Bonn Convention (CMS)

Very Important for General studies and civil service exams.

1. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Source- https://www.cms.int/

2. The  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals , also known as the  Convention on Migratory Species  ( CMS ) or the  Bonn Convention , is an international agreement that aims to conserve migratory species within their migratory ranges. The Agreement was signed under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme  and is concerned with conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale . Signed in 1979 in Bonn, Germany, the Convention entered into force in 1983 . As of September 2019, there were 129 Member States to the Convention. The depositary is the government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

3. Appendix I & II of CMS Appendix I – Endangered migratory species Appendix I comprises migratory species that have been assessed as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range . The Conference of the Parties has further interpreted the term “endangered” as meaning “facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future ” Parties that are a Range State to a migratory species listed in Appendix I shall endeavor to strictly protect them by : prohibiting the taking of such species, with very restricted scope for exceptions; conserving and where appropriate restoring their habitats; preventing, removing or mitigating obstacles to their migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. 

4. Appendix II - Migratory species conserved through Agreements Appendix II covers migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status and that require international agreements for their conservation and management, as well as those that have a conservation status which would significantly benefit from the international cooperation that could be achieved by an international agreement.  The  Agreements  may vary from legally binding treaties to less formal instruments, such as Memoranda of Understanding,  Action Plans or Species Initiatives, covering to the extent possible the entire migratory range of the species concerned . Appendices I and II may be amended at any meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

5. Conference of the Parties (COP) The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the principal decision making body of the Convention. It meets once every three years and sets the budget and priorities of the following three years (the triennium ). All the Parties are entitled to attend the Conference and participate in the votes. Non-Party States are entitled to send observers. There have been 13 meetings of the Conference of the Parties so far . The first COP in 1985 established a Standing Committee, whose task is to oversee the running of the Convention and the Secretariat between sessions of the COP. Its membership comprises the elected regional representatives of the Parties, plus the Depositary Government (Germany) and the Host Governments of the previous and next COPs.

6. CMS COP13 was the largest ever in the history of the Convention, with 2,550 people attended it. The mascot of COP13 is Great Indian Bustard. CMS COP13 also adopted the Gandhinagar Declaration . The Declaration calls for migratory species and the concept of ‘ecological connectivity’ to be integrated and prioritized in the new Framework, which is expected to be adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference in October . The first ever  report on the Status of Migratory Species , presented to CMS COP13, shows that despite some success stories, the populations of most migratory species covered by CMS are declining . COP13 agreed that a more comprehensive review should be undertaken to better understand the status of individual species and the main threats they face.

7. The COP also agreed on a number of cross-cutting policy measures to address threats to migratory species:   Integrate biodiversity and migratory species considerations into national energy and climate policy and promote wildlife-friendly renewable energy;  Strengthen initiatives to combat the illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory birds; Mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure such as roads and railways on migratory species; Address the unsustainable use of aquatic wild meat; Undertake a review of bycatch levels of sharks and rays, and further implement bycatch mitigation measures for marine mammals in national fishing operations; Deepen our understanding of the importance of animal culture and social complexity for the conservation of endangered species; To investigate possible trade in CMS Appendix I species and the implications for their conservation status.  

8. Three CMS Ambassadors  - for terrestrial, avian, and aquatic species - were named at the re-launch of the CMS Ambassadors Programme :  the internationally renowned conservationist Ian Redmond OBE (for terrestrial) , award-winning explorer and environmentalist Sacha Dench (for avian ) , and Indian actor and environmental activist Randeep Hooda (for aquatic).   They will help raise awareness about the important work of CMS and the plight of migratory species . Seven Migratory Species Champions  were recognized. Under the Champion Program, Germany, India, Italy, Monaco, Norway, the European Commission, and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi were acknowledged for their generous contributions to CMS initiatives. These range from wildlife conservation in Africa to the implementation of measures to preserve marine life.  This was the first CMS COP to be inaugurated by a host-country Head of Government. Two sets of commemorative stamps were issued at COP13. A special set of UN stamps  featuring endangered migratory species and the Government of India also issued a special stamp edition featuring the Great Indian Bustard  India, as COP13 host, will assume the role of COP Presidency for the next three years.

9. Ten new species were added to CMS Appendices at COP13. Seven species were added to Appendix I: the Asian Elephant, Jaguar, Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican , Little Bustard, Antipodean Albatross and the Oceanic White-tip Shark .     The Urial , Smooth Hammerhead Shark and the Tope Shark were listed for protection under Appendix II.      New and extended Concerted Actions with targeted conservation plans were agreed for 14 species.

