Aerial view of the Avenida Mato Grosso avenue at Campo Grande, Brazil, host city of the CMS COP15 in 2026 © Vinicius Bacarin | Dreamstime.com
BONN, 26 March 2025 – The Federal Republic of Brazil and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) announced today that the country will host the Convention’s 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, from Monday 23 to Sunday 29 March 2026.
This landmark UN wildlife conservation meeting will bring together governments, scientists, conservationists, indigenous peoples and local communities, environmental leaders, and civil society from around the world to tackle the urgent conservation challenges faced by the thousands of species of wild animals that cross international borders.
“Hosting COP15 of the Convention on Migratory Species in Campo Grande reinforces Brazil’s commitment to biodiversity protection through the conservation of migratory wildlife. The Pantanal, one of the richest and most vibrant biomes in the world, will be the ideal setting for this international dialogue on conservation and sustainable development. It is a great honour to host this conference, and we are determined to advance effective policies to ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty and immense diversity of this fascinating part of nature. In this context of great instability in multilateralism, I reaffirm Brazil’s strong intent to build a sustainable, just, and inclusive future, and I call on everyone to make COP15 in the Pantanal a successful event,” said Ms. Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of Brazil.
Brazil, a Party to CMS since 2015, is the most biodiverse country in the world. Countless species of migratory animals rely on habitats in Brazil for their survival, whether for breeding, feeding or as stopover sites on their journeys. Its natural treasures, including the Amazon rainforest, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado savanna, Pampa grasslands, and the Pantanal, support extraordinary biodiversity, including migratory animals such as the Jaguar, the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat, and the Peregrine Falcon. Furthermore, Brazil is home to a remarkable diversity of migratory species, including sharks, rays, migratory freshwater fish, turtles, numerous families of bird species, bats, as well as small cetaceans, whales and other marine mammals.
Aware of its responsibilities as owner of such a natural heritage, Brazil has made notable strides in safeguarding its exceptional migratory biodiversity through collaboration with international conservation agreements and rigorous domestic policies. CMS Appendix I species, of which Brazil is a range state, benefit from Brazil's extensive conservation network and proactive regional cooperation under the CMS framework.
“Migratory animals connect the planet, crossing continents, oceans, and skies in incredible journeys each year, but they are facing unprecedented pressures. CMS COP15 in Campo Grande is an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and adopt transformative measures that will secure the future of migratory species and their vital ecosystems,” said Amy Fraenkel, CMS Executive Secretary.
From antelopes to fish, from whales to elephants, from bats to birds and even butterflies, migratory species traverse vast distances across ecosystems, playing a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance. Apart from their intrinsic value, these species are indicators of environmental health and are essential for the functioning of habitats. They provide ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, pollination, seed dispersal, pest and disease control, and nutrient cycling, which support overall ecosystem resilience and productivity. Likewise, migratory species also provide economic benefits to indigenous peoples and local communities through ecotourism and food availability, balancing their crucial contribution to the preservation of these animals and their habitats.
But according to the State of the World's Migratory Species report launched last year at CMS COP14, extinction risk is growing for migratory species globally due to human activity, highlighting the urgency of enhanced global conservation efforts. The report found that the two greatest threats to migratory species are overexploitation and habitat loss. Compounding the crisis, climate change, pollution, and invasive species continue to erode vital habitats, and 399 at-risk migratory species are not yet listed under CMS, leaving them without coordinated conservation measures.
During the week-long negotiations, CMS COP15 is expected to consider:
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Press Contacts:
Aydin Bahramlouian, Public Information Officer, CMS Secretariat at +49 228 815 2428, [email protected]
Press Office of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil, [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
Resources
Media kit – for free images for press use click here.
In the coming months, more information will be made available on the CMS COP15 Hub at www.cms.int/cop15
About the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
An environmental treaty of the United Nations, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. This unique treaty brings governments and wildlife experts together to address the conservation needs of terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species and their habitats around the world. Since the Convention's entry into force in 1979, its membership has grown to include 133 Parties from Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Learn more at www.cms.int
About the Conference of the Parties (COP)
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the principal decision-making body of the Convention as set out in Article VII of the CMS text. It meets once every three years and sets the budget and priorities of the following three years (the triennium). It also decides on the amendment of the Appendices and considers reports submitted by the Parties, the Scientific Council and the Agreements established under the Convention. The latest Conference of the Parties, COP14, was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in February 2024.
About CMS Appendices
Appendix I comprises migratory species that have been assessed as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range. The Conference of the Parties has further interpreted the term “endangered” as meaning “facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future” (Res. 11.33 paragraph 1). Parties that are a Range State to a migratory species listed in Appendix I shall endeavour to strictly protect them by: prohibiting the taking of such species, with very restricted scope for exceptions; conserving and where appropriate restoring their habitats; preventing, removing or mitigating obstacles to their migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them.
Appendix II lists migratory species which have an unfavourable conservation status and which require international agreements for their conservation and management. It also includes species whose conservation status would significantly benefit from the international cooperation that could be achieved by an international agreement. View the appendices at cms.int/en/species/appendix-i-ii-cms
Last updated on 28 March 2025