Populations decline for nearly half of migratory species

Climate change, pollution and invasive species are also having profound impacts on migratory species.
February 12, 2024
From cover: State of the World's Migratory Species

From Climate & Capitalism

The first-ever State of the World’s Migratory Species report, launched at global conference of Parties to the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), reveals:

  • While some migratory species listed under CMS are improving, nearly half (44 per cent) are showing population declines.
  • More than one-in-five (22 per cent) of CMS-listed species are threatened with extinction.
  • Nearly all (97 per cent) of CMS-listed fish are threatened with extinction.
  • The extinction risk is growing for migratory species globally, including those not listed under CMS.
  • Half (51 per cent) of Key Biodiversity Areas identified as important for CMS-listed migratory animals do not have protected status, and 58 per cent of the monitored sites recognized as being important for CMS-listed species are experiencing unsustainable levels of human-caused pressure.
  • The two greatest threats to both CMS-listed and all migratory species are overexploitation and habitat loss due to human activity. Three out of four CMS-listed species are impacted by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and seven out of 10 CMS-listed species are impacted by overexploitation (including intentional taking as well as incidental capture).
  • Climate change, pollution and invasive species are also having profound impacts on migratory species.
  • Globally, 399 migratory species that are threatened or near threatened with extinction are not currently listed under CMS.

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