The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is being hosted by India from February 17th to 22nd, 2020, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The conference aims to discuss the conservation and sustainable usage of migratory animals and their habitats. The mascot for this prestigious event — CMS COP-13 — is ‘Gibi – The Great Indian Bustard’, a critically endangered species.
The Theme of COP-13
This year’s theme for CMS COP-13 is ‘Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home.’ The phrase beautifully depicts the long and dangerous journeys that these migratory species undertake every year, crossing international borders amid changing seasons, making their survival a global responsibility.
The Critical Condition of Great Indian Bustard
The Great Indian Bustard, known as Gibi, is currently in a critical endangered state according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Given its extremely precarious status, the species has been accorded the highest protection status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is listed in Schedule I.
What Is The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals?
CMS, also referred to as the Bonn Convention, came into force in 1983 under the United Nations Environment Programme. The objective behind this convention is to conserve migratory species throughout their range countries. It provides a global platform to bring together the countries called Range States through which these migratory animals pass. The convention forms the legal groundwork for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.
The Convention’s Provisions For Protecting Migratory Species
Under the CMS convention, species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I. Conservation measures are then employed by Parties to protect these species, restore their habitats, mitigate migration obstacles and control other potential threats. Similarly, species that require conservation and management or could significantly benefit from international cooperation are listed on Appendix II.
India’s Role in the Conservation of Migratory Species
India has played an active role in the convention by signing a non legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CMS on the conservation and management of several migratory species. This includes Siberian Cranes in 1998, Marine Turtles in 2007, Dugongs in 2008, and Raptors in 2016. The country serves as a temporary home to several migratory animals like Amur Falcons, Bar headed Geese, Black necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpback Whales, among others.