The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CMS CoP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals starts today (March 23) in Campo Grande, Brazil until the end of the week (29 March).
Governments, scientists, conservationists, indigenous peoples and local communities will gather to address urgent conservation challenges facing migratory species that cross international boundaries.
Convening under the slogan ‘Connecting Nature to Sustain Life‘, CMS CoP15 will underscore the critical importance of ecological connectivity for conserving ecosystems crucial for both migratory species and human well-being.
Half of the world’s GDP depends directly or indirectly on nature. Safeguarding species and ecosystems is therefore not only an environmental imperative, but an economic and social one.
Global actions for migratory species
The high-level meeting will tackle an ambitious set of actions to deal with the current global biodiversity crisis, such as:
- Strengthening global and coordinated conservation for migratory species
- Placing 44 additional fish, birds and terrestrial animals under protection
- Implementing targeted and new conservation actions to address pressing needs and threats
- Combating illegal take and addressing overexploitation of species, including overuse and bycatch
- Enhancing ecological connectivity to safeguard vital migratory corridors and networks and enhance ecosystem resilience
- Advancing sustainable infrastructure and minimising negative impacts on migratory species
- Addressing challenges to migratory species through global collaboration by reinforcing synergies with other multilateral environmental agreements
CMS CoP15 is a stepping stone for multilateral cooperation on the road to the COP17 on Biological Diversity taking place in October this year. Protecting migratory species and reducing the negative impacts on them is key to achieving international biodiversity commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Alarming state of migratory species
To prepare the discussions at the CMS CoP and help identify priority areas for action, a new report has been recently released by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).
In the face of political challenges to scientific evidence, data-based reports such as this one play an indispensable role in informed policy decisions.
The report tracks significant changes in the conservation status of migratory species and highlights emerging trends. It provides an update to the landmark ‘State of the World’s Migratory Species’ and warns that 49% of migratory species’ populations conserved by the global UN treaty are declining (5% more in just two years), and 24% of species face extinction (2% more).
Overexploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation are the two greatest threats to migratory species worldwide, according to recent data. Some encouraging developments are noted in the mapping of migratory pathways to inform decision-making, as well as in identifying and safeguarding important habitats and migratory corridors.
EU priorities at CMS CoP15
At CMS CoP15, the EU will reaffirm its commitment to the conservation of migratory species and the urgent need to stop their decline, as well as tackle the challenges to their survival and well-being.
The EU will support all proposals to grant species the highest level of protection, which include proposals on the giant otter, several seabird and shark species, as well as resolutions, decisions and action plans on the European eel, the tope shark and the Eurasian lynx, on bycatch measures and marine pollution control.
The EU will stand firmly for the prevention of illegal killing, taking, and trade of migratory birds, the prevention of migratory birds’ poisoning, and for addressing illegal and unsustainable taking of migratory species.
Background
The week-long COP is one of the most important global meetings for wildlife conservation. Billions of individual aquatic, avian, and terrestrial wild animals migrate across lands, rivers, oceans and skies.
They are essential to the well-functioning of nature and to human well-being, pollinating plants, transporting nutrients, regulating ecosystems, controlling pests, storing carbon and sustaining livelihoods and cultures worldwide.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is a legally binding international treaty under the United Nations which fosters international cooperation for the conservation of migratory species.
It brings countries and stakeholders together to agree on the actions needed to ensure conservation of migratory species globally and plays a vital role in addressing the global biodiversity crisis. 132 countries, plus the EU, are Parties to CMS.
For More Information
COP15 to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals | CMS
State of the World’s Migratory Species Report – Interim Report (2026) | CMS
