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COVID-19 & MIGRATORY SPECIES

 

Facts and Information

about the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Migratory Wildlife

 

IPBES Launches New Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics

IPBES releases new report on links between the degradation of nature and increasing risk of pandemics

The report of a workshop on the links between the degradation of nature and increasing risk of pandemics has just been released.  The workshop was convened by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) with the participation of 22 leading experts from around the world.  The experts conclude that it will be possible to minimize the risks of future pandemics, but a seismic shift in approach from reaction to prevention will be required.

29 October 2020

Statement - The COVID-19 Challenge: Zoonotic Diseases and Wildlife

© Madhumita Das

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), of which the CMS Secretariat is a member, has issued a statement: “The COVID-19 Challenge: Zoonotic Diseases and Wildlife”.  The statement outlines four guiding principles to reduce the risk of animal diseases that can spread between animals and humans.  The principles aim to reduce the risk of future pandemics originating from wild animals, strengthening wildlife conservation and respecting livelihoods, food security and culture.

16 October 2020

Actions Needed to Protect Wild Species and Natural Habitats

Photo Credit: Alenka Skvarc, Source: UN

The UN Summit on Biodiversity was meant to galvanize commitments to stop the impending biodiversity crisis, and to underscore the need for effective actions in a new Global Biodiversity Framework.  Few could predict that it would take place in the middle of a deadly global pandemic -- which in all likelihood was brought about by human activities that exploit wild animals and nature.  

30 September 2020

UNEP Report – Preventing the Next Pandemic

UNEP Report – Preventing the Next Pandemic

The United Nations Environment Programme has just published a report: ‘Preventing the Next Pandemic – Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission’. Contributing authors include CMS Executive Secretary, Amy Fraenkel and CMS Scientific Adviser, Marco Barbieri, while Sergey Dereliev, the Technical Officer of AEWA and Suran Gazaryan of EUROBATS served as reviewers.

08 July 2020

Great Apes May Be Susceptible to COVID-19

© Dirck Byler

Experts have concluded that great apes may also be susceptible to COVID-19. Both the IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist Group and the IUCN Primate Specialist Group emphasize that, while there are no reported cases of great apes having been infected, it is safe to assume that they are susceptible to COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that great apes are susceptible to infection with human respiratory pathogens.  The Gorilla and the Chimpanzee are protected under the Convention on Migratory Species.

21 April 2020

Opinion: Far from Being our Enemies, Bats Need Protection now more than ever

Blasius' Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus blasii) © Mounir Abi-Said, Lebanon

As efforts are stepping up around the world to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there are alarming reports that some communities and governmental authorities are targeting the wrong enemy:  bats.  Not only will killing bats not stop COVID-19; it could also do irreparable harm to a mammal which poses no risk to human health in its natural environment, and which provides enormous benefits including pollination, seed dispersal and pest control.  

09 April 2020