The MoU on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and Their Habitats was concluded under CMS auspices and became effective on 26 August 2007. Under the “umbrella“ of the Convention on Migratory Species, the governments of Argentina, Bolivia, 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. Brazil too, although not a Party to CMS, has signed the MoU.

Fragmentation of grassland habitats and illegal capture and trade have been the main reasons for the decline in the populations of these species. The Eskimo (or Northern) Curlew (Numenius borealis), Alectrurus risora, Alectrurus tricolor, Sporophila cinnamomea, Sporophila hypochroma, Sporophila palustris, Sporophila zelichi, and Agelaius (Xanthopsar) flavus have all been included on Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species. Sporophila ruficollis, Dinelli‘s Doradito (Pseudocolopteryx dinellianus) and Polystictus pectoralis pectoralis have been included on Appendix II of CMS.

For effective protection an Action Plan is to be prepared which will include a system of national scientific coordinators to serve as focal points. Protection of the grassland birds and of the habitats upon which their survival depends will be facilitated through information sharing and trans-national cooperation.