|
As pressures from habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, climate change and invasive species intensify, international commitment to greater, more effective, coordinated conservation and protection efforts for migratory species has never been more essential.
At the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15, Campo Grande, Brazil, 23-29 March), governments will consider new steps deemed vital – literally – to many migratory aquatic, bird, and terrestrial wildlife populations essential to the well-functioning of nature and to human well-being.
With some 100 agenda items (https://bit.ly/4s2jggC), issues on the table span a vast range and include deep-sea mining impacts, illegal and unsustainable take, bycatch, habitat loss and fragmentation, light, noise and other forms of marine pollution, vessel strikes, priority areas for conserving marine migratory species, safeguarding ecological connectivity and migratory corridors, infrastructure and renewable energy impacts, as well as insect decline, climate change and other cross-cutting risks.
Says Amy Fraenkel, CMS Executive Secretary: “COP15 will build on the scientific findings of the first State of the World’s Migratory Species (2024), the key priorities to address its recommendations that were adopted by COP14 under the Samarkand Strategic Plan for Migratory Species, and adopt significant targeted actions aimed at addressing the most urgent needs of migratory species.”
Anticipated outcomes of the week-long negotiations include
- A high-level political declaration
- Strengthened global coordination of migratory species conservation
- New internationally Concerted Actions and species-specific Action Plans to protect and conserve vulnerable CMS-listed species
- Strengthened measures to address illegal take, the overexploitation of species, and to combat bycatch
- Enhanced ecological connectivity and safeguards of vital migratory bird flyways and stopover sites
- Advanced work to minimize negative impact on migratory species from marine and terrestrial infrastructure, including renewable energy
- Strengthened synergies with other multilateral environmental agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar, and CITES, including the CITES-CMS Initiatives on African carnivores (lion, cheetah, leopard, African wild dog)
Actions for Species in Urgent Need of Conservation
Species Listings: Appendices I and II
CMS Appendix I covers endangered species requiring strict protection and prohibits taking; Appendix II lists species that require international cooperation for their conservation.
Parties will consider proposals to add 42 migratory species to the CMS Appendices.
Proposed new listings include:
-
Iconic wildlife such as the snowy owl, hammerhead and several other shark species, giant otters, and the Spotted sorubim catfish, which can grow to an enormous 120 kg (265 lb)
-
Terrestrial species, including the cheetah population of Zimbabwe, and the striped hyena
-
Migratory birds, including seabirds, across several flyways
Also under consideration: Removal from Appendix I of Uzbekistan’s population of Bukhara deer.
The full list of species proposals: https://bit.ly/3ZGz8tm
Concerted Actions and Action Plan priorities
Parties will consider new species-specific and Multi-Species Action Plans, as well as targeted Concerted Actions to coordinate conservation across range states.
These include:
- Chimpanzee
- Giraffe
- Amazonian migratory catfish
- Tope shark
- Basking shark
- Bustards (26 species across 102 range states)
- Steppe eagle
- European Eel (one of the world’s most critically endangered migratory fishes)
- Arabian Sea humpback whales
- Straw-colored fruit bat
A new Global Initiative on Illegal and Unsustainable Taking of Migratory Species Special event launch, Wednesday 25 March (further details below)
Central Asian Flyway Coordination Unit hosted by India is expected to be announced, strengthening collaboration with the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership on issues such as illegal killing and bird-safe renewable energy.
Designating Internationally Important Raptor Areas: using globally-agreed scientific criteria to protect critical habitats for migratory raptors (such as condors, vultures, and eagles), more than half of whose populations across Africa and Eurasia are declining due to habitat loss, poisoning, illegal killing and collisions with infrastructure.
