During a period of unprecedented loss of biodiversity, climate change, and fragmenting multilateralism, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) continues to show the benefits of sustained international cooperation to enhance the conservation status of migratory species that cross our borders. However, migratory species continue to be at risk, a reality laid bare in the 2026 interim report on the State of the World’s Migratory Species, which revealed that 49% of migratory species populations listed under CMS Appendices I and/or II are declining, and 24% are facing extinction globally. Still, that same report noted that seven CMS-listed species have improved in conservation status, including the saiga antelope, scimitar-horned oryx, and Mediterranean monk seal, which now face reduced extinction risks as a result of Concerted Actions, habitat protections, and anti-poaching initiatives.

The Committee of the Whole (CoW) of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) approved in-session documents and proposals for Concerted Actions (CA) for the Triennium 2026-2029.

The Committee of the Whole (CoW) of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) approved in-session documents and proposals to amend the CMS Appendices, and reviewed agenda items related to Concerted Actions (CAs). CoW Chair Khalid Cherki (Morocco) adjourned the evening session before delegates proceeded with working group deliberations ahead of the additional CoW session scheduled for Saturday morning.

The Committee of the Whole (CoW) of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) heard updates from working groups and reviewed in-session documents. In the morning, delegates addressed agenda items related to the implementation of taxa-specific and cross-cutting mandates, which continued into the afternoon; unless otherwise specified, discussions then continued in relevant working groups, or conference room papers (CRPs) will be produced. At the end of the day, delegates began reviewing proposals to amend the CMS Appendices.