Engagement of the CMS Secretariat in the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity
The United Nations Summit on Biodiversity has been convened by the President of the UN General Assembly under the theme ‘urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development’.
New Guidelines Help Minimize the Impact of Bycatch of Small Cetaceans
CMS in collaboration with WWF has published Guidelines for the Safe and Humane Handling and Release of Bycaught Small Cetaceans from Fishing Gear, which set out best practice on how to handle and release small cetaceans accidentally caught in fishing gear.
Virtual Meeting on Monitoring the Action Plan of the MOU on the Conservation of the Grassland Birds of the South of South America and its Habitats
The MOU on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and Their Habitats (also known as MdE Pastizales) was concluded under the auspices CMS and became effective on 26 August 2007. Under the Convention on Migratory Species, the Governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay agreed to work together towards better conservation of migratory species of grassland birds of Southern South America and developed the MOU text.
Four New Episodes of IPBES Podcast Now Available
Scientific Insights into Pandemics, People & Nature: Disease Ecologist Dr. Peter Daszak Featured on 1st Episode of new Biodiversity Podcast
“Every single pandemic has a link to wildlife. They are all linked to human, anthropogenic, environmental changes. They emerge through the connections we make to nature. These will happen unless we change our relationship with nature.”
European Eel Remains Critically Endangered in Latest IUCN Red List
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has issued the latest edition of its Red List of threatened species. Established in 1964, the Red List is widely recognized as the world’s most comprehensive source of information on the degree of threat faced by animal, plant and fungus species. Over 32,000 species are threatened with extinction representing 27 per cent of the over 120,000 so far assessed.
UNEP Report – Preventing the Next Pandemic
The United Nations Environment Programme has just published a report: ‘Preventing the Next Pandemic – Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission’. Contributing authors include CMS Executive Secretary, Amy Fraenkel and CMS Scientific Adviser, Marco Barbieri, while Sergey Dereliev, the Technical Officer of AEWA and Suran Gazaryan of EUROBATS served as reviewers.
Statement by Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals on World Environment Day 2020
This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Time for Nature”, reminds us that our lives, culture, society and economies are inextricably linked to a healthy planet where nature can thrive. Migratory species are an essential component of ‘biodiversity’ – the variety of life on Earth - and provide direct benefits, such as pest control, pollination and seed dispersal, as well as forming the basis of sustainable tourism and wildlife watching, which generate significant revenues and employment for millions of people around the world.
World Migratory Bird Day 2020
On Saturday, 9 May 2020, people around the world will celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) – a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.
Great Apes May Be Susceptible to COVID-19
Experts have concluded that great apes may also be susceptible to COVID-19. Both the IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist Group and the IUCN Primate Specialist Group emphasize that, while there are no reported cases of great apes having been infected, it is safe to assume that they are susceptible to COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that great apes are susceptible to infection with human respiratory pathogens. The Gorilla and the Chimpanzee are protected under the Convention on Migratory Species.
Far from Being our Enemies, Bats Need Protection now more than ever
As efforts are stepping up around the world to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there are alarming reports that some communities and governmental authorities are targeting the wrong enemy: bats.
Not only will killing bats not stop COVID-19, it could also do irreparable harm to a mammal which poses no risk to human health in its natural environment, and which provides enormous benefits including pollination, seed dispersal and pest control.