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AEWA, the largest agreement developed so far under the Convention
of Migratory Species (CMS), came into force on 1 November 1999,
when 20 contracting Parties met in Cape Town, South Africa. The
agreement covers 172 species of birds ecologically dependent on
wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle, including many
species of pelicans, storks, flamingos, swans, geese, ducks, waders,
gulls and terns.
The Antarctic Treaty is designed to protect the native birds, mammals,
and plants of the Antarctic. The Treaty was signed at Washington,
on 1 December 1959. In accordance with article XIII (5), the Treaty
came into force on 23 June 1961, upon deposit of instruments of
ratification by al the signatory States. Signatores include the
Governments of Argentina, Australia Belgium, Chile, the French Republic,
Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the Union of South Africa, the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.
(Convention on the Conservation of Wildlife and Natural
Habitats)
The Council of Europe Convention on the Conservation of European
Wildlife and Natural Habitats - also known as the Bern Convention
- was adopted on September 1979 in Bern (Switzerland) and came into
force on 1 June 1982. It has 40 Contracting Parties including 35
member States of the Council of Europe as well as as the European
Union. The aims of the Convention are "to conserve wild flora
and fauna and their natural habitats, especially those species and
habitats whose conservation requires the co-operation of several
States, and to promote such co-operation. Particular emphasis is
given to endangered and vulnerable species, including endangered
and vulnerable migratory species."
(the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora)
CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim
is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals
and plants does not threaten their survival.
The Convention on Biological Diversity is the first global agreement
on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
Over 150 governments signed the document in 1992 (at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil), and since then more than 175 countries have ratified the
agreement.
(also
known as CMS or the Bonn Convention)
CMS aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species
throughout their range. It is one of a small number of intergovernmental
treaties concerned with the conservation of wildlife and wildlife
habitats on a global scale. Since the Convention's entry into force
on 1 November 1983, its membership has grown steadily to include
79 (as of 1 February 2002) Parties from Africa, Central and South
America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
The Convention on Nature Protection and
Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere
To preserve all species and genera of native American fauna and
flora from extinction, and to preserve areas of extraordinary beauty,
striking geological formations or aesthetic, historic or scientific
value.
(Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears, I.L.M.
13:13-18, January 1974)
This 1973 agreement between the governments of Canada, Denmark,
Norway, USSR, and the United States recognizes the responsibilities
of the circumpolar countries for coordination of actions to protect
polar bears.
(The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially
as Waterfowl Habitats)
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is
an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national
action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise
use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 131 Contracting
Parties to the Convention, with 1148 wetland sites, totaling 96.3
million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of
Wetlands of International Importance.
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