take action based on clear scientific evidence,” stated Amy Fraenkel, the executive secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
This marks the 15th gathering of countries party to the UN treaty established in 1979. Although Canada has not ratified the treaty, these iconic species have been newly included in the treaty’s appendices, which encompass a range from stringent protections to fostering cooperation to prevent species extinction and endangerment.
These species are known as global travelers since they do not have a permanent residence in any single region. For instance, snowy owls breed in the Canadian archipelago but migrate throughout the Arctic, with some countries experiencing a halt in their visits possibly due to climate change affecting their primary prey, lemmings.
With their addition to Appendix II, nations are now encouraged to collaborate on potential joint strategies to safeguard the snowy owl. The proposal was put forward by Norway, emphasizing that this addition will facilitate continued conservation efforts and improved monitoring of the species.
Additionally, two types of hammerhead sharks have been added to the list. These distinctive creatures undertake migrations for reproduction and are vulnerable to getting entangled in industrial fishing nets, both as bycatch and for the shark fin trade.
“They are facing significant challenges,” stated Pelayo Salinas de León, a marine ecologist with the Charles Darwin Foundation, noting that certain hammerhead species are critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Inclusion in Appendix I of the CMS convention represents a crucial step toward restoring their populations.
The total count of species across both CMS appendices now exceeds 1,200. While the CMS unites over 130 countries that have ratified the Bonn Convention treaty, criticisms have been raised regarding its effectiveness due to the reliance on voluntary and non-binding measures from countries and inadequate funding. Despite major farming and fishing nations like the United States, China, and Japan not being part of the convention, progress has been made at this year’s meeting in Campo Grande, particularly among South American countries.
The event in Brazil has led to the addition of numerous species to the list, including giant otters, a species of catfish, and a neotropical bird, all of which span across the continent during different stages of their lives. The focus now shifts to translating these ambitions into tangible actions for conservation, as highlighted by Mariana Napolitano, the conservation director of World Wildlife Fund Brazil.
This gathering, alongside other treaties like CITES, sheds light on the importance of protecting these remarkable creatures that traverse the globe. The next meeting is anticipated in 2029, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the treaty’s inception, to be held once again in Bonn, Germany.