Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

Why in News?

The 15^th Meeting of the COP15 to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) will take place in Brazil from 23 to 29 March 2026.

• CMS – It is an international environmental treaty that provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.
• Under the – Agies of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Also known as – The CMS of Wild Animals is popularly known as the Bonn Convention.
• Conception – It began at the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
• Launched in – Signed in 1979 in Bonn, Germany, while it entered into force in 1983.
• Secretariat – Provided by UNEP, based in Bonn, Germany.
• Purpose & Scope
  • Brings together range states—countries through which migratory animals pass.
  • Establishes cooperative conservation measures to protect migratory species and their habitats.
• Members – There are 133 (as of 2022). Jamaica has signed but not ratified to become a party yet.
• India’s Role – India is a Party to the CMS and actively participates in conservation efforts.
• Not Party – Major countries not party to the Convention include China, Russia, the United States, Canada, and Japan.
• Appendices of the Convention
  • Appendix I – Lists migratory species threatened with extinction.
  • Parties commit to strict protection, habitat conservation, and removal of obstacles to migration.
  • Appendix II – Includes species that require or would benefit from international cooperation.

CMS is the only global convention specialising in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes.

Quick Fact

Reference

UNEP | COP15 to the CMS will take place from 23 to 29 March 2026 in Brazil