The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is releasing two reports ahead of two key global events: the Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution and the UN Food Systems Summit.
Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Freshwater Aquatic, Terrestrial and Avian Migratory Species in the Asia and Pacific Region
This study identifies the impacts of plastic pollution on land and freshwater migratory species protected by CMS.
The CMS Report is the result of a collaboration between CMS and the UN Environment Programme as part of the CounterMEASURE II project to identify sources and pathways of plastic pollution in river systems in Asia.
The two case studies focus on the Mekong and the Ganges rivers, which sit among the most polluted rivers globally.
The Report found that migratory species likely among the most vulnerable to plastic pollution through entanglement and ingestion.
Several recommendations point to the next steps to address the issue.
Impacts of Taking, Trade and Consumption of Terrestrial Migratory Species for Wild Meat
There are significant impacts globally from wild meat taking, trade and consumption on most terrestrial mammal species protected under CMS. The CMS Report states that migratory species are particularly threatened by wild meat use and that for most species, taking for domestic use has likely a greater impact than taking for international trade.
The study also focuses on the high risk of future zoonotic diseases due to continued human encroachment into wildlife habitats and further contact with pathogen populations through wild meat taking and trade.
It provides several recommendations, including greater internationally coordinated and consolidated approaches for regulating taking, trade and consumption of CMS species on the national level.
