By Abdullahi Lukman
Nearly half of the world’s migratory species populations protected under a United Nations wildlife treaty are declining, while almost a quarter now face extinction, according to a new interim report released ahead of a major global conservation meeting.
The update to the 2024 State of the World’s Migratory Species report shows that 49 percent of populations covered by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) are decreasing—an increase of five percentage points in just two years.
It also found that 24 percent of the species now face extinction, up two percent from the previous assessment.
The findings will be presented at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the CMS, known as CMS COP15, scheduled to take place in Campo Grande, Brazil, from March 23 to 29, 2026.
The meeting is expected to bring together global leaders and conservation experts to discuss urgent measures to protect migratory wildlife.
Prepared for CMS by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and other partners, the report analyses the latest scientific data on migratory species and highlights emerging conservation trends.
It draws on updated information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as well as newly published research on population trends and extinction risks.
According to the report, 26 CMS-listed species—including 18 migratory shorebirds—have moved into higher extinction-risk categories since 2024.
However, conservation efforts have helped improve the status of seven species, including the Saiga antelope, Scimitar-horned oryx and Mediterranean monk seal.
The study also identified 9,372 Key Biodiversity Areas critical for CMS-listed species, though nearly 47 percent of these habitats remain outside protected or conserved areas.
Despite some progress, the report warns that major threats—including overexploitation and habitat loss—continue to drive population declines across migratory routes that often span multiple countries and continents.
CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel said the update reinforces the urgent need for coordinated global action. “The first global report was a wake-up call. This interim update shows that the alarm is still sounding,” she said, noting that conservation successes remain limited compared with the scale of ongoing threats.
The report also highlights improvements in mapping migratory routes and habitats through initiatives such as the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration, the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean system and projects by BirdLife International to identify major marine flyways.
Among the 188 species listed under CMS Appendix I—those considered at greatest risk—are terrestrial and aquatic mammals, birds, reptiles and fish that require strict protection measures, including habitat restoration and bans on hunting or capture.
Delegates at CMS COP15 are expected to discuss new measures, including the launch of a Global Initiative on Taking of Migratory Species aimed at ensuring that any use of migratory wildlife is legal, sustainable and safe.
The interim findings build on the landmark 2024 report, which assessed 1,189 CMS-listed species and revealed that migratory fish populations have declined by about 90 percent since the 1970s.
The new update is intended to provide governments with the latest scientific evidence before the next full global assessment, expected in 2029.