Science in the spotlight
-
State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Report (2026) This interim report of the flagship State of the World’s Migratory Species analyzes recent IUCN Red List updates, summarizes new findings on population trends and distribution, reports on habitat identification and protection for CMS-listed species, and highlights work to map migratory routes since COP14. Launching at COP15 opening press conference, Monday 23 March (further details below)
-
Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes Some of the longest, most important migrations of species on Earth are happening beneath the surface of the world’s rivers, and face significant threats from overuse, fragmentation, and pollution. This report identifies 325 new candidate species that could benefit from being added to CMS Appendices. Special event launch, Tuesday 24 March (further details below)
-
Migratory Species and Health: CMS One Health Case Studies, A Resource for Parties to the CMS. Launch webinar, Wednesday 11 March (further details below)
-
New Americas Flyways online Atlas, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify priority corridors and stopover sites. Special event launch, Thursday, 26 March (further details below)
Combating Illegal Take and Addressing Overexploitation of Species and their Habitats
-
Global Review of Direct Take of Seabirds (covering all 318 migratory seabird species, the world’s most threatened bird group)
- Measures to Mitigate Bycatch of Marine Turtles in Commercial Fisheries
-
Quantifying contemporary whaling and aquatic wild meat take of all CMS Appendix I listed cetaceans (e.g. whales, dolphins, porpoises) in all regions
- Assessing the Use and Impact of Nets on Wild Bird Populations in Asia and the Mediterranean
Integrating ecological connectivity into planning frameworks and strengthening implementation tools
-
Online Global Atlas of Ungulate Migration (features interactive maps that use tracking data to highlight important migration corridors and their intersections with linear infrastructure. This atlas showcases some of the largest and longest terrestrial animal migrations worldwide, including 24 species of hooved mammals such as deer, the iconic Serengeti wildebeest, elk, African elephant, and saiga)
-
Online Central Asian Mammals Migration and Linear Infrastructure (CAMI) Atlas Reports (using updated satellite tracking data to map species ranges and analyze how roads, railways, fences, pipelines, and canals affect large mammals in Central Asia)
Reducing the Damaging Impacts of Environmental Pollution
-
Impacts of Deep-sea Mining on Migratory Species: Review and Knowledge Gaps
-
Anthropogenic Underwater Noise Impacts and Mitigation Strategies for CMS-Listed Freshwater Mammals (Cetaceans, Sirenians, Otters) and Their Prey Species (Impacts of noise on the Amazonian dolphin and other CMS listed freshwater species)
- Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and Marine Debris in the Mediterranean Sea
- Report of the CMS Marine Pollution Workshop
Addressing Climate Change Impacts
- Impacts of Climate Change on Cetacean Welfare and Conservation
- Case Studies: Ecosystem Services related to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Supported by Migratory Species
-
Out of Habitat Marine Mammals: Identification, causes and management recommendations. Adaptive management is needed to respond to cetaceans that occur outside of their normal ranges due to climate change
* * * * *
Key COP15 media moments
Pre-COP15 media briefing (Zoom)
Thursday 5 March
10 am EST / 11 am AMT / 3 pm GMT / 4 pm CET
Registration required: https://bit.ly/cmscop15-media-briefing
An interactive media briefing on COP15 to elaborate on the scope, structure, objectives, and what to expect in terms of resources, events, interview opportunities and logistics.
-
Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, CMS
-
Kelly Malsch, Head of Nature Conserved, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), and lead author, State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Report (2026)
-
Zeb Hogan, CMS Scientific Councillor, and lead author, Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes
* * * * *
Migratory Species and Health (Zoom webinar)
Wednesday 11 March
9 am EST / 10 am AMT / 2 pm GMT / 3 pm CET
Registration: https://bit.ly/cms-webinar-wildlife-health
The health of migratory species is vital to biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and human well-being, prompting the Convention on Migratory Species to prioritize wildlife health and foster collaborative actions, to be further addressed at COP15.
-
Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, CMS
-
Dr. Ruth Cromie, CMS COP-appointed Councillor for Wildlife Health, and co-author of both featured reports
-
Dr. Marcela Uhart, Director of the Latin America Program, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, UC Davis
-
Dr. Craig Stephen, Executive Director, McEachran Institute, co-author of both reports
-
Dr. Christian Walzer, Executive Director of Health, Wildlife Conservation Society
* * * * *
COP15 opening ceremony
Monday 23 March
8 am EST / 9 am AMT / 1 pm GMT
COP15 venue, Campo Grande
Livestream: www.youtube.com/@BonnConvention
* * * * *
CMS COP15 opening press release and press conference
Monday 23 March
12:45 pm EST / 1:45 pm AMT / 5:45 pm GMT
Including the Launch of the State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Report 2026
COP15 venue, Campo Grande
Press Conference / Standing Committee Room
Livestream: www.youtube.com/@BonnConvention
-
João Paulo Capobianco, Chair of COP15 and Executive Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA), Brazil
-
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Assistant UN Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment Programme
-
Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, CMS
-
Kelly Malsch, Head of Nature Conserved, UNEP-WCMC; lead author, State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Report (2026)
* * * * *
Launch of the Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes
Tuesday 24 March
5:30 pm EST / 6:30 pm AMT / 10:30 pm GMT
Venue: Bioparque Pantanal, the world’s largest freshwater aquarium, Campo Grande.
