Bonn Convention

Bonn Convention
Name	Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
Other names	CMS, Bonn Convention (common name not linked)
Location signed	Bonn
Date signed	1979
Effective date	1983
Parties	130+ (variable)
Depositor	Secretary-General of the United Nations
Languages	English language, French language, Spanish language

Bonn Convention

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals is a multilateral environmental agreement concluded in Bonn that seeks to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species across their migratory ranges. Negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme and concluded by representatives from multiple United Nations member states, the treaty establishes a framework for global cooperation through legally binding agreements and voluntary instruments. It complements instruments such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Ramsar Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Background and History

Negotiations leading to the instrument began amid rising international concern about declining populations of migratory birds and marine mammals in the 1960s and 1970s, influenced by events like the International Whaling Commission debates, the World Conservation Strategy discussions, and the emergence of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. The negotiating process involved delegations from regional organizations including the European Commission, research bodies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and national representatives from states like Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and South Africa. The treaty was opened for signature at a conference in Bonn and subsequently entered into force after ratification milestones, with secretariat functions later hosted by the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species under the umbrella of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Objectives and Scope

The treaty’s primary objective is the conservation of migratory species throughout their migratory ranges by fostering international cooperation between range states, scientific bodies, and conservation organizations. It targets species listed on two appendices: those requiring strict protection and those benefiting from regional agreements; species examples include the African elephant, the Humpback whale, the Siberian crane, the Monarch butterfly, the Humpback salmon (note: species groups vary), and various threatened sea turtle taxa. The scope encompasses habitat conservation, mitigation of threats like bycatch and habitat loss, and coordination with instruments such as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and regional fisheries management organizations like the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission.

Governance and Institutional Structure

The treaty establishes a Conference of the Parties as the supreme decision-making body, drawing representatives from party states such as Brazil, India, Japan, Mexico, and Nigeria. A Standing Committee provides interim oversight, and technical committees—comprising scientific and technical advisers from bodies such as the Scientific Council of the Convention—assist with species assessments and implementation guidance. The Secretariat, operating within the United Nations Environment Programme framework, coordinates with partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Secretariat, and regional conservation entities like the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.

Parties, Membership and Implementation

Membership comprises a diverse set of states spanning continents, with notable parties including Kenya, Russia, Canada, China, and Argentina. Implementation mechanisms rely on national action plans, bilateral and multilateral agreements, and the negotiation of species-specific memoranda of understanding with signatories such as the Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea and regional initiatives like the Pacific Migratory Bird Initiative. Capacity-building and funding are supported by partners such as the Global Environment Facility, philanthropic organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, and development agencies including the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

Conservation Measures and Agreements

The instrument promotes conservation through appendices that trigger obligations for habitat protection, restoration measures, and threat mitigation strategies such as bycatch reduction, pollutant control, and managed hunting regulations. It has spawned legally binding agreements and non-binding memoranda of understanding for taxa and flyways, including accords similar in nature to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, and species plans addressing whale and turtle conservation. Scientific guidance often draws upon data from institutions like the International Whaling Commission, the BirdLife International network, and research programs at universities such as Oxford University and University of Cape Town.

Impact, Criticism and Challenges

The treaty has facilitated international cooperation resulting in species recovery efforts for several migratory populations and has strengthened linkages with the Convention on Biological Diversity and regional fisheries bodies. Criticisms focus on limited enforcement mechanisms, uneven participation by range states like some Middle East and Central Asian countries, funding shortfalls, and challenges aligning conservation priorities with competing developmental initiatives promoted by institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Ongoing challenges include climate-driven range shifts documented by researchers at institutes like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, illegal wildlife trade pressures observed by Interpol, and the technical complexity of coordinating actions across sectors managed by agencies such as the International Maritime Organization and national wildlife services.

Category:International environmental treaties