India to host UN summit on migratory species in 2020

India will host the next UN global wildlife conservation and international species protection conference in 2020, it was announced on Saturday in the Philippine capital.

"#India to be the host of the next CMS Conference of the Parties #CMSCOP13! Officially announced at the closing #CMSCOP12 plenary, in Manila," the UN for Environment Programme tweeted.

An announcement in this regard was made on the last day of the week-long 12th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals or CMS COP12, the only international treaty devoted exclusively to migratory animal species.

Delegates from 91 countries participated in the CMS COP that is held once in three years. This was for the first time the summit was held in Asia.

"An intensive week of negotiations have resulted in a stronger commitment by countries to step up their efforts to conserve the planet's migratory wildlife," an official statement quoting CMS Executive Secretary Bradnee Chambers said.

The CMS COP12 in Manila has been the largest-ever meeting in the 38-year history of the convention, which is also known as the 'Bonn Convention' after the German city in which it was signed.

The summit saw some notable outcomes, including a vulture multi-species action plan to better protect 15 species of Old World Vulture in more than 120 countries, comprising four that are critically endangered in India.

Governments also agreed to cooperate on reducing the negative impacts of marine debris, noise pollution, renewable energy and climate change on migratory species.

Other mammals that will benefit from the additional protection include the African wild ass -- the most endangered wild equid in the world -- Przewalski's Horse and four species of Lasiurus Bat.

The proposal to add the Chinkara (Indian gazelle) was withdrawn.

Addressing the Plenary of COP12, UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim said the sustainable development goals were directed at both "people and planet".

He added that new technologies and political commitment could protect both the planet and bring development to people with the same policies.

--IANS

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