Landmark analysis identifies hundreds of species needing urgent cross-border action as governments unveil action plans.
-
Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, CMS
-
Zeb Hogan, CMS Scientific Councillor and lead author of the Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes
-
Additional speakers TBC
* * * * *
Launch of the Global Initiative on the Taking of Migratory Species (GTI)
Wednesday 25 March
12:45 pm EST / 1:45 pm AMT / 5:45 pm GMT
COP15 venue, Campo Grande
Livestream: www.youtube.com/@BonnConvention
Illegal and unsustainable taking is a major threat to migratory species, affecting nearly two-thirds of CMS Appendix I species and 70% of CMS-listed terrestrial species.
The new CMS Global Initiative on Illegal and Unsustainable Taking of Migratory Species is designed to help governments, experts and local communities ensure legal, sustainable and safe domestic taking.
Panelists (tentative):
-
Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman, National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change
-
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
-
Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, CMS
- Representatives of UNEP-WCMC, Wildlife Conservation Society, TRAFFIC
* * * * *
Launch of the Americas Flyways Atlas
Part of the Global Atlas on Animal Migration, a long-term CMS initiative implemented through a modular approach
Thursday 26 March
11:45 am EST / 12:45 pm AMT / 4:45 pm GMT
COP15 venue, Campo Grande
Livestream: www.youtube.com/@BonnConvention
Building on active collaboration between the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment (MMA-BR), CMS, USFWS, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Americas Flyways Atlas features compelling, interactive maps of Bird Concentration Areas (BCAs) at the flyway level to support informed decision making.
* * * * *
Closing news release
Sunday 29 March
COP15 outcomes, including adopted decisions (e.g. Appendix I and II listings) and resolutions
* * * * *
Media accreditation: https://bit.ly/cms-cop15-media-registration
On-site accreditation: Please note, only journalists eligible to enter Brazil will be considered for on-site COP15 accreditation. CMS cannot assist foreign journalists with visas or travel/accommodation.
Online accredited media will receive embargoed media materials on a priority basis. Media participating remotely can address questions during livestreamed events using the YouTube chat function, or forward questions via email to press@cms.int.
Pantanal trip for media
The Government of Mato Grosso do Sul will offer a press trip to the Pantanal to on-site international and Brazilian journalists.
Contact: imprensa@mma.gov.br
* * * * *
CMS and COP15
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is a legally binding international treaty under the United Nations.
CMS is one of the most important global frameworks for wildlife conservation and plays a vital role in addressing the global biodiversity crisis. By fostering international collaboration, supporting research, and developing conservation agreements and actions among the Range States in which these species are found, CMS ensures the long-term survival of migratory species of wild animals and their habitats, and the vital benefits they provide.
132 countries plus the European Union are Parties to CMS. In addition, several non-Party countries have signed one or more binding CMS Agreements to protect migratory species.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing body of CMS, which meets
every 3 years to review progress, add new species under the Treaty, and strengthen actions to address conservation needs as well as continuing or emerging threats.
At COP15, governments, scientists, conservationists, indigenous peoples and local communities, environmental leaders, and civil society from around the world will address urgent conservation challenges facing migratory species that cross international boundaries.
Venue: Bosque Expo, Campo Grande, Brazil (bosquedosipes.com/bosque-expo)
Dates: Monday 23 March to Sunday 29 March 2026
(Time zone: AMT - Amazon Standard Time UTC/GMT -4 hours)
Key storylines
- New species listings and conservation implications
- Freshwater migration and river connectivity
- Illegal take and enforcement challenges
- Balancing renewable energy expansion with biodiversity protection
- Pollution and climate change threatening migratory species in the oceans
Multilingual media resources
Related news releases
Migratory species of wild animals
Migratory species are wild animals that need to travel regularly, often seasonally, as part of their natural life cycles. Some of the most iconic animals are migratory species – such as antelopes, elephants and big cats, waterbirds, songbirds and birds of prey, whales and sea turtles and sharks, and even butterflies.
Migratory species are vital for the well-functioning of nature. They provide benefits for ecosystems and human well-being, such as pollination, seed dispersal, pest and disease control, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling. Likewise, migratory species also provide direct economic benefits from recreation and tourism, and some are an important source of food.
Migratory species continue to face global declines and an increasing extinction risk, with habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, climate change and invasive species identified as the most severe threats by the State of the World’s Migratory Species (2024).
* * * * *
| 
