Everything that happened at CMS COP14

Everything that happened at CMS COP14

Subject: Environment

Sec: Int. conventions

Context:

• The COP14 of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) — the first to happen in Central Asia — concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Outcomes of the summit:

• Some of the species included in the CMS Appendices were the Eurasian lynx, sand tiger shark, Pallas’s cat, and magellanic plover, among others.
• The summit gave added safeguards to species such as blue sharks, chimpanzees and straw-coloured fruit bats through New Concerted Actions adopted by range states (states whose territory is within the natural range of distribution of a species).
• The State of Migratory Species Report 2024 identified 399 species that could be listed in either the Appendices of the CMS-listed species.
• The COP14 played a key role in giving recognition to the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds that stretches from Siberia to the Maldives.
  • It also tabled a new science-based strategic plan for migratory species extending from 2024 to 2032.
• For migratory aquatic species, it introduced a new mandate on understanding the impacts on migratory species, their prey and ecosystems due to deep-seabed mining.
  • The COP also introduced three action plans for aquatic species.
  • Action plans for the Atlantic humpback dolphin were also adopted.
• Uzbekistan also announced plans to introduce cheetahs in the country.
• The CMS COP14 also saw new guidelines presented for mitigating the impacts of light pollution on migratory species. It also strengthened measures for the illegal and unsustainable killing of migratory species and resolutions and endorsements on climate change and its effects on migratory wildlife.

Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC):

• Initiative by: Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals
• Launched at: COP14 of the CMS, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
• Aim: To “protect and connect natural areas” to ensure that key areas of migratory species are identified, protected and connected.

One Health Central India Project:

• Launched by: CMS under the leadership of IUCN.
• Launched at: COP14 of CMS, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
• Aim: To address the concerns about zoonotic diseases — diseases transmissible to humans from animal contact — from the COP14, under the leadership of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, saw the launch of the One Health Central Asia project.
• To prevent the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases, the five central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — would implement actions for the same.