A special report to mark the Silver Anniversary of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (1979–2004) OF JOURNEYS 25 YEARS Convention on Migratory Species United Nations Environment Programme 25 Years A message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations People have long marvelled at the sight of great flocks, shoals or herds of migratory creatures on the move, or have wondered at that movement’s meaning. Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory animals are not only something spectacular to behold from afar; they Migratory Species of Wild Animals are an integral part of the web of life on Earth. Animal migration is essential for (CMS). healthy ecosystems, contributing to their structure and function and visibly Bonn, Germany 2004 connecting one to the other. It is a basis for activities that create livelihoods and support local and global economies. Migratory animals are among the top © 2004 CMS attractions of ecotourism, contributing to sustainable development and national Information in this publication may be wealth. And in many religious and cultural traditions, they stand out in ritual and quoted or reproduced in part or in full lore passed down from generation to generation. provided the source and authorship is As nomads of necessity, these species are highly susceptible to harm caused acknowledged, unless a copyright by destruction of ecosystems. Migratory animals are also threatened by man- symbol appears with the item. made barriers and by unsustainable hunting and fishing practices, including ISBN 3-937429-03-4 ‘bycatch’ in commercial fisheries. People tend to underestimate the vulnerability DISCLAIMER of migratory species, regarding them as hardy and plentiful. Yet if current trends continue unchecked, more and more of them will be driven to the edge of Designations used and materials extinction or beyond. presented in these pages imply no The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) was one of the first global treaties to be agreed on conservation and opinion on the part of the United Nations Environment Programme sustainable use of biodiversity. It started out from a recommendation by the 1972 United Nations Conference on the (UNEP) or CMS regarding the legal Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, which led to the negotiation and adoption of CMS in 1979 in Bonn. It has status of any country, territory, city or since become an invaluable tool in the world community’s response to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, area, or of its authorities, or concerning and has spawned over a dozen regional and global agreements between countries through which migratory animals pass. demarcation of its frontiers or For 25 years, the Convention has played a crucial role in protecting and preserving an invaluable natural heritage for boundaries. Invited contributions represent the views of the authors and the benefit of future generations. I call on all governments that have not yet done so, to accede to the CMS and its do not necessarily reflect the positions agreements, so that all countries and peoples are engaged in this effort. As the world marks this anniversary, let us of CMS, its Parties or of UNEP. keep the Convention itself – a unique global initiative – on the move. For additional copies and further information, please contact the CMS “People tend to underestimate the vulnerability of migratory Secretariat at: species. Yet if current trends continue, more and more of them Martin-Luther-King-Strasse 8 will be driven to the edge of extinction… I call on all Governments D-53175 Bonn, Germany that have not yet done so, to accede to CMS. Let us keep the T: +49 (228) 815 2401 F: +49 (228) 815 2449 Convention itself – a unique global initiative – on the move.” Dr Kofi Annan email: [email protected] Secretary-General of the United Nations http://www.cms.int 25 YEARS OF JOURNEYS A special report to mark the Silver Anniversary of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (1979–2004) JOURNEYS IN NATURE 2 Why migratory animals matter 2 Journeys at risk 5 Agreements and milestones under CMS – the track record 16 THE NEGOTIATING JOURNEY 18 CMS takes off 18 JOURNEYS OF KNOWLEDGE AND CO-OPERATION 22 Framework into action 22 THE JOURNEY CONTINUES 26 Hazards and opportunities 26 The challenging journey onwards 34 Acronyms and Contact details 36 JOURNEYS IN NATURE 2 Why migratory animals matter Like everything else, the journey holidays and other forms of ecotourism. species less directly – but no less acutely. A recommendation was passed calling on begins in nature, in the remarkable In addition, migratory species command Wetland, forest and grassland habitats the United Nations Environment biological urge that drives some 8000 powerful significance in many cultural are absorbed or replaced by agriculture, Programme (UNEP) – the new inter- to 10,000 of the world’s 1.5 million and spiritual traditions – in legend, story, industry and urban infrastructure, agency and world body for reconciling named animal species to travel at popular song and religious observance as barring them to wildlife movements. environment with development that was regular intervals to other feeding or well as in folk medicine and other Seabed ecosystems are denuded by the Stockholm Conference’s most notable breeding grounds, sometimes many customary usage. The journeys of fishing trawls. Obstacles like dams or legacy – to pursue a multilateral thousands of miles distant from their migratory species can provide game fences turn formerly open agreement responding to these concerns. starting point. Migratory animals can recreational and educational enrichment migratory routes into dead ends, while A lengthy negotiating trail (see page 19) range in form from gorillas, leopards for all societies, no matter how secular or migratory birds risk lethal electrocution led in 1979 to top-level talks in Bonn, and antelopes to fishes, turtles, bats urban. Even the way people measure or crippling injury if they perch on, or Germany where the Convention on the and birds. And they can vary in size time and experience the changing collide with, power transmission lines Conservation of Migratory Species of from whales and elephants to seasons is intimately connected with or towers. Wild Animals (CMS, sometimes also apparently frail and featherweight these natural arrivals and departures. Other, less self-evident dangers called the Bonn Convention) went butterflies like the Monarch. In art and literature, migratory animals include the introduction of antagonistic through the latest of many drafts and Migratory animals are often vital was finally adopted. components of the ecosystems that “Conservation and effective management of migratory species of wild By bringing together the States support life on Earth. For example, by animals require the concerted action of all States within the jurisdictional through which migratory animals passed pollinating plants and distributing seeds boundaries of which such species spend any part of their life cycle.” – their Range States – the Convention they can enrich the diversity and laid a legal foundation for conservation reinforce the functions of forests, FROM THE PREAMBLE TO THE CONVENTION measures throughout extended migratory wetlands, grasslands and other key ranges, measures that were to be biomes. They can provide food for other often occur as metaphors for restlessness alien species into defenceless habitats embedded and defined in greater detail animals or – as predators – keep and exile, or as reminders of an age when where there are no predators to control in detailed conservation and management populations of other animals in healthy our own ancestors are thought to have them, the harmful effects of industrial plans. Thus the Convention set out to balance with the carrying capacity of existed mainly as nomadic hunters. and agricultural pollution and the impact provide a global platform for the environments. They can also serve as Despite persuasive arguments in – yet to be fully measured – of climate conservation and sustainable use of reliable indicators of environmental favour of conserving and cherishing change. Pressures like these have made migratory animals and of places they rely quality. Changes in their behaviour or migratory animals and their habitats, migratory species in general increasingly on for survival. The conservation status numbers often signal underlying shifts in human activity in the modern age has uncommon. A great many now stand at of key species was indicated in two natural conditions, or newly arrived exacted a heavy toll on both. the brink of extinction. appended lists (see overleaf). impacts that could spell trouble for Unsustainable hunting and fishing As well as establishing obligations on people as well as for animal and plant life. practices, such as the entanglement of The world community’s all Member countries to protect the most Migratory animals are also vital to local marine animals in the nets and long-lines response endangered species, listed in its and national economies, yielding food of commercial fisheries, or the motorised Concerns of biologists and Appendix I, the Convention set a and livelihoods from hunting and fishing hunting of scarce wildlife with automatic conservationists over the plight of framework for regional or multi-country activities for subsistence, commercial or weapons in Africa’s Sahel, have reduced migratory species were laid before the agreements for conserving particular recreational purposes. 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