Bonn Convention (CMS)

The Bonn Convention, formally the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), is a UN Environment Programme treaty adopted in Bonn in 1979 and in force since 1983. It conserves migratory species across their ranges through two appendices: Appendix I lists migratory species threatened with extinction, which parties must strictly protect, and Appendix II lists species needing coordinated international agreements. Marine listings include whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and seabirds. CMS spawns regional daughter agreements such as ASCOBANS for small cetaceans, providing the legal basis for cross-border action on migratory marine fauna.