Protecting Migratory Birds Worldwide: What to Watch for at COP15

Lesser Yellowlegs migrate thousands of kilometers each year from North America to the Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland. Along the way, they stop to feed and rest, dependent on habitats conserved by governments and private citizens.  

But no single country is able to ensure the continued well-being of these and other migratory birds, as well as other migrant species. The health of their populations depends on actions taken by stakeholders in multiple countries. Audubon has long understood this—which is why we work in eleven countries throughout the Americas, and with partners that extend our reach even further, to conserve birds and the habitats on which they depend.  

To these same ends, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) was established to bring together the world’s governments to protect migratory species whose survival depends on cooperation across borders. This month, CMS is meeting for its 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Campo Grande, Brazil—a gathering that could not come at a more critical time.   

The recent State of the World’s Migratory Species report shows that 49% of the migratory species populations covered by CMS are declining, and 24% face extinction. Eighteen shorebird species have moved to a higher extinction risk category since the last report. Audubon is sending a team to advance outcomes from CMS discussions that help bend the bird curve—across the hemisphere, and globally.  

Audubon’s priorities for COP15 include:  

• Strengthening protections for migratory birds worldwide through CMS decisions and resolutions 

• Advancing cooperative action along America’s flyways to better conserve and manage bird populations and the habitats on which they depend 

• Showcasing Conserva Aves as a model for innovative protected areas that safeguard bird habitat 

COP15 participants will gather on the edge of the Pantanal to adopt a series of Resolutions and Decisions designed to protect migratory species around the globe. These documents focus on a broad range of topics, from protecting marine ecosystems, to listing species that are newly endangered or threatened in CMS Appendices, making them the focus of greater protection efforts.  

Audubon is working with BirdLife International to ensure the considerations of migratory bird species are clearly reflected in these documents, and that lessons Audubon has learned over our 120-year history are incorporated. These CMS outcomes are not just words in a document; they shape protections for migratory species around the world. For example, by defining fisheries bycatch as including “migratory” rather than just “marine” species could determine whether governments adopt regulations that combat the unintended taking of seabirds—or not.  

The meeting will also consider “listing” new species of conservation concern, including shorebirds such as Lesser Yellowlegs, Hudsonian Godwit, and Hudsonian Whimbrel. Audubon and its partners are deeply engaged in conserving these shorebird species across the Americas, which includes actions benefitting wetland habitat for Lesser Yellowlegs in Colombia, and protecting roost sites for Hudsonian Godwits in Chile. 

Flyways (groupings of migratory pathways) will be a clear focus of discussions both at COP15 and in workshops in the margins of the conference. Several of the resolutions and decisions aim to further advance work on bird conservation One important draft resolution and accompanying decisions aim to promote marine and coastal flyways for seabirds, a noted gap in the current global portfolio of flyways.  

Outside the negotiating space, Audubon will work with BirdLife International and other partners to consolidate the next phase of work on the Americas Flyways Framework. Through the coordination of the Americas Flyways Task Force and implementation of its action plan, dozens of governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and other stakeholders have the opportunity to jointly plan and scale the policies and actions needed to safeguard migratory birds from the northern Arctic down to southern Argentina.  

And on stages and in hallways in Campo Grande, Audubon and numerous partners, including American Bird Conservancy, BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and RedLAC (Latin America and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds), will highlight the above mentioned Conserva Aves. This innovative partnership supports the design and creation of subnational protected areas in important habitat for birds across the hemisphere. It’s successes—182 conservation areas with more than 1.1 million acres (445,154 hectares) officially created or expanded—are inspiring additional expansions in new geographies. By highlighting Conserva Aves at COP15, we can develop additional relationships and further advance this key program to protect bird habitats in the region.