NEWS – 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) adopted the Single Species Action Plan for the conservation of the Hawksbill Turtle

THE HAWKSBILL TURTLE

• Scientific name – Eretmochelys imbricata
• Critically endangered sea turtle species
• Known for its distinctive beak-like mouth and overlapping scutes (scales) on its carapace (shell)
• Found in warm tropical waters, often near coral reefs, rocky areas, and shallow coastal regions with wide distribution range, spanning the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
• The Hawksbill’s shell is composed of overlapping scutes that have a distinctive pattern resembling a tortoise shell. The scutes are often used to make “tortoiseshell” products, which unfortunately has led to illegal trade and contributed to the decline of the species.
• Conservation Status:
  • Critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
  • Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• Major threats to their population include habitat loss, illegal trade of their shells, accidental capture in fishing gear, climate change, and pollution
• Hawksbill Turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the health of coral reefs by controlling the population of certain invertebrates, such as sponges, which can become overabundant if not kept in check

INTERNATIONAL SINGLE SPECIES ACTION PLAN

• Key instrument developed under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
• Purpose: It is for the purpose of implementing coordinated measures to restore migratory waterbird species to a favourable conservation status
• International cooperation among the species’ range states is essential for the implementation of these action plans

CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (CMS)

• Also known as the Bonn Convention
• International treaty aimed at conserving migratory species and their habitats on a global scale
• Recognizes the need for international cooperation to address the threats faced by migratory animals as they traverse across national
• Signed on September 23, 1979, in Bonn, Germany, and entered into force on November 1, 1983
• Secretariat is based in Bonn, Germany
• CMS operates through a series of specialized agreements that focus on particular taxonomic groups or issues related to migratory species. These agreements are legally binding and provide a framework for conservation measures. Examples include the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).