The latest UN report reveals that nearly 44% of species listed in the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals are showing a decline in their populations, with more than one in five (22%) of the species listed under the convention being threatened with extinction.
Published on February 12th at the opening of the United Nations’ main conference on wildlife conservation, the report highlights that 51% of key biodiversity areas identified as important for migratory animals listed in the convention do not have protected status. Additionally, 58% of recognized monitoring sites deemed crucial for the species listed in the convention suffer from unsustainable levels of human activity pressure.
Unsustainable Activities
Migratory species are those that travel annually for breeding and food search, crossing seas and continents, sometimes spanning thousands of miles. These species play a vital role in maintaining global ecological systems, often participating in plant pollination, essential nutrient transportation, pest control, and carbon storage.
The report points out that the primary threats facing migratory species come from human activity, resulting in habitat loss and unsustainable exploitation of biodiversity resources.
Following a press conference attended by “Al Jazeera Net” after the conference, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen, stated, “The report clearly shows us that unsustainable human activities jeopardize the future of migratory species, which not only serve as indicators of environmental change but also play a crucial role in preserving the function and resilience of our planet’s complex ecosystems.”
She added that the global community has an opportunity to translate these findings on the pressures facing migratory species into tangible actions for environmental conservation. Given the unstable status of many of these animals, there is no room for delay, and collective efforts are necessary to make the report’s recommendations a reality.
Call for Solidarity for Species
The report highlights that overexploitation of species through deliberate hunting, fishing, as well as bycatch, affects 70% of the species listed in the Convention on Migratory Species. Additionally, climate change, pollution, and habitat degradation have also impacted migratory species.
The report urges the international community to take steps to enhance conservation efforts and reverse the plight faced by many migratory species.
Andersen explained that when migratory birds cross national borders, their survival depends on the combined efforts of all countries they inhabit or traverse. She emphasized that “this landmark report will help support the policy actions urgently needed to ensure the continued thriving of migratory species worldwide.”
The report’s recommendations include increasing international efforts to combat illegal and unsustainable hunting of migratory species, enhancing protection and management of important sites for these species, and urgently addressing the threats facing those species most at risk of extinction, including nearly all fish species covered by the convention. The report also highlights the need to combat climate change and environmental pollution.
