Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species

Why in news?

• Migratory species are likely to be among the most vulnerable to plastic pollution, a new study released by the Secretariat of the UN's Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) said on 31st August 2021

About the Convention:

• The convention is also known as Bonn Convention.  It came into force in 1983.
• The aim of the Bonn Convention is to protect the migratory species of wild animals and their habitats. It is the only global treaty concerning the migratory species and works under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme.
• The convention has legally binding agreements and non-legally binding Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) which are tailored according to conservation needs.
• The states and the range states from where the migratory species pass are brought together under CMS to enable measures for their conservation and protection.

There are two appendices under the Bonn Convention:

• Appendix I (Endangered Species):
  • It comprises the list of those migratory species that are assessed as being in danger of extinction throughout their range or in some significant portion of their range. It also defines endangered species as those with a high risk of extinction in the wild in near future, as also defined by IUCN.
• Appendix II:
  • It comprises those migratory species that need conservation through international agreements and will significantly benefit from such conservational efforts.

Members of the Bonn Convention

• There are 131 parties under the Bonn Convention. India has been a part of the Bonn Convention since 1983.
• India hosted COP 13 to Bonn Convention in February 2020
• India will be the President of COP to Bonn Convention till 2023
• India had non-legally binding MoUs with the CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008) and Raptors (2016)

PRELIMS QUESTION

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the UN's Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)?

1. It works under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme.

2. India is a party to the convention.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer