An interim update to the landmark 2024 report on the State of the World’s Migratory Species reveals alarming trends threatening the biodiversity of the planet. The new findings disclose that nearly half of the migratory species populations—specifically 49% protected under the global Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)—are currently in decline. This represents a 5% increase in population declines in just two years, intensifying concerns for these species’ sustainability. More pressing still, 24% of these species now face the very real risk of extinction, a rise of 2% compared to previous assessments. This escalating threat underlines the urgency of coordinated international conservation efforts.
This sobering update is scheduled to be presented at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS, known as COP15, which convenes in Campo Grande, Brazil, from March 23 to 29, 2026. As a legally binding United Nations treaty, the CMS serves as a critical framework for the preservation of migratory wildlife that traverse multiple jurisdictions across continents. COP15 is anticipated to be one of the most significant global gatherings addressing wildlife conservation, attracting high-level political engagement, with host-country Brazil playing a pivotal role in steering ambitious initiatives to combat the biodiversity crisis.
Billions of migratory organisms—encompassing aquatic, avian, and terrestrial animals—embark on vast journeys across ecosystems, spanning lands, rivers, oceans, and skies. Their migrations are essential to planetary health, influencing processes such as pollination, nutrient transport, and ecosystem regulation. The ecological services they provide include pest control, carbon storage, and the sustenance of numerous human livelihoods and cultural traditions. Protecting these species requires a landscape-scale approach that transcends political borders, safeguarding the entire migratory corridors and critical habitats necessary for their survival.
The interim report, constructed with data from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and contributions from the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), delivers fresh insights into emerging risks and conservation successes. It meticulously tracks changes in the conservation status of species listed under CMS since the 2024 baseline, incorporating recent scientific literature reporting population trends and extinction risk alterations. This approach allows Parties to stay abreast of critical developments and recalibrate conservation priorities accordingly.
Noteworthy findings indicate that 26 CMS-listed species, including 18 migratory shorebirds, have experienced upward shifts in extinction risk categories, signaling deteriorating conditions. Conversely, seven species such as the saiga antelope, the scimitar-horned oryx, and the Mediterranean monk seal have shown improvement, evidencing the positive impact of focused conservation efforts. The identification of 9,372 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) essential for CMS-listed species marks a significant advancement in habitat conservation strategy, though it is troubling that nearly half (47%) of these KBAs currently lie outside protected and conserved area networks.
Amid the complexity of conservation challenges, progress has been made in understanding and mapping critical migratory routes, particularly for marine species such as sharks, rays, marine mammals, and turtles. Initiatives like the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration (GIUM), the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) system, and BirdLife International’s efforts to delineate marine flyways exemplify growing precision in spatial data that can guide effective policy and management interventions. These advances facilitate more targeted protection and restoration actions.
Still, the overall trajectory remains concerning. Key conservation indicators, such as the proportion of CMS-listed species with declining populations, are worsening. The dual pressures of overexploitation and habitat loss or fragmentation are identified as principal threats undermining migratory species survival. These stressors disrupt ecosystems, degrade habitat connectivity, and intensify vulnerability to additional anthropogenic impacts such as pollution and climate change.
CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel underscores the urgency: “The first global report was a wake-up call. This interim update shows that the alarm is still sounding. Some species are responding to concerted conservation action, but too many continue to face mounting pressures across their migratory routes. We must respond to this evidence with coordinated and effective international action.” This call to arms reflects a broader scientific and political consensus on the need to bridge knowledge with decisive, collaborative responses.
One of the most critical components of CMS is Appendix I, where migratory species facing danger of extinction across all or significant portions of their range are listed. Currently, 188 species fall under this category, spanning terrestrial mammals, aquatic mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. Range States are legally obligated to enact stringent protective measures, encompassing prohibitions on hunting or capturing, safeguarding and restoring key habitats, and mitigating barriers that hinder migration.
The forthcoming COP15 meeting also anticipates launching the Global Initiative on Taking of Migratory Species (GTI), a CMS-driven program aimed at regulating the legal, sustainable, and safe use of migratory species. This reflects emerging evidence that threats from domestic consumption of these species surpass those from international trade. Strengthening governance frameworks, legislative mechanisms, monitoring, and community engagement at the source of these threats is essential to prevent species declines from reaching irreversible tipping points.
The 2024 State of the World’s Migratory Species report laid a comprehensive scientific foundation, documenting significant migratory species declines over three decades, with migratory fish populations plummeting by 90% on average since the 1970s. The interim update builds on this foundation, providing timely, refined data to inform policy decisions at COP15 and beyond. It portrays the current state of migratory animals with increased granularity, ensuring responsiveness to emerging threats and conservation windows.
Ultimately, COP15 emerges as a pivotal decision-making forum where scientific evidence confronts political will. The challenge is clear: harness improved data, innovative conservation technologies, and broad stakeholder cooperation to reverse detrimental trends. As Fraenkel reflects, “We have a baseline. We have better tools. And we have growing public awareness. The question before governments at COP15 is straightforward: will we match this knowledge with the political will and investment needed to secure the future of the world’s migratory species?”
This critical juncture calls for unprecedented global collaboration and commitment. The survival of migratory species is not only vital for biodiversity but also for the health of ecosystems and the human communities intertwined with them. With high stakes and clear evidence, the momentum at COP15 may well define the trajectory of planetary life for decades to come.
Subject of Research: Conservation status and trends of migratory species; international efforts under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)
Article Title: State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Update Reveals Escalating Extinction Risks Ahead of COP15
News Publication Date: March 2026 (corresponding to the COP15 timeframe)
Web References:
Image Credits: CMS / WCMC
Keywords: Migratory species, biodiversity loss, conservation status, extinction risk, migratory corridors, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation, Key Biodiversity Areas, international treaty, CMS COP15, biodiversity crisis, wildlife conservation, marine biodiversity, migratory birds, species recovery
