13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS)

The Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13) together with the associated meetings of the Standing Committee is being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 15 to 22 February 2020.

• As an environmental treaty of the United Nations, CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.
• CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.
• Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the Convention.
• Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention.
• CMS acts as a framework Convention. The agreements may range from legally binding treaties (called Agreements) to less formal instruments, such as Memoranda of Understanding, and can be adapted to the requirements of particular regions.
• As of 1 November 2019 the Convention on Migratory Species has 130 Parties. Two countries signed the original Convention but have yet to ratify it so are not a Party.

• Migratory species are those animals that move from one habitat to another during different times of the year, due to various factors such as food, sunlight, temperature, climate, etc.
• The movement between habitat, can sometimes exceed thousands of miles/kilometres for some migratory birds and mammals.
• A migratory route can involve nesting and also requires the availability of habitats before and after each migration.

• In order to protect the migratory species throughout their range countries, a Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), has been in force, under the aegis of 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 and brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.
• The convention complements and co-operates with a number of other international organizations, NGOs and partners in the media as well as in the corporate sector.

• India has been a Party to the CMS since 1983. 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).
• India is temporary home to several migratory animals and birds. The important among these include Amur Falcons, Bar headed Gheese, Black necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpbacked Whales, etc.
• 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 conservation of migratory species under the Central Asian Flyway.

• Generally, a State becomes a Party to an international convention when it deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the convention with the depositary (Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969).
• All CMS signatory States can join the Convention by ratification.
• All States that are not signatory States can become a Party to the Convention by accession, since CMS was closed for signature on 22 June 1980.
• CMS enters into force for the acceding country on the first day of the third month after the country has deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention with the Depositary

• The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the principal decision making body of the Convention.
• It meets once every three years and sets the budget and priorities of the following three years (the triennium).
• It also decides on the amendment of the Appendices and considers reports submitted by the Parties, the Scientific Council and the Agreements established under the Convention.
• It also has the task of recommending to Parties whether they should conclude further regional Agreements for the conservation of particular species or groups of species.
• The first COP in 1985 established a Standing Committee, whose task is to oversee the running of the Convention and the Secretariat between sessions of the COP.
• Its membership comprises the elected regional representatives of the Parties, plus the Depositary Government (Germany) and the Host Governments of the previous and next COPs.