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State of the World’s Migratory Species Report – Key Findings

About the Report:

The State of the World’s Migratory Species Report is a global assessment of migratory wildlife and their conservation status.

Prepared under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

CMS is a legally binding treaty established in 1979 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The first global report was released in 2024.

Coverage of the Report

Analysed 1,189 migratory species listed under CMS.

Also assessed trends of more than 3,000 additional migratory species worldwide.

Uses data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and global population monitoring studies.

Importance of Migratory Species

Migratory species play a vital role in ecosystems:

Migratory birds support pollination and pest control.

Marine animals help maintain ocean food chains.

Migratory herds distribute nutrients and shape ecosystems.

They also support tourism, cultural traditions, and food systems.

Major Findings of the Latest Report

Declining Populations:

Around 49% of migratory species populations protected under CMS are declining.

About 24% face the risk of extinction.

Out of 1,189 CMS-listed species, about 582 species show declining population trends.

Rising Extinction Risks:

26 migratory species have moved into higher extinction-risk categories on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

18 of them are migratory shorebirds, indicating threats to coastal and wetland ecosystems.

Major Threats:

Two biggest threats to migratory species:

Habitat loss due to urbanisation, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

Overexploitation through hunting and overfishing.

Infrastructure such as roads, railways, pipelines, and fences disrupt migration routes of large animals.

Emerging Threat – Avian Influenza:

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) is causing mass mortality events among migratory birds.

Affected species include:

African Penguins

Humboldt Penguins

Peruvian Pelicans

Red-crowned Cranes

Also affected marine mammals such as South American Sea Lion and South American Fur Seal.

Conservation Success Stories

Seven CMS-listed species have shown improvement:

Saiga Antelope

Scimitar-horned Oryx

Mediterranean Monk Seal

Key Biodiversity Areas:

The report identified 9,372 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) important for migratory species.

47% of these areas are not protected, making them vulnerable to human pressures.