13th COP of the Convention on Migratory Species

WHY IN NEWS?

• The thirteenth meeting of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13) being hosted by India is the first international meet focusing on biodiversity in what has been slated as the “super year for biodiversity”.
• India is hosting the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) from 17th to 22nd February, 2020 at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

ABOUT 13TH COP OF THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES

• The theme of CMS COP-13 is ‘Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home’.
• The mascot for CMS COP-13 is ‘Gibi – The Great Indian Bustard’. It is a critically endangered species (according to the IUCN) and has been accorded the highest protection status (listed in Schedule I) under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

• 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.
• The CMS is the only global, and United Nations-based, intergovernmental organization established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species.
• It is the only global convention specialising in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes.
• The pact was signed in 1979 in Germany and is known as the Bonn Convention.
• "Migratory species" means the entire population or any geographically separate part of the population of any species or lower taxon of wild animals, a significant proportion of whose members cyclically and predictably cross one or more national jurisdictional boundaries.
• 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 the conservation of migratory species under the Central Asian Flyway.
• Under this convention, migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I and Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them.
• Migratory species that need conservation and management or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention.
• India has signed a non-legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008) and Raptors (2016).
• India is a temporary home to several migratory animals and birds. The important among these include Amur Falcons, Bar headed Geese, Black necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpback Whales, etc.

Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS):
1.It is the only global convention specialising in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes.
2.The Indian sub-continent is part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a)1 only
b)2 only
c)Both 1 and 2
d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question