U.N. Extends Protections to 31 New Species

Last week, the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) added 31 new species to the list of protected animals. Held in Quito, Ecuador, more than 900 delegates from around the world attended the conference, which is operated by the United Nations Environmental Program. Delegates represented governments, non-governmental organizations and the media.

The species added to the list include 21 shark, ray and sawfish species. Migratory birds were also added to the list. Part of the Guidelines to Prevent the Risk of Poisoning of Migratory Birds, adopted by the conference delegates, included phasing out the use of lead gunshot. The guidelines acknowledge that overexploitation is a key threat: Large numbers of migratory birds have been killed by illegal trapping and killing for consumption and trade in recent years, and countries agreed at the conference to take action against illegal hunting.

Part of the conference agenda included the threat posed to migratory birds and bats by renewable energy technologies. Delegates adopted guidelines on how wind turbines and other forms of renewable energy can be deployed in a way that is wildlife friendly. Resolutions were also passed about plastic and other marine debris that is harming marine wildlife.

“The Conference in Quito has generated an unprecedented level of attention for the Convention,” said Bradnee Chambers, the Convention’s Executive Secretary. “Like never before in the 35-year history of CMS, migratory animals have become the global flagships for many of the pressing issues of our time. From plastic pollution in our oceans, to the effects of climate change, to poaching  and over-exploitation, the threats migratory animals face will eventually affect us all," said Bradnee Chambers, the convention’s Executive Secretary.

"The decisions made by Governments at the CMS Conference reflects the growing awareness that the responsibility for protecting wildlife is a shared one, and that the threats to wildlife can be tackled most effectively through global cooperation," said Achim Steiner, U.N. Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, which administers  the convention.

The polar bear makes the list

Perhaps the most prominent species added to the list is the polar bear, the largest apex predator on the planet. Polar bears are affected by climate change that has caused the loss of 2 million square meters of sea ice. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt and store energy for the summer and autumn when food is more scarce. Their health declines as they spend longer periods without food, and scientists have identified lack of food or fat on nursing mothers as the main cause of death for polar bear cubs.

Polar bears are the first marine mammal listed under the Endangered Species Act. In 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the polar bear in Alaska as threatened. The U.S. Geological Survey projects that two-thirds of polar bears will disappear by 2050 as sea ice melts.

Image credit: OnceAndFutureLaura