Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)

Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) also known as Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) or the Bonn Convention, is an international agreement that aims to conserve migratory species (terrestrial, aquatic and avian) throughout their ranges.

The Agreement was signed in 1979 in Bonn, West Germany and entered into force in 1983, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

There are 131 Member States to the Convention and the depositary is the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

India has been a party to the Convention since 1983.

A migratory species is one that cyclically and predictably crosses one or more national jurisdictional boundaries due to factors like food, temperature, shelter, etc.

Convention has two Appendices:

1) Appendix I lists migratory species that are endangered or threatened with extinction.

2) Appendix II lists migratory species which have an unfavourable conservation status and which require international agreements for their conservation and management.