Migratory species of wild animals across land, water, and air are essential components of the ecosystems that support all life on Earth.
Along their migration routes, they provide vital benefits for people, from pollination of crops, pest control, circulation of vital nutrients and nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation to supporting sustainable livelihoods.
Their migratory nature gives them a special role as ecological keystone species and indicators of the state of our natural world.
Key threats to migratory species include habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, overexploitation, climate change, invasive species and pollution.
Because they traverse national boundaries, regions and even continents, international cooperation is needed for their survival.
CMS: A unique international treaty for wildlife conservation
CMS is an international treaty under the United Nations focused on conserving migratory wild animals and their habitats globally. Established in 1979 in Bonn, Germany, it is also referred to as the Bonn Convention.
By fostering international collaboration, supporting research, and developing conservation agreements and actions, CMS ensures the long-term survival of migratory species and the ecosystems they depend on.
Migratory species are listed under two CMS Appendices:
- Appendix I: Endangered species requiring strict protection.
- Appendix II: Species needing international cooperation.
The governing body of CMS is the Conference of the Parties (COP), which meets every three years to assess progress, amend the CMS Appendices, and set conservation priorities.
Between COP meetings, theStanding Committee carries out activities on behalf of the COP. These activities include monitoring the budget and providing guidance to the Secretariat.
TheScientific Council, composed of national experts appointed by the Parties and global experts agreed by the COP, provides technical and scientific advice on conservation measures.
The CMS Secretariat, based in Bonn, plays a crucial role in advancing implementation of the Convention.
All member states of the United Nations are eligible to join CMS as a global intergovernmental framework. The Convention has achieved near-universal membership in Africa and Europe and growing interest in Latin America and Asia.
CMS is a key instrument for achieving international biodiversity commitments including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Convention has facilitated 7 binding agreements, 19 MOUs, and 5 initiatives, contributing to notable conservation successes.
The Convention has played a pivotal role in numerous conservation achievements, including the recovery of the Saiga Antelope population in Central Asia, the resurgence of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in the eastern Atlantic, and significant reductions in the illegal killing of migratory birds in Cyprus and Nagaland, India. Work under the Convention has also advanced effective practices for minimizing adverse impacts on migratory species from infrastructure development, as well as the adoption of key global policies such as commitments on ecological connectivity.
CMS launched the first State of the World’s Migratory Species Report in 2024, which provided vital information on the conservation status of migratory species, identified key threats, and provided a set of concrete recommendations. The report succeeded in raising global awareness of the importance of migratory species and the actions needed for their survival.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is one of the most important global international frameworks for wildlife conservation. By facilitating coordinated international conservation efforts, CMS plays a vital role in addressing the global biodiversity crisis and ensuring that migratory species continue to thrive.