10. India with CMS India is a signatory to the CMS since 1983 . India is temporary home to several migratory animals and birds. The important among these include Amur Falcons, Bar headed Geese, Black necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpbacked Whales, etc. The Indian sub-continent is also part of the major bird flyway network, i.e , the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) that covers areas between the Arctic and Indian Oceans, and covers at least 279 populations of 182 migratory water bird species, including 29 globally threatened species . India has also launched the National Action Plan for conservation of migratory species under the Central Asian Flyway. India has developed and is implementing the ‘National Conservation Action Plans of Dugongs, Great Indian Bustard, Sea Turtles and Amur Falcons’. A total of 868 protected areas have been established in India as on 1 March, 2019, including 104 national parks, 550 wildlife sanctuaries, 87 conservation reserves and 127 community reserves. Besides, 27 wetlands have been designated as Ramsar sites which give maximum protection for wildlife including several migratory species. 

11. India has been monitoring the birds and mammals of Antarctica and Southern Indian Ocean through its 'Antarctica Program'. Most migratory birds of India have been listed under various Schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby according them protection against hunting and trade.  India has already chosen the threatened dugong, marine turtles, coral reefs and mangroves under its ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ program on a priority basis . 45 Indian species listed in Appendix I of CMS. India is also signatory to the following Agreements/ MoUs under CMS  - Siberian Crane MoU (1993/1999 ) It was the first MoU to be concluded under the auspices of the CMS, and focuses on conserving the Siberian crane as one of the three rarest crane species. The MoU covers twelve range states (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). 

12. IOSEA Marine Turtles MoU (2001 ) Geographic coverage of this MoU is the Waters and coastal States of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia and adjacent seas, extending eastwards to the Torres Strait. There are 44 States in the Agreement area. India entered this MoU on 20th February 2007. Dugong MoU (2007 ) MoU on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range entered into force on 31 October 2007 after being signed by 7 range states (Australia, Eritrea, France, Madagascar, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates and the United Republic of Tanzania) and they have since been joined by four additional signatories (India, the Comores , Kenya and the Philippines) to raise the number of signatories to 11 range states to date . Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for the conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and their habitats . Raptor MoU / Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia . It covers 93 species of birds of prey under its ambit and an action plan has been formulated under it that envisages the conservation action for Raptor species. Of the total 93 species of birds that fall in Raptor MoU , 50 species occur in India including vultures, falcons, eagles, hawks, kites, harriers and owls.  

13. Action Plans, Policies and Projects of India National Action Plan for conservation of Migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway (CAF ) Policy for Eco-tourism in Forest and Wildlife Areas National Framework and Guidelines for Managing Marine Stranding National Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for the Sea Turtles and their Habitats in India Asiatic Lion Conservation Project Third National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-31 Trans-boundary Protected Areas

14. Central Asian Flyway The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) covers a large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic and Indian Oceans and the associated island chains . The CAF covers at least 279 populations of 182 migratory waterbird species, including 29 globally threatened and near-threatened species, which breed, migrate and winter within the region.  CMS convened three meetings of range states (Tashkent 2001, New Delhi, 2005 and Abu Dhabi, 2012). The second meeting in New Delhi (2005) broadly agreed on the content of the Central Asian Flyway Action Plan to Conserve Migratory Waterbirds and their Habitats. It contains provisions for species and habitat conservation, single species action plans and emergency measures.

15. ASIAN ELEPHANTS The elephant is Earth's largest land animal The Asian elephant is classified as Endangered  by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They live in forested regions of India and throughout Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Its population has declined by an estimated 50 percent over the past 75 years, and there are an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 Asian elephants left in the wild . Threats to wild Asian elephant populations include poaching, illegal trade, habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural development, as well as conflict with humans as elephants seek space and raid crops grown close to their forest habitats.

16. Great Indian bustard O ne of the heaviest flying birds in the world. The great Indian bustard inhabits dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent; its largest populations are found in the Indian state of Rajasthan . Classified as Critically Endangered  by the IUCN with only 175 population. Habitat loss and  degradation, Hunting and  poaching along with food loss as croplands that once produced sorghum and millet seeds, on which the great Indian bustard thrived, have become fields of sugarcane and cotton or grape orchards, are the ain culprits of its decline.

17. Bengal florican The  Bengal florican   , also called  Bengal bustard , is a bustard species native to the  Indian subcontinent, Cambodia, and Vietnam . It is listed as  Critically Endangered  on the IUCN Red List because fewer than 1,000 individuals were estimated to be alive. the Bengal florican is the world's rarest bustard . It is known to have become increasingly threatened by land conversion for intensive agriculture, particularly for dry season rice production . Poaching  continues to be a problem in Southeast Asia, while the South Asian population is down to less than 350 adult birds, about 85% of which are found in India.