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The IPCC Bureau will produce the full assessment report,  synthesis reports, methodology reports, and a special report as part of its seventh assessment cycle (AR7) 

IPCC Elected an IPCC Bureau to Initiated Its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7)

• The IPCC elected an IPCC bureau to initiated its seventh assessment cycle (AR7)
• The bureau members met for the first time in Turkey to discuss budgeting issues, timelines for the various reports, and the work programme.
• Methodology reports: It will be on the topics of short-lived climate forcers (like methane) and carbon removal and will be published in 2027.
• The bureau also decided to revise the technical guidelines on impacts and adaptation
• Timeline of the AR7: The decision regarding the timeline is pending and will be taken at the 61st session of IPCC.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 

• It is a United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
• Formation: IPCC was created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988
• Member states: It has 195 Member countries currently including India
• Objective: It was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as putting forward practical adaptation and mitigation options.
• Governing Structure: The IPCC functions with a Secretariat and Plenary at the top.
  • IPCC bureau: It  produces the full assessment report,  synthesis reports, the methodology reports, and a special report.
  • Working Group I: It deals with The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change

• • Working Group II: It deals with Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and VulnerabilityWorking Group III: It deals with Mitigation of Climate Change. Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: It was created to develop a methodology for the calculation and reporting of national greenhouse gas emissions and removals. 

• IPC Assessment Reports:

• • About: It contains the present status  of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, how it will impact the future with associated risks, and  indicates the future course of action.
  • The Synthesis report: It  is prepared containing contributions from each Working Group and  any Special Reports prepared in that assessment cycle. The IPCC also produces Methodology Reports that provide practical guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories.
  • Reports:  IPCC has produced six assessment reports, three special reports, and methodology reports till date.

Global Stocktake

• It is  a mechanism to measure collective progress, identify gaps, and chart a better course of climate action.
• It is conducted every 5 years to  assess the world’s progress towards the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise by 1.50C of the  UNFCCC.
•  First GST: It  started in 2022 and ended at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC, Dubai in 2023 with the  second GST  due in 2028.
  •  Member  countries have requested the IPCC to publish its AR7 assessment reports before 2028 so as to measure the progress against the state of the planet.

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Recently, OpenAI, the creator of  chatbot ChatGPT, has introduced a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) model named Sora OpenAI.

About Sora OpenAI: 

Sora OpenAI in Japanese means sky, an imagery that evokes ‘limitless creative potential’. 

• SORA OpenAI is a diffusion based AI model developed by OpenAI, specialising in transforming textual prompts into vivid and realistic video scenes. 

• • It leverages a diffusion model and transformer architecture to understand and simulate the physical world in motion.
• It is currently unavailable for general use as OpenAI is focusing on implementing safety protocols and gathering feedback from visual artists and filmmakers.

• Features of Sora OpenAI

• • Text to Video Capabilities: It can create videos lasting up to one minute, ensuring exceptional visual quality while following user instructions. 
  • Generating Complex Scenes: It crafts elaborate scenes featuring multiple characters, diverse motions, and precise details of both the subjects and backgrounds. 
  • Create Dynamic Impressions and EngAgeing Characters:  Proficient in comprehending real-world object functionalities and accurately interpreting instructions.
  • Multishot Avatar Production: It showcases the ability to generate multiple shots within a single video, maintaining consistency in characters and visual style.

• • Filters : To block prompt requests that mention violent, sexual or hateful language, as well as images of well-known personalities.

Limitations of Sora OpenAI

• Limited Dataset: If the dataset lacks certain types of scenes or visual variations, it may produce videos that lack realism or exhibit strange artefacts.
• Complex Scenes: Generating realistic videos becomes increasingly challenging when scenes involve complex interactions, intricate details, or dynamic elements.
• Temporal Consistency: It might encounter difficulties in ensuring smooth transitions and coherence between consecutive frames, leading to jarring or unnatural-looking sequences. 
• Real-time Performance: Depending on the hardware and computational resources available, generating videos with Sora in real-time may pose challenges. 
• Ethical Considerations: In accurately discerning between real and manipulated content could exacerbate these concerns if not carefully addressed. 
• Domain Specificity: Its performance may vary across different domains or types of videos. It may excel in certain contexts while struggling in others.

News Source : The Hindu

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Recently, A confirmed case of Bubonic plague was reported in Oregon, USA.

About Bubonic Plague

• It is a severe bacterial infection caused by a Yersinia pestis, a Zoonotic bacteria (that can spread between animals & people) which is usually found in small mammals and their fleas.
• Name Derived – from the Swollen lymph nodes (buboes), that it induces.
• Ways of Transmission (According to  WHO): 
  • The Bite of infected Vector Fleas, 
  • Unprotected Contact with infectious bodily fluids or contaminated materials (like bitten by an infected rat) and 
  • The Inhalation of Respiratory droplets/small particles from patients with pneumonic plague.