As an environmental treaty of the United Nations, CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.
As the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes, CMS complements and co-operates with a number of other international organizations, NGOs and partners in the media as well as in the corporate sector.
Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the Convention. 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. For this reason, the Convention encourages the Range States to conclude global or regional agreements.
In this respect, CMS acts as a framework Convention. The agreements may range from legally binding treaties (called Agreements) to less formal instruments, such as Memoranda of Understanding, and can be adapted to the requirements of particular regions. The development of models tailored according to the conservation needs throughout the migratory range is a unique capacity to CMS.
Access the text of the Convention on Migratory Species and the Appendices.
Title | Status | Status date | CMS Party number | Region |
---|---|---|---|---|
Zimbabwe | Party | 2012 | 117 | Africa |
Zambia | Non-Party | Africa | ||
Yemen | Party | 2006 | 100 | Asia |
Viet Nam | Non-Party | AM | Asia | |
Venezuela | Non-Party | South & Central America & The Caribbean | ||
Vatican City State | Non-Party | Europe | ||
Vanuatu | Non-Party | AM | Oceania | |
Uzbekistan | Party | 1998 | 055 | Asia |
Uruguay | Party | 1990 | 031 | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
United States of America | Non-Party | AM | North America | |
United Republic of Tanzania | Party | 1999 | 059 | Africa |
United Kingdom | Party | 1985 | 019 | Europe |
United Arab Emirates | Party | 2016 | 123 | Asia |
Ukraine | Party | 1999 | 063 | Europe |
Uganda | Party | 2000 | 068 | Africa |
Tuvalu | Non-Party | AM | Oceania | |
Turkmenistan | Party | 2021 | 132 | Asia |
Türkiye | Non-Party | AM | Europe | |
Tunisia | Party | 1987 | 023 | Africa |
Trinidad and Tobago | Party | 2018 | 127 | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
Instrument name | Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals |
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Languages | English French Spanish |
Depositary | Germany |
Website URL | http://www.cms.int/ |
Other | Summary of the application of CMS to Overseas Territories/Autonomous Regions of Parties and of reservations regarding species in the CMS Appendices |
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Convention text (English) | 29.28 KB |
Texte de la Convention (français) | 32.24 KB |
Texto de la Convención (español) | 36.45 KB |
ConventionText (Arabic) نص الاتفاقية | 422.25 KB |
Convention Text (Chinese) 公约文本 | 746.12 KB |
Convention Text (Russian) текст Конвенции | 337.12 KB |
Application of CMS to Overseas Territories/Autonomous Regions of Parties & of reservations on species in the CMS Appendices | 143.53 KB |
Scientific name | Common name | Class | Order | Family | Appendix (App. I / App. II) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anser fabalis | Bean Goose | Aves | Anseriformes | Anatidae | - / 1979 |
Platalea leucorodia | Eurasian Spoonbill | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Threskiornithidae | - / 1979 |
Dromas ardeola | Crab Plover | Aves | Charadriiformes | Dromadidae | - / 1994 |
Phoenicoparrus andinus | Andean Flamingo | Aves | Phoenicopteriformes | Phoenicopteridae | 1997 / 1979 |
Coturnix coturnix coturnix | Quail | Aves | Galliformes | Phasianidae | - / 1979 |
Phocoena phocoena | Common Porpoise, Harbour Porpoise | Mammalia | Cetacea | Phocoenidae | - / 1988 |
Podocnemis expansa | Arrau Turtle, South American River Turtle | Reptilia | Testudinata | Pelomedusidae | 1979 / 1979 |
Egretta eulophotes | Chinese Egret | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | 1979 / - |
Chelonia mydas | Green Turtle | Reptilia | Testudinata | Cheloniidae | 1979 / 1979 |
Acipenser sinensis | Chinese Sturgeon | Pisces (Actinopterygii) | Acipenseriformes | Acipenseridae | - / 1999 |
Fulica atra atra | Common Coot | Aves | Gruiformes | Rallidae | - / 1994 |
Tadarida brasiliensis | Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Mammalia | Chiroptera | Molossidae | 1979 / - |
Xanthopsar flavus | Saffron-Cowled Blackbird | Aves | Passeriformes | Icteridae | 1999 / 2005 |
Anser cygnoid | Swan Goose | Aves | Anseriformes | Anatidae | 2002 / 1979 |
Pandion haliaetus | Osprey | Aves | Accipitriformes | Pandionidae | - / 1979 |
Ardenna creatopus | Pink-Footed Shearwater | Aves | Procellariiformes | Procellariidae | 2002 / - |
Charadrius marginatus | White-Fronted Plover | Aves | Charadriiformes | Charadriidae | - / 1979 |
Calidris alpina | Dunlin | Aves | Charadriiformes | Scolopacidae | - / 1979 |
Anthropoides virgo | Demoiselle Crane | Aves | Gruiformes | Gruidae | - / 1979 |
Procellaria aequinoctialis | White-Chinned Petrel | Aves | Procellariiformes | Procellaridae | - / 1999 |
Bos grunniens | Wild Yak, Yak | Mammalia | Artiodactyla | Bovidae | 1985 / - |
Sterna paradisaea | Arctic Tern | Aves | Charadriiformes | Laridae | - / 1994 |
Thalassarche impavida | Campbell Albatross | Aves | Procellariiformes | Diomedeidae | - / - |
Crocodylus porosus | Salt-Water Crocodile, Estuarine Crocodile | Reptilia | Crocodylia | Crocodylidae | - / 1979 |
Acipenser schrenckii | Amur Sturgeon | Pisces (Actinopterygii) | Acipenseriformes | Acipenseridae | - / 1999 |
Project | Start date | End date | Implementing Agency | Status | Region |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Using Satellite Telemetry to Determine Post-Nesting Migratory Corridors and Foraging Grounds of Green Turtles Nesting at Poilão, Guinea Bissau | Marine Turtle Research Group (MTRG) | Completed | Africa | ||
Threatened migratory grassland birds in Argentina: A preliminary approach to habitat use at local and landscape scales | Aves Argentinas / Asociación Ornitológica del Plata | Completed | South & Central America & The Caribbean | ||
Survey for the Slender-billed Curlew and translation of scientific material into Russian | BirdLife International | Completed | Europe | ||
South meets North – A partnership linking sooty falcon conservationists | 10/01/2012 | 09/30/2013 | The Peregrine Fund Madagascar Project | Ongoing | Africa, Asia |
Slender-billed Curlew Survey of the Gulf coast of Iran | Foundation Working Group International waterbird and wetland Research (Foundation WIWO) | Completed | Asia | ||
Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) Conservation in the Austral Region of Argentina and Chile | Wetlands International-Americas (WI-A); Corporación Nacional Forestal, Chile (CONAF) | Completed | South & Central America & The Caribbean | ||
Raising awareness on threats to migratory sharks | 08/01/2013 | 01/31/2014 | Etpison Museum, Palau | Completed | Oceania |
PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE HIGH-ANDEAN FLAMINGOS (overview: "Winter census of High Andes Flamingos") | Fundación Pacha Mama | Completed | South & Central America & The Caribbean | ||
Movements of Atlantic leatherback turtles – Steps toward by-catch reduction and trans-oceanic cooperation for conservation | WWF – Latin America & the Caribbean Program (LAC) | Completed | Atlantic Ocean | ||
Migratory sharks in the Gulf of Gabès: by-catch, ecology and critical habitats | 03/01/2015 | 09/30/2016 | Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM) | Ongoing | Africa |
Implementing Priority Actions for the Conservation of the High Andes Flamingos | Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), Chile | Completed | South & Central America & The Caribbean | ||
Drafting of a GEF project on the conservation of the Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) | International Crane Foundation (ICF) | Completed | Asia | ||
design and construction of an observatory for the study and observation of the Huemul Deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) | Fundacion Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) | Completed | South & Central America & The Caribbean | ||
CounterMEASURE II: Promotion of Action Against Marine Plastic Litter in Asia and the Pacific | 12/01/2020 | 06/30/2021 | United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific | Ongoing | Asia, South-East Asia |
Awareness Campaign for the Lesser White-fronted Goose | The Norwegian Ornithological Society (project leader); Danish National Environmental Research Institute (focal point councillor) | Completed | Asia, Europe | ||
Action Plan for the recovery of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in the Eastern Atlantic (Meeting of the Action Plan working group in the Mauritania) | Fundación CBD para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad y su Habitat (CBD-Habitat) | Completed | Eastern Atlantic | ||
Study: Conservation Priorities for Shark and Ray Species included and proposed for inclusion in Annex 1 to the CMS Sharks MOU | In preparation | Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South & Central America & The Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Atlantic, Indian Ocean, North Pacific, South Pacific, South-East Asia, South-West Asia, South-Western Atlantic, West Africa, Western Pacific | |||
Conservation of the Blue Swallow, in the Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe | 09/01/2012 | 04/30/2014 | BirdLife Zimbabwe | Ongoing | Africa |
Document Number | Title | Publish date | CMS Instrument |
---|---|---|---|
UNEP/CMS/COP14/NR.133 | Zimbabwe - National Report COP14 | 26.05.2023 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.129 | Zimbabwe - National Report COP13 | 27.08.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.25.47 | Zimbabwe - National Report COP12 | 01.05.2017 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP14/NR.132 | Yemen - National Report COP14 | 26.05.2023 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.128 | Yemen - National Report COP13 | 27.08.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP14/NR.131 | Uzbekistan - National Report COP14 | 26.05.2023 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.127 | Uzbekistan - National Report COP13 | 02.09.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.126 | Uruguay - Informe Nacional COP13 | 27.08.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.25.3 | Uruguay - Informe Nacional COP12 | 25.03.2017 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.125 | United Republic of Tanzania - National Report COP13 | 29.11.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.25.32 | United Republic of Tanzania - National Report COP12 | 24.04.2017 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP14/NR.128 | United Kingdom - National Report COP14 | 09.02.2024 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.124 | United Kingdom - National Report COP13 | 03.03.2020 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.25.28 | United Kingdom - National Report COP12 | 24.04.2017 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP14/NR.127 | United Arab Emirates - National Report COP14 | 26.05.2023 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.123 | United Arab Emirates - National Report COP13 | 02.09.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.25.79 | United Arab Emirates - National Report COP12 | 23.05.2017 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP14/NR.126 | Ukraine - National Report COP14 | 07.09.2023 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.122 | Ukraine - National Report COP13 | 29.08.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/GA/MOP4/NR.08 | Uganda National Report - MOP4 | CMS, Gorilla Agreement | |
UNEP/CMS/COP14/NR.125 | Uganda - National Report COP14 | 26.05.2023 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.121 | Uganda - National Report COP13 | 27.08.2019 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.25.29 | Uganda - National Report COP12 | 24.04.2017 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.25.82 | Tunisie - Rapport National COP12 | 30.05.2017 | CMS |
UNEP/CMS/COP13/NR.119 | Trinidad and Tobago - National Report COP13 | 02.09.2019 | CMS |
Document Number | Title | Publish date | CMS Instrument |
---|---|---|---|
Plan de Acción Binacional Argentino Chileno para la Conservación del Huemul del Sur | CMS, South Andean Huemul | ||
Overview: International Single Species Action Plans for Birds (Raptors MOU/AEWA) | 30.06.2017 | AEWA, CMS | |
UNEP/CMS/Saiga/MOS4/Outcome 1 | Medium-Term International Work Programme for the Saiga Antelope (2021 - 2025) | 06.10.2021 | CMS, Saiga Antelope |
UNEP/CMS/HB/5 | Houbara Bustard Draft Action Plan | 25.11.2005 | CMS |
CMS/CAF/Report Annex 4 | Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and their Habitats | 12.06.2005 | Central Asian Flyway, CMS |
African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) | 09.11.2014 | CMS | |
Action Plan for the European Roller | 22.11.2018 | CMS | |
2018_Action Plan for the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and their Habitats | 01.10.2018 | CMS, Southern South American Grassland Birds |