3 species from India among 10 to be on global endangered list

NEW DELHI: Ten endangered species of migratory animals/birds from across the globe, including three from India (Great Indian Bustard, Asian Elephant and Bengal Florican), will be included in a special global list for protection under the ‘Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species’ (CMS) — an international treaty to protect such species throughout their range countries.


Different countries have submitted their proposals to a UN body which will decide on a range of issues affecting migratory species at a conference in Gandhinagar from February 15 to 22.


CMS listing makes member countries responsible to work towards protecting these animals/birds, conserving their habitats and controlling other factors that might endanger them. Currently, 173 species from across the globe are listed in CMS Appendix I, which deals with migratory species threatened with extinction.

This triennial UN conference on conservation of migratory species of wild animals (COP13) will be opened by PM Narendra Modi on February 17, marking India’s commitment to tackle loss of biodiversity and protection of vulnerable species. India has been member of the convention since 1983.

“The imperative to act has never been more urgent — an estimated one million species (plant and animal) are threatened with extinction, including migratory species listed under CMS,” said Joyce Msuya, deputy executive director of UN Environment Programme.

“This conference provides us with a key opportunity for collective action, for setting the pace commensurate with the scale of the problem. The CMS COP13 kicks off the ‘super year’ for biodiversity, when we all come together to change our relationship with nature, including through the adoption of a new global biodiversity framework (in Kunming, China, during 15th UN Biodiversity Conference in October),” she said.

Besides three species proposed by India, the other seven to be considered include Jaguar (proposed by Costa Rica, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay), White-tip Shark (Brazil), Little Bustard (EU nations), Urial (Tajikistan, Iran and Uzbekistan), Antipodean Albatross (New Zealand, Australia and Chile), Smooth Hammerhead Shark (Brazil) and Tope Shark (EU nations).

Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international cooperation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention. A total of 518 species are listed in Appendix II, but this listing also includes entire species groups including sub-species. Besides, many of those in Appendix I are also listed in Appendix II.

Other key proposals on the agenda of COP13 include how to minimise impact of light (artificial light) pollution, plastic pollution and impact of energy and other infrastructure on migratory species. The agenda said artificial light was increasing worldwide, affecting insects and migratory species such as bats, birds and marine turtles.

Representative from 110 countries will also discuss adoption of dedicated actions to protect 12 species, including Gangetic River Dolphin, Gabon and Giraffe. India has prepared a concerted action proposal to protect Gangetic River Dolphin.

A global assessment report of an intergovernmental body on biodiversity had in May last year flagged how one million species (plant and animal), including migratory species listed under CMS, are at risk of extinction. Total estimated number of animal and plant species on earth stand at 8 million (including 5.5 million of insect species). Estimated 5.9 million out of this are terrestrial (land) species while remaining 2.1 million are aquatic (fresh water and marine) and amphibian (combination of aquatice and terrestrial) species.