Download United Nations Environmental Programme International Protection

United Nations Environmental Programme
International Protection of Migratory Species
United Kingdom
Migratory species are the 8,000 to 10,000 species that regularly travel
between two habitats and are important to the biodiversity of ecosystems (United
Nations. Environment Programme. Convention on Biological Diversity). Migratory
species move between habitats because of weather, mating, feeding, and nesting
patterns. Migratory species are significant to national economies since many
nations rely on migrating animals as sources of profit through hunting. However,
overhunting endangers animals. Overhunting occurs when hunters and fisherman
take massive amounts of game from populations of animals so species do not have
time to reproduce and maintain a normal population. For example, fruit bats
migrating from Malaysia to Indonesia and Thailand are illegally hunted while on
their route (“Bats without Borders”). In 2006, thousands of monarch butterflies
were blown east across the Atlantic Ocean as far as the United Kingdom, deviating
from the normal migration from Mexico to the United States. Changing climates
disrupt the monarch’s migration patterns and endanger the creatures in their new
environments. Other major threats to migratory species include habitat conversion,
overharvesting, and invasive species. Invasive species are animals that are not
indigenous to a region therefore have no predators. The lack of predators enables
the population to skyrocket uncontrollably, which creates competition with native
species resulting in the native species dying out (United Nations. Environment
Programme. Migratory Species and Climate Change).
Most migration patterns include a north-south movement, and connect
countries around the world. With the distribution of migratory animals from
Antarctica to the Arctic, migratory animals play an important role in the ecosystem
and the environment around the globe. Because of the distribution of migratory
species, there has to be multiple government entities to ensure that the migratory
species will be protected. Differing laws in nations have a major impact on a
migrating animal’s survival therefore both habitats must be protected to ensure
chances of survival (United Nations. Environment Programme. Convention on
Biological Diversity). Fences and dams prevent animals from continuing along their
route, and essentially they can seriously damage species. The loss of land is a
significant issue concerning migratory species. Fifteen percent, 2,000 million
hectares, of the world’s land were degraded in the year 1994. Since then, there has
been a continual loss of about five to six million hectares per year resulting in a loss
of biodiversity (United Nations. Environment Programme. 25 Years of Journey). To
protect migratory species, agencies such as the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) have tried to bring to light the many endangered species.
However, despite their efforts, the steady decrease in the loss of migratory species is
continuing. One such example is the Saiga antelope. The WWF (World Wildlife
Foundation) encouraged many nations to help protect the Saiga antelope by putting
it in its strictly protected rating. Because the regions where the Saiga antelope was
located, including, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, scientists thought that
human interactions would be minimal with these animals. However, the population
declined to only 30,000. This demonstrates that though international agreements
receive some support, they are not effective in assisting the animals. Previous
attempts to protect endangered species include the Endangered Species Act which
failed because of its radical approach to solving the issue (Jost).
The United Kingdom, in cooperation with the Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), works to ensure the protection of the
animals listed under Article I of the CMS’s constitution. CMS is an international
organization that recognizes endangered migratory species and labels them under
Article 1 of its constitution entitling it to protection by member nations of CMS. The
species protected by CMS are making a recovery, but climate change still halts the
redistribution of these species (“Migratory Species Get Conservation Boost at
International Wildlife Conference”). Climate change in the United Kingdom has
impacted migratory routes of creatures, especially birds. European blackcaps, birds
that traditionally spend the winter in Africa, now migrate westward to the United
Kingdom in large numbers; Chiffchaffs no longer migrate south but simply remain in
the United Kingdom for the winter (Desonie). The United Kingdom, in agreement
with the Kyoto Protocol, has already met its requirements of reducing energy
emissions to 87.5% of the 1990 level by 2010. In reality, the British government
was disappointed that it was not able to reach the personal goal of reducing its
emissions by twenty percent by 2010. From a political standpoint, the United
Kingdom wants to set an example that western nations can emulate (Black).
The numbers of long-distance migratory animals making the trip to Europe
are decreasing every year and instead staying in Africa. As a result of climate
change, caterpillars are emerging earlier therefore disrupting the bird’s migration
patterns. To protect migratory species, the United Kingdom requires the aid of
other nations and international organizations (Wilcove and Wikelski).
The United Kingdom proposes a plan to help further protect migratory
species. The plan, called The Big Three Plan, will ensure protection of migratory
species by focusing on three areas: preservation of habitats, control of hunting and
harvesting, and reduction of the impact of global warming. Nations are encouraged
to enforce hunting and harvesting limits set by CMS. These limits will ensure that
consumed species populations remain at a sustainable level as well as ensure
nations can hunt and harvest animals commercially. If limits and regulations are
not implemented, fish and other commercially significant animal supplies will drop
and national economies that depend on these animals as an economic resource will
collapse. In addition to these laws being enforced, the United Kingdom urges nations
to monitor the harvesting of commercial fishing to ensure that species are not being
fished to extinction. Illegal hunting of migratory species must be penalized as a
crime. Habitats must be set aside for migratory species in specified migration areas
ensuring that a safe haven is provided. For species that cross borders to migrate,
nations will cooperate to provide reserves. National parks will be regarded as
prime sources of species rehabilitation where species can live and reproduce. They
also serve as major roles in many national economies through ecotourism
encouraging protection of national parks.
Nations are requested to combat climate change by reducing the effects of
global warming on the animals. Developed nations are strongly encouraged to abide
by the Kyoto Protocol by reducing carbon dioxide and green house gas emissions.
Abiding by the Kyoto Protocol will ensure that nations protect migratory species
from changes in climate that affect their feeding, breeding, and nesting patterns. In
the long term, nations will reverse the adverse affects of climate change and
reintroduce species whose populations declined as well as restore balance to the
ecosystems through breeding programs.
As part of the Big Three Plan, the United Kingdom proposes that an
international treaty be created to protect the world’s largest migration routes.
Previous research will establish what regions of land and ocean need to be
protected by the international community. As part of the treaty, scientists would
analyze the migration routes to prevent dangers such as fences and dams from
obstructing their migration. The final part of the plan would include an incentive
program to farmers and other landowners. Farmers would obtain monetary
incentives to allow animals to migrate through their land. The country itself would
provide the small incentive to the farmer. The only way to combat the loss of
migratory animals is to give them their natural ecosystem (Wilcove). The Big Three
Plan covers all the issues faced in trying to protect migratory species internationally
and ensures the survival of migratory species by protecting habitats, keeping
populations at a sustainable level, and reducing the affects of climate change.
Works Cited
"Bats Without Borders." Science Daily. Web. 14 Sept. 2009.
Black, Richard. “Britain Misses the Climate Bus.” BBC News. BBC, 28 Mar. 2006. Web.
20 Sept. 2009. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4851418.stm>.
Desonie, Dana. "Effects of Climate Change on the Biosphere." Science Online. Facts on
File. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.fofweb.com>.
Jost, Kenneth. “Protecting Endangered Species.” The CQ Researcher. 19 Apr. 1996.
Online. CQ Press. 29 Sept. 2009.
"Migratory Species Get Conservation Boost at International Wildlife Conference Migratory Species Get Conservation Boost at International Wildlife
Conference - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) --." United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
“Selected International Environmental Agreements.” The World Factbook. CIA, n.d.
Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/appendix/appendix-c.html>.
Tregaskis, Shiona. “Humpback Whale Found Dead In Thames.” Guardian. N.p., n.d.
Web. 20 Sept. 2009.
United Nations. Environment Programme. 25 Years of Journey. Bonn: Committee on
Migratory Species, 2004. Convention on Migratory Species. Web. 20 Sept.
2009.
<http://www.cms.int/news/PRESS/.../CMS_Bulletin_25th_Ann_en.pdf>.
United Nations. Environment Programme. Convention on Biological Diversity. By
Gerard Boere, et al. Montreal: Convention on Migratory Species, 2001.
Convention on Biological Diversity. Web. 20 Sept. 2009.
United Nations. Environment Programme. Migratory Species and Climate Change.
Illus. Karina Waedt. Comp. Heidrun Frisch. Ed. Robert Vagg and Helene
Hepworth. N. pag. Commitee of Migratory Species on Wild Animals, n.d. Web.
20 Sept. 2009.
Wilcove, David S. “Animal Migration an Endangered Phenomenon?” Issues in
Science and Technology Online. N.p., 2008. Web. 20 Sept. 2009.