On 23 June 1979, in Bonn, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is adopted — the UN treaty protecting species that cross national borders in their life cycles.

The Convention creates lists of endangered species (Appendix I) and species needing international agreements (Appendix II), requiring parties to conserve habitats and cooperate against unsustainable taking.

Opened for signature in Bonn, CMS enters into force on 1 November 1983. Under its umbrella later agreements and MoUs cover turtles, cetaceans, migratory birds and others.

The instrument responds to the insight that isolated national protection is not enough for species migrating thousands of kilometres.

For environmental law, 23 June 1979 marks a global framework for migratory wildlife, alongside CITES and the CBD.

The official text is published by the CMS Secretariat / UNEP.

The Bonn Convention of 23 June 1979 remains the pillar of migratory species conservation.

Image: migratory species / Bonn; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Treaty text: Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS text).