UN Wildlife Summit Enhances Safeguards for 40 Migratory Species

Delegates at the United Nations wildlife conservation summit have reached an agreement to bolster protections for numerous migratory species, driven by increasing concerns over their advancing extinction risks.

This pivotal resolution came during the recently concluded 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), held in Brazil on Sunday.

"Faced with alarming new evidence that many migratory species are nearing extinction, government representatives at this significant UN wildlife meeting agreed to enhance conservation efforts, incorporating new or strengthened treaty safeguards for 40 species and their populations that include birds, aquatic life, and terrestrial animals," a statement circulated by the event's organizers stated.

The COP15 discussions began on March 23 and concluded on March 29, gathering over 2,400 attendees from around the globe.

The meeting brought together international representatives to deliberate on the protection of migratory species and their habitats with a strong emphasis on ecological connectivity. It marked Brazil's first opportunity to host the UN conference on migratory species.

Brazil is set to maintain the presidency of the conference for three years, overseeing the implementation of the adopted decisions until the subsequent meeting.

In a celebratory note for the 50th anniversary of the CMS, Germany has been selected to host COP16, which is planned for 2029 in Bonn, the city where the treaty was initially signed on June 23, 1979.

New Protections

Brazil adopted newly enhanced protections for 40 species covering a range that includes birds, marine species, and land-based animals. Migratory species are defined as those that move between different habitats seasonally, a behavior heavily influenced by climate change, which affects their migration timings and disrupts habitat continuity.

These species are increasingly endangered, facing issues like imbalances in resources available at feeding and resting locales due to shifting environmental circumstances.

Among the newly protected are high-profile species such as the cheetah, striped hyena, snowy owl, giant otter, and great hammerhead shark—all of which are currently experiencing notable population declines.

With this addition, the total number of species encompassed under the treaty now exceeds 1,200.

Delegates agreed to classify the species in Appendix I, designated for those at risk of extinction, and Appendix II, which is aimed at species that need coordinated global conservation efforts. Experts suggest this step illustrates rising scientific concern regarding the swift decline of migratory wildlife populations.

Implications for Nigeria

In Nigeria, birds are the most threatened migratory species, which migrate between the Palearctic (Europe and Asia) and Africa or move within the continent itself. They encounter dangers from habitat destruction and hunting activities.

Significant wetlands, particularly the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands located in Yobe and Jigawa states, serve as crucial stopover and wintering sites for these birds, the populations of which are increasingly at risk.

Recent conservation assessments have identified vultures as Nigeria's most endangered migratory species. Species such as Rüppell’s, hooded, and white- headed vultures, which play essential ecological roles, are presently classified as critically endangered, highlighting a significant risk of extinction.

Over 20 years ago, vultures were commonly seen during festive seasons when livestock were slaughtered, thriving on leftover remains. Today, such sightings have almost vanished across many regions of Nigeria.

While many vulture species face threats, they are typically listed under CITES Appendix II rather than Appendix I.

Due to steep population declines driven by illegal poaching and poisoning, there is a push from experts to elevate African vulture species to Appendix I, which affords superior protection.

CITES Appendix I encompasses species at high risk of extinction, prohibiting international trade for commercial gain. Conversely, Appendix II includes species that may face threats unless trade is appropriately managed.

Broader Conservation Actions

The week-long summit held in Campo Grande commenced with disheartening findings indicating that biodiversity indicators for several protected species continue to diminish.

Researchers cautioned that habitat degradation, overexploitation, and infrastructural obstacles are intensifying threats to species that rely on multiple countries for their survival.

In addition to species listings, officials sanctioned multi-species conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding critical ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest and approved 15 new "Concerted Actions" for various species including chimpanzees, sperm whales, and several types of sharks.

Extra strategies were endorsed to protect migratory birds, freshwater fish, and marine mammals across essential regions.

Discussions also addressed emerging risks, such as deep-sea mining, plastic pollution, underwater noise, climate change, and accidental catch in fisheries.

Delegates emphasized the necessity for enhanced international cooperation, ecological connectivity, and partnerships with global entities such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

There were calls to incorporate Indigenous and local wisdom into conservation strategies alongside scientific findings.

Call for Action

At the summit's conclusion, CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel stressed that while new protections signify an important advance, immediate implementation is crucial.

She noted that populations of nearly half of the species already protected under the treaty continue to decline.

Reacting positively to the decision, Gabriel Dabo, Science Coordinator at the Nigerian Montane Forest Project in Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve in Taraba State, acknowledged the resolution's significance.

"For too long, species conservation focused on isolated protected areas. Achieving a world where all species flourish necessitates global action involving all stakeholders, from indigenous communities to governments. Together, we can transition from listing species to genuinely preserving them," he remarked.

The summit gathered more than 2,600 attendees and produced 39 resolutions focused on enhancing conservation initiatives, improving habitat protection, and addressing both persistent and new threats to migratory species.

As extinction threats heighten, experts assert that the real challenge lies in whether nations can convert pledges into actionable measures before vulnerable species vanish.