© Sergei Khomenko (FAO)

More than 120,000 saiga antelope have been confirmed dead in central Kazakhstan, representing more than a third of the global population. This is a major blow for conservation efforts given that saigas have in the past ten years only just started to recover from a global population size of less than 50,000 animals following a 95% crash in numbers.

• UN Bonn

MOS3 participants

The Third Meeting of Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the Aquatic Warbler reiterates the aim of its Action Plan and makes new recommendations for its implementation.

• UN Bonn

Eigentlich bevorzugen sie wärmeres Wasser, an deutschen Küsten tummeln sie sich nur selten. Nun sind sie wieder da: Zwei Delfine sind in der Ostsee aufgetaucht.

• UN Bonn

Atlantic Puffin © Nina Mikander; Pygmy Devil Rays © Guy Stevens, Manta Trust; Black-tailed Godwit © Ton van de Acker; African Lion © Luke Hunter; Shoebill © Jearu/Fotolia.com; Bactrian Camel © Petra Kaczensky; Scalloped Hammerhead Shark © Edoardo Espinoza; Lesser Flamingo © Mark Anderson; Green Turtle © Bthv; Monarch Butterfly © Allen Montgomery/USFWS; Mountain Gorilla © Ian Redmond; Impala; Snow Leopard © Snow Leopard Conservancy; Common Dolphin © Cherylle Millard-Dawe; Saker Falcon © Tony Hisgett; Argali Sheep © Askar Davletbakov; Nathusius' pipistrelle © Suren Gazaryan; African Elephant © Melanie Virtue; Polar Bear © Peter Prokosch; Eurasian Spoonbill © Lars Soerink; Aquatic Warbler © Zymantas Morkvenas

On behalf of the CMS Family, Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species has issued the following statement

• UN Bonn

Saiga © Navinder Singh

In response to a request from Kazakhstan, the CMS Secretariat is sending out an expert mission today to strengthen work to identify the cause of the current saiga die-off.

• UN Bonn

Baby Loggerhead turtle, Crete © Alan Rees

World Turtle Day which is being celebrated on 23 May has been held yearly since 2000.

• UN Bonn

The East Atlantic Flyway © Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative (WSFI)

Linking regional and global aspects of nature conservation, two meetings held back to back in Bonn on 13 May 2015 discussed the protection of migratory birds along the East Atlantic Flyway.

• UN Bonn

Saiga © Navinder Singh

About 10,000 saigas have been found dead in Amangeldy district of the Kostanay region in Central Kazakhstan.

• UN Bonn

Tourism minister says rules imposed in 2013 against hunting big cats seriously affected wildlife resources and the livelihoods of local people

• UN Bonn

Installation of bird flight diverters by helicopter on a high voltage power line in Germany. Credit: © RWE Netzservice

The slogan for this year’s World Migratory Bird Day (May 9) campaign is “Energy – make it bird-friendly”. Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and Patricia Zurita, Chief Executive of BirdLife International, explain how important it is to ensure that major infrastructure and policy relating to low carbon and renewables are developed in harmony with nature.

• UN Bonn

WMBD Poster 2015

Culturally, ecologically and economically, our natural heritage – i.e. wildlife in general and migratory species in particular – is of immeasurable value. By spreading seeds, controlling pests and providing food migratory birds help sustain human life. Their cyclical journeys herald the changing seasons, filling the skies with their V-shaped formations in the spring and autumn. They feature in myths and legends; their epic journeys that can span oceans and continents, their plumage, courtship dances and aerobatics inspire awe and wonder. Birdwatching is a worldwide industry which has millions of participants, is worth billions of dollars, is sustainable and can bring considerable benefits to the environment.

• UN Bonn

Corale Lirica San Rocco © Francisco Rilla

Bonn, 11 May 2015 – for the third consecutive year, the Corale Lirica San Rocco operatic choir from Bologna came to Bonn to sing at a benefit concert raising funds for bird conserv

• UN Bonn

WMBD 2015 Poster

All the preparations over the last weeks and months are coming to fruition with World Migratory Bird Day being celebrated across the globe over the coming weekend.

• UN Bonn

Installation of bird flight diverters by helicopter on a high voltage power line in Germany © RWE Netzservice

World Migratory Bird Day 2015 Highlights Importance of Striving Towards a Clean Energy Future Which Also Ensures the Survival of Migratory Birds

• UN Bonn

World Migratory Bird Day celebrated in 2014 on the Cape Verde Islands © Biosfera

The AEWA Contracting Parties in Africa recognized the WMBD campaign as an effective tool for increasing understanding of and raising awareness for waterbirds in Africa. They therefore highlighted the need to encourage and support the celebration of the WMBD campaign in Africa, through for example providing seed funding for the organization of activities at the national level, as indicated in Result 4.3.2 of the AEWA Plan of Action for Africa 2012-2017.

• UN Bonn

The Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is pleased to inform you of two funding opportunities.

• UN Bonn

The Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in its capacity as Depositary of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migrator

• UN Bonn