Bonn, 3 March 2023 - This year’s World Wildlife Day highlights Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation, which greatly resonates with the work of CMS – the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species. Addressing the many challenges for wildlife conservation is only possible through the dedicated efforts of many different actors, including governments, scientists, conservation groups, indigenous peoples and local communities, the private sector and other international entities. 

CITES and CMS are the only two global Conventions addressing wildlife conservation, and complement each other’s mandates, with CITES focusing on the regulation of international trade, and CMS on the conservation of migratory species and their habitats. Together we have a crucial role to play for the achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted last year, which calls for urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. 

The CITES and CMS Secretariats have long enjoyed excellent and close collaboration, working together through an extensive Joint Work Programme that covers common conservation issues such as addressing the illegal trade of migratory birds, and addressing the taking of species such as African-Eurasian vultures, marine turtles, and Central Asian Mammals amongst others.

Another example of this strong partnership is the joint CMS/CITES African Carnivores Initiative, which addresses the conservation of Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs and African Wild Dogs, and aims at promoting human-animal coexistence and the engagement of local communities in conservation.   

We must continue to work together to make effective progress on the immense task of moving the relationship of people and nature onto the right path. 

This year’s World Wildlife Day marks the 50th anniversary of CITES, and I would like to give my heartfelt congratulations to  all of the CITES Parties, stakeholders, and the CITES Secretariat, for their hard and effective work. 

Happy World Wildlife Day!