International news

FAO recommends countries in Africa to be on high alert for wild bird mortalities due to H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Given recent reports from West and Southern Africa detecting the virus in Great White Pelicans and coastal birds respectively, the risk of HPAI introduction into other African countries and outbreaks in wild bird populations is regarded as high. Countries should have in place enhanced measures for early detection, diagnosis and outbreak response, in both wild birds and poultry.

The CMS Energy Task Force (ETF) convened its 6th Meeting on 9 and 10 February. Over 60 participants, including representatives of CMS Parties, Multilateral Environmental Agreements, NGOs, International Financial Institutions, and entities working in the energy field met to discuss progress and priorities in implementing the ETF 2021-2024 workplan. CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel said: “Global energy demand is set to increase 30% by 2040. Transitioning to a decarbonized economy should be a top priority, but this transition needs to take place without jeopardizing the future of migratory species, many of which are already suffering from inadequate planning and monitoring of current energy developments.

The CMS Secretariat is pleased to share an updated analysis of the 1st Draft of the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and its proposed headline indicators, with respect to how they del

The Secretariat has not yet received expressions of interest for hosting the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (COP14

Wetlands are important habitats for many migratory species listed under the Convention on Migratory Species.

In response to recent large-scale outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds, the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened the Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds. The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus, plus other subtypes including H5N8 caused multiple avian influenza outbreaks that occurred in the UK, The Netherlands, Israel, and India seriously affecting wild birds.

Throughout the past autumn and current winter in the northern hemisphere, multiple avian influenza outbreaks, caused predominantly by the H5N1 HPAI virus, plus other subtypes including H5N8, have occurred in the UK, The Netherlands, Israel, and India.

The longest-studied Flatback Turtle has returned to one of Australia's key nesting beaches. Known as X23103, this flatback was first flipper-tagged at the nesting beach "Mon Repos" (Queensland, Australia) in 1974, and has been coming back ever since, giving insights into important live-history parameters such as nesting intervals and site fidelity.

The thirteenth meeting of the CMS Conference of the Parties adopted an ambitious Programme of Work (POW) for the period 2020-2023.

Light Pollution will be the focus of the World Migratory Bird Day 2022 campaign.  Artificial light is increasing globally by at least 2 per cent per year and it is known to adversely affect many bird species. Light pollution is a significant threat to migratory birds, causing disorientation when they fly at night, leading to collisions with buildings, perturbing their internal clocks, or interfering with their ability to undertake long-distance migrations.