Following World Migratory Bird Day, countries are preparing for the twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals to be held under the theme ‘Their future is our future’.

Every three years, the international wildlife conservation community gathers to make decisions and agree on actions to ensure the survival of endangered species.

At the 2017 edition, it is expected that Parties will put forward a number of proposals to add species, including lions and giraffes, to the Convention’s Appendices. The first list covers species that cannot be hunted, except for in very rare cases, while the second list requires countries to take measures that promote transboundary conservation.

The meeting will be held in Manila, the Philippines, from 23 to 28 October and will be preceded by a High-Level Panel. Decisions made will translate into policy actions needed to prevent the alarming decline of migratory species.

Over time, migratory animals’ natural habitats have been degraded – such as through land converted to agriculture, seas being overfished and forests being felled. Yet migratory species are a vital part of our world, contributing through pest control, pollination, medicine, food and tourism, in addition to their immeasurable cultural and aesthetic value.

For more information write to veronika.lenarz@cms.int

¹https://orexca.com/artsandcrafts4.shtml