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🗞️ Driving the news: The 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) concluded with significant progress, including the addition of 14 new species for international protection and the launch of various initiatives aimed at the conservation of migratory species and their habitats
• The conference marked a historic moment as the first UN COP held in Central Asia and since the COVID-19 pandemic

🔭 The context: The CMS, a global treaty under the United Nations, aims to conserve migratory species and their habitats across borders
• The conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, brought together over 2,000 participants, highlighting the urgency to address the decline of migratory species, with 22% threatened with extinction
• The newly listed species and the adoption of concerted actions and multispecies action plans underscore the international commitment to reversing these trends

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Migratory species play crucial roles in ecosystems, such as pest control, seed dispersal, and pollination
• The conference's outcomes, including initiatives on deep-sea mining and ecological connectivity, aim to safeguard these species, thereby maintaining the biodiversity and ecological balance essential for a healthy planet
• The focus on cross-cutting issues like climate change and habitat loss addresses the broader environmental impacts affecting these species and their migration routes

⏭️ What's next: The conference set a precedent for future conservation efforts, with new species listings and the adoption of resolutions on pressing environmental challenges
• However, the effectiveness of these measures depends on the implementation by member states and the integration of conservation needs into broader economic and policy frameworks
• The CMS's actions highlight the need for continued international cooperation and more comprehensive strategies to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss.

💬 One quote: "Migratory species face a cocktail of threats because they are moving through different habitats," said Dr. Rob Cooke from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

📈 One stat: 22% of all migratory species listed under the CMS are threatened with extinction.

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