Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, Acting Commissioner for Wildlife Conservation at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, has been elected Vice President of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) of wild animals.

In this role, Dr. Akankwasah will assist the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change of India and will chair the Committee of the Whole for the Conference, responsible for preparing all business for consideration by the plenary. Uganda will hold this position for the next three years.

About CMS

The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) is an international agreement that provides a global framework for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. It brings together the countries through which migratory species travel, known as Range States, and establishes a legal foundation for coordinated conservation efforts.

Adopted in 1979 and entering into force on November 1, 1983, the CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention, emphasizes the responsibility of states to protect migratory species within their national jurisdictions. Its goal is to conserve terrestrial, marine, and avian migratory species throughout their migratory ranges.

Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed in Appendix I of the Convention. Parties to the CMS work towards strict protection of these animals, restoration of their habitats, mitigation of migration obstacles, and control of other threats. The Convention establishes obligations for member states and promotes collaborative action among Range States.

Species that would significantly benefit from international cooperation are listed in Appendix II. This encourages Range States to create global or regional agreements tailored to specific conservation needs.

CMS serves as a framework for such agreements, which can range from legally binding treaties (referred to as Agreements) to less formal arrangements like Memoranda of Understanding, adaptable to the needs of particular regions. This ability to develop tailored conservation models across migratory ranges is a unique strength of the CMS.