After a week of discussions in Campo Grande, Brazil, nations have agreed to provide enhanced protection to 40 migratory animal species as they move across borders and habitats. Amy Fraenkel, the executive secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), emphasized the importance of extending safeguards to iconic species like cheetahs, snowy owls, giant otters, and great hammerhead sharks. This marks the 15th gathering of countries that are part of the UN treaty established in 1979, with Canada being the only country not to have ratified it. These species have now been included in the treaty’s appendices, which offer varying levels of protection to prevent extinction and endangerment.
The migratory nature of these animals, such as the snowy owl, which breed in the Canadian archipelago but travel across the Arctic, underscores the global significance of their conservation. The impacts of climate change on their habitats, like declining lemming populations, threaten their survival. With their new inclusion in Appendix II, countries are encouraged to collaborate on joint conservation efforts, as demonstrated by Norway’s proposal to protect the snowy owl. Additionally, two types of hammerhead sharks have been added to the list due to the threats they face from industrial fishing activities.
The hammerhead sharks now fall under the more stringent Appendix I, requiring countries to prohibit intentional harvesting or catching of these endangered species. The total number of species under the CMS appendices now exceeds 1,200, with ongoing criticisms about the convention’s effectiveness due to its reliance on voluntary measures and insufficient funding. Despite major farming and fishing nations like the United States, China, and Japan not being part of the treaty, the recent meeting in Campo Grande has led to progress among South American countries in enhancing protections for various species spreading across the continent.
The event in Brazil has facilitated the advancement of concrete proposals and regional cooperation, as emphasized by Mariana Napolitano, the conservation director of World Wildlife Fund Brazil. Looking ahead, the focus is on translating these ambitions into practical actions. Together with other agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the meeting highlights the critical need to protect these remarkable creatures traversing the planet. The next gathering is scheduled for 2029 in Bonn, Germany, marking the 50th anniversary of the treaty’s establishment.
