Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

The following are all parties to the convention, as of 1 January 2021:[3][4]

Sovereign states

Other states/entities

•  Cook Islands
•  European Union

Signed, but not ratified

•  Jamaica

The following, while not parties to the convention, are party to one or more of the agreements and/or have signed one or more of the MOUs:[3][4]

Sovereign states

Other states/entities

•  Niue

Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the convention, with relevant provisions outlined in Article III, paragraphs 4 and 5. Parties that are range states to Appendix I species are obliged to afford them strict protection. CMS parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. Besides establishing obligations for each state joining the convention, CMS promotes concerted action among the range states of many of these species.

Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the convention. These species, either individually or by taxonomic group, are the basis for establishing instruments – regional or global – under CMS. For this reason, the convention encourages the range states to conclude global or regional agreements.

The CMS acts as a framework convention and encourages its states parties to conclude global or regional agreements. Article V of the convention lays out what agreements agreed to under its auspices should include. These agreements are usually legally binding treaties that aim to "restore the migratory species concerned to a favorable conservation status or to maintain it in such a status." To date seven agreements have been signed, they are as follow:[5][6]

• Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP)
• Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS)
• Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)
• Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS)
• Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS)
• Agreement on the Conservation of Gorillas and their Habitats (Gorilla Agreement)
• Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea (Wadden Sea Seals)

In addition, several memoranda of understanding (MOU) have also been concluded under the auspices of CMS. While not full agreements, these MOU still aim to conserve various migratory species. To date, 19 MOU have been signed. They are as follows:[7]

• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the Aquatic Warbler
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the Atlantic Coast of Africa
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation and Restoration of the Bukhara Deer
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of High Andean Flamingos and their Habitats
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of the Middle-European Population of the Great Bustard
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the Eastern Atlantic Populations of the Mediterranean Monk Seal
• Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Argentine and the Republic of Chile on the Conservation of the Ruddy-headed Goose
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Saiga Antelope
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the Siberian Crane
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the Slender-billed Curlew
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of Chile on the Conservation of the Southern Huemul
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and their Habitats
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the West African Populations of the African Elephant
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Conservation of the Manatee and Small Cetaceans of Western Africa and Macaronesia

The Conference of the Parties of the CMS acts as its principal decision-making body. It is composed of all states parties to the convention, as well as any observers that wish to participate in the proceedings of the conference. COPs are held at least every three years.[6][8]

The functions of the COP are enumerated in Article VII of the convention. At conferences, the states parties review the implementation of this convention, as well as approve all financial regulations of the convention.[6]

List of Conference of Parties of the CMS[9]

Conference	Year	Dates	Location
COP 1	1985	21–26 October	Bonn, Germany
COP 2	1988	13–14 October	Geneva, Switzerland
COP 3	1991	9–13 September	Geneva, Switzerland
COP 4	1994	7–11 June	Nairobi, Kenya
COP 5	1997	10–16 April	Geneva, Switzerland
COP 6	1999	10–16 November	Cape Town, South Africa
COP 7	2002	18–24 September	Bonn, Germany
COP 8	2005	20–25 November	Nairobi, Kenya
COP 9	2008	1–5 December	Rome, Italy
COP 10	2011	20–25 November	Bergen, Norway
COP 11	2014	4–9 November	Quito, Ecuador
COP 12	2017	23–28 October	Manila, Philippines
COP 13	2020	15–22 February	Gandhinagar, India

The Standing Committee is responsible for carrying out interim activities on behalf of the Conference of the Parties in between its meetings. The Committee meets at least once a year. It also usually meets immediately before and after any COPs.[10]

The functions of the Standing Committee were established by Resolution 1.1 of COP 1 in 1985. However, in 2008 at COP 9, the makeup of the Standing Committee was overhauled. Under Resolution 9.15 the composition of the committee, as well as its functions we updated. Its updated functions include:[10][11][12]

• To ensure that decisions of the COP are implemented
• To monitor the budget
• To make recommendations for consideration by the next COP
• To provide advice and guidance to the secretariat
• To represent the COP in negotiations with the Host Government and UNEP with regard to the secretariat
• To act as a bureau at the COP
• To undertake any other ad hoc task assigned to it by the COP.

The committee is composed of 15 members who are elected to serve three-year terms, or from the end of one COP until the end of the next. Alternate members are also selected. Under Resolution 9.15, the composition is as follows:[12]

• Three members from each of the geographic regions of Africa and Europe,
• Two members from each of the geographic regions of Asia and South and Central America and the Caribbean,
• One member from each of the geographic regions of North America and Oceania;
• The Depositary, and Host Government of the secretariat
• The Host Government of the next and previous meetings of the COP

List of Members of the Standing Committee[10]

Region / Member	Members	Alternate Members
Africa	Algeria	Seychelles
	Kenya	Uganda
	Mali	Zimbabwe
Asia	Uzbekistan	Bangladesh
	Saudi Arabia	Pakistan
South and Central America and the Caribbean	Panama	Costa Rica
	Uruguay	Peru
Europe	Italy	Switzerland
	Monaco	France
	Georgia	Croatia
North America	Vacant
Oceania	New Zealand	Palau
Depositary	Germany
Host of COP 13	India
Host of COP 14	Vacant

The main objective of the Scientific Council is to provide advice on scientific matters to CMS bodies, as well as CMS states parties. The council makes recommendations to the COP issues such as research on migratory species, specific conservation and management measures, the inclusion of migratory species in the Appendices and designation of species for Concerted or Cooperative Actions under the convention.[6][13]

The functions of the Scientific Council are enumerated in Article VIII of the convention. However, it was not established until 1985 under Resolution 1.4 of COP 1. Each state party is entitled to appoint one qualified expert as a member of the Scientific Council, as well as one alternate scientific councillor. Additionally, the COP may also appoint to the council other experts to cover fields of particular interest to the convention.[6][13][14]

In 2014, at COP 11, a new sub-body of the Scientific Council was created via Resolution 11.4. This representative selection of the membership of the Scientific Council is called the Sessional Committee. It is composed of nine COP-appointed councillors, as well as fifteen party-appointed councillors (three from Africa; three from Asia; three from Europe; three from Oceania; three from South and Central America and the Caribbean).[13][15]

The Sessional Committee works during the intersessional period between two consecutive meetings of the COP, and is responsible for the implementation of the mandate assigned to the Scientific Council by the COP. All work done by the Sessional Committee is considered work of the Scientific Council.[13]

THE CMS secretariat acts as the convention's coordinating body. The CMS Secretariat is provided and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme.[16]

The functions of the secretariat are laid out in Article IX of the convention. They include: arranging for and servicing meetings of the COP, Scientific Council and Standing Committee, maintaining liaison between the states parties, disseminating information that furthers the objectives and implementation CMS, preparing COP reports, promote the conclusion of CMS Agreements, among other functions.[6][16]

The secretariat has been based in Bonn, Germany, since its creation, but was relocated to the United Nations Campus in Bonn in 1998. Additionally, since 2009, the secretariat also maintains an out-post office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi office oversees implementation of the MOU on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia, and the MOU on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their range. The office is hosted by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.[16][17]

The current executive secretary of the convention is Amy Fraenkel.[18]

Article 6(3) requires parties which are range states for migratory species listed in Appendix I or II to inform the CoP through the secretariat, at least six months prior to each ordinary meeting of the conference, on measures that they are taking to implement the convention for these species.

To varying degrees the Bonn Convention has been incorporated into domestic law by the parties.