CAMPO GRANDE, BRAZIL, March 29, 2026—Governments meeting at the 15th Conference of the Parties (CoP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) have adopted a sweeping set of conservation measures, marking a significant step forward for migratory species and their habitats worldwide.

Said Susan Liberman, Vice President for International Policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and head of the WCS delegation at CMS CoP15:

“The decisions adopted in plenary today include strengthened protections for priority species, new global initiatives to address illegal and unsustainable use, and major advances in the conservation of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity. Together, these outcomes underscore the growing recognition that coordinated international action is essential to halt and reverse the global decline of migratory species. Significantly, they reflect a strong commitment of governments to finding solutions through multilateralism.

“Migratory species are among the most visible indicators of ecological integrity—and among the most vulnerable. The decisions adopted here reflect the power of science-based policy and international cooperation. Now, governments must act on these commitments to secure real conservation outcomes on the ground and in the water. The species that symbolizes that the most is the jaguar; the meeting was held in the Pantanal, within the range of the magnificent jaguar, and adopted a strong resolution promoting increased collaboration and actions for this iconic species.

“WCS played a leading role throughout CoP15, supporting science-based proposals and documents across multiple taxa and ecosystems. Overall, the outcomes of CMS CoP15 highlight both progress and urgency. While there are advances and important steps forward, many migratory species are approaching critical thresholds due to threats such as habitat fragmentation and destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. These decisions represent both a warning and a pathway forward. When countries come together with a shared purpose and in the spirit of collaboration, through multilateralism, they can deliver meaningful conservation at scale—but success will depend on sustained implementation and cooperation.”

Read Lieberman’s closing statement at the Plenary HERE.

Key Species Outcomes at CMS CoP15

Governments agreed to stronger protections for a range of threatened migratory species, including:

·       Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) — Listed on Appendix I and II, requiring strict protection and cross-border freshwater conservation and collaboration.

·       Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) — Listed on Appendix I and II, requiring strict protection and coordinated action across its range in Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus, South Asia, and Central Asia.

·       Spotted sorubim, catfish, (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) — Listed on Appendix II, supporting conservation of this migratory freshwater fish.

·       Thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus, A. superciliosus, A. vulpinus) — Listed on Appendix I, requiring  strict protection, reflecting severe global declines and the urgent need for full protection, and their endangered status.

·       Great and scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran, S. lewini) — Listed on Appendix I, requiring strict protection, recognizing escalating threats from overexploitation and their endangered status.

·       Patagonian narrownose smoothhound — Listed on Appendix II, reinforcing regional fisheries cooperation.

The listings on Appendix I provide the highest level of protection, requiring strict protection from exploitation and other conservation measures, while Appendix II promotes international cooperation across migratory ranges.

Jaguars

Parties adopted a new, strong action-oriented resolution on the jaguar, promoting collaboration and actions to promote the conservation of the species and habitat connectivity across its range in the Americas.

Concerted Actions and Targeted Measures

Governments also advanced key Concerted Actions, including:

·       Sand tiger shark — Strengthening coordinated conservation and recovery efforts.

·       Manta rays — Advancing international collaboration on conservation (co-proposed by WCS).

Addressing Illegal and Unsustainable Use

A major new global initiative was adopted to tackle illegal and unsustainable take of migratory species, signaling a coordinated international effort to improve enforcement, combat illegal take and over-exploitation, and promote sustainable management practices for migratory species.

Breakthroughs for Freshwater Species

CMS CoP15 delivered important progress for freshwater biodiversity, including:

·       Adoption of a Regional Action Plan for Amazonian migratory catfish, supporting river connectivity, food security, and basin-wide conservation.

·       New scientific findings highlighting that hundreds of migratory freshwater fish species may qualify for CMS protection, underscoring the urgency for expanded action.

CMS, a United Nations Environment Program–administered treaty with more than 130 Parties, provides the global framework for conserving migratory species that cross national borders and their habitats. The decisions taken at CoP15 are expected to shape conservation priorities for years to come, with far-reaching implications for biodiversity, ecosystem health, and sustainable development worldwide.

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