The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) plans to hold its 13th Conference of Parties (COP) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. This event is scheduled for the 15th to 22nd February 2020 and will feature the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) as its mascot. The conference is set to attract representatives from 129 Parties alongside renowned conservationists and international NGOs engaged in wildlife preservation.
The Importance of Hosting the 13th COP
Hosting the 13th COP provides a substantial opportunity for India to display its significant conservation accomplishments for various wildlife species. Furthermore, it will offer an international platform to engage in discussions on the conservation and sustainable use of migratory wild animals and their habitats.
Migratory Species in India
Migratory species are those animals that migrate from one habitat to another at different times throughout the year due to varying factors such as food availability, sunlight, temperature, and climate. These movements can span thousands of miles/kilometers, particularly for some birds and mammals, with routes involving nesting and requiring sufficient habitats before and after each migration.
India serves as a temporary abode to numerous migratory animals and birds, including, but not limited to, Amur Falcons, Bar-headed Geese, Black-necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, and Humpbacked Whales. Additionally, the Indian sub-continent forms part of the major bird flyway network— the Central Asian Flyway (CAF)—which encompasses regions between the Arctic and Indian Oceans.
This network includes at least 279 populations of 182 migratory waterbird species, encompassing 29 globally threatened species. To aid in the conservation of these migratory species, India has launched the National Action Plan under the Central Asian Flyway.
Migratory Species Facts
| Species | Status | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Amur Falcons | Migratory | India, Arctic and Indian Oceans |
| Bar-headed Geese | Migratory | India, Arctic and Indian Oceans |
| Black-necked Cranes | Migratory | India, Arctic and Indian Oceans |
| Marine Turtles | Migratory | India, Arctic and Indian Oceans |
| Dugongs | Migratory | India, Arctic and Indian Oceans |
About the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
The CMS is an environmental treaty created under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme. Also referred to as the Bonn Convention, it provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. It unites the Range States—states through which migratory animals pass—and sets the legal groundwork for internationally coordinated conservation measures across a migratory range.
As the only global convention focusing on conserving migratory species, their habitats, and migration routes, CMS has been a significant platform for India since 1983. COP represents the decision-making organ of this convention. India has also signed non-legally binding MOU with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008), and Raptors (2016).