Protection of migratory animals
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals was negotiated and signed in 1979 in Bonn; there too is the relevant Secretariat. An interview.
Dr. Bradnee Chambers is Executive Secretary of United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). In an interview, he talks about the threat to migratory animals and a record.
Mr Chambers, what animals migrate?
They range from elephants and whales to bats. Even seemingly fragile insects such as the monarch butterfly travel tremendous distances. The Arctic tern has set a record: from its breeding grounds on the coasts of Greenland and Alaska to its winter quarters in the Antarctic, it travels 15,000 kilometres every year.
And why do they migrate?
In the course of evolution, migratory animals have specialized in the use of various environments and resources that are available only for a limited space of time.
What is special about these species?
Migratory species are important components of ecosystems that maintain all life on the earth. As pollinators and seed dispersers, they contribute to the structure and function of ecosystems. They deliver food to other animals and regulate the number of species.
And why are they endangered?
Since they depend on various habitats that they use as stopovers during their migration, they are more endangered than are sedentary animals. In March 2013 cranes were on their way from their winter quarters in France and Spain to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Since the temperatures in Germany were still wintry, the flock perished there. Climate change is only one of the many threats to migratory animals.
What does your Secretariat do specifically to protect migratory species?
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals brings together states that migratory animals pass through and lays the legal foundation for protective measures for the entire route of the species. In the end, however, it’s the states themselves that endeavour to provide strict protection for the animals by maintaining or restoring their habitats, removing hindrances to their migration and monitoring other factors that could threaten them.
