COP15 to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)

The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals concluded in Campo Grande, Brazil, after a week-long session from March 23–29, 2026.

Hosted by the Government of Brazil, the conference resulted in significant decisions aimed at strengthening global conservation efforts for migratory species.

Key Outcomes

• Expansion of Protected Species List:
  Parties agreed to include 40 additional species or populations under CMS Appendices I and II.
  • Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction
  • Appendix II: Species requiring coordinated international conservation
    With this, the Convention now covers over 1,200 migratory species globally.
• Launch of Americas Flyways Atlas:
  A major highlight was the unveiling of the Americas Flyways Atlas, a cutting-edge online tool developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in collaboration with CMS.
  • Maps full annual migration routes of 89 highly vulnerable bird species
  • Identifies critical breeding, stopover, and wintering sites
  • Aims to support conservation planning amid growing threats to migratory birds

About CMS (Bonn Convention)

• CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention, was adopted in 1979 in Germany and came into force on November 1, 1983.
• It is a global environmental treaty under the United Nations framework.
• Provides a platform for cooperation among Range States—countries through which migratory species travel.
• Facilitates conservation through:
  • Legally binding Agreements
  • Non-binding Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) tailored to regions/species

India and CMS

• India has been a party to CMS since November 1, 1983.
• India plays a key role in protecting migratory species along major flyways, including the Central Asian Flyway.