Transboundary Wildlife Conservation in a Changing Climate: Adaptation of the Bonn Convention and its Daughter Instruments to Climate Change

Abstract

Species migrating across boundaries represent the classic case for international cooperation in biodiversity conservation. Climate change is adding fresh challenges to such cooperation, on account of the shifting ranges and particular vulnerabilities to climate change of migratory wildlife. In view of the need to help migratory species adapt to climate change with minimal losses, this article performs an in-depth analysis of the present and potential future role in respect of climate adaptation of the main intergovernmental regime for migratory species conservation, the 1979 Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and its various daughter instruments.

Keywords: migratory species, climate change, adaptation, Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)