Press releases

Third Raptors MOU Signatories Meeting Addresses Protecting Endangered Birds of Prey and Approves a Wide Network of Bird Sites in Africa and Eurasia

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 17th July 2023 - Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, witnessed the third meeting of signatories to the Raptors MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for the conservation of migratory birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Under the theme "Working Together for the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey," the meeting aimed to exchange expertise, knowledge, and best practices to address critical challenges facing these birds and ensure their long-term survival. It also aimed to strengthen commitments to halt the decline of globally endangered raptor populations.

17 July 2023

World Migratory Bird Day 2020 - Press Release

World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated by people across the world on Saturday, 10 October with the theme “Birds Connect Our World”.  The theme highlights the importance of conserving and restoring the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems that support the natural movements of migratory birds and that are essential for their survival and well-being.

07 October 2020

World Migratory Bird Day 2020 - Birds Connect Our World

World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated by people across the world on Saturday, 9 May with the theme “Birds Connect Our World”. 
The UN-led campaign aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and the importance of international cooperation to conserve them. It is organized by a collaborative partnership among two UN treaties - the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) - and the Colorado-based non-profit organization, Environment for the Americas (EFTA).

07 May 2020

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi Recognized as a CMS Migratory Species Champion Plus & Extends its Unique Decade – Long Partnership with Convention on Migratory Species

Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) have extended their decade -long partnership, protecting Dugongs, African-Eurasian birds of prey and other migratory animals of regional importance. Established in the United Arab Emirates’ capital in 2009, CMS Office — Abu Dhabi is the only regional hub for the Convention outside its headquarters in Bonn, Germany. With the extension of the partnership agreement, CMS Office — Abu Dhabi will continue its UAE operations for another four years.

18 February 2020

Action to Save Vultures Will Protect Human Health, Say Experts

A multinational plan to thwart the sudden and severe decline in vultures across Africa, Asia and Europe will be presented at a major summit on migratory species this month. Experts estimate the majority of African-Eurasian Vultures are critically endangered and at “very high risk” of extinction in the wild, mainly due to poisoning. Unless effective conservation measures are implemented, there is a significant likelihood that several of these species will become extinct in the near future, they say.

10 October 2017

International Action Plan to Tackle the African-Eurasian Vulture Crisis

An International Action Plan for vultures is being developed at an expert meeting convened by the Coordinating Unit of the Raptors MoU under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in from 16 to 19 February in Toledo, Spain. The plan aims to prevent the further decline of vultures which are nature’s primary scavengers, providing indispensable ecological services as carrion feeders and disposers of disease-carrying carcasses.

16 February 2017

United Arab Emirates Joins Convention on Migratory Species - Reaffirms Strong Commitment to International Raptor and Dugong Conservation

The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) committed themselves to advancing their cooperation to conserve migratory species of wild animals, by the UAE’s recent accession to CMS as its 123rd member state, and the extension of the long-standing financial and in-kind support of CMS Office - Abu Dhabi by EAD on behalf of the Government of the UAE.

23 May 2016

Nations List 12 Vulture Species to Tackle Population Decline in Africa

A further eighteen birds of prey species have been listed at an international meeting of government representatives and experts this week in Trondheim, Norway. Seven of these species under threat are critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List.

09 October 2015

Countries Meet to Tackle Poisoning of Birds in Southern Africa

Representatives of countries and wildlife experts met in Cape Town, South Africa on 24 August, to address poisoning of migratory birds, a problem that also threatens important predators. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on Birds of Prey (CMS Raptors MoU), all three instruments administered by the United Nations Environment Programme, have convened the international meeting.

25 August 2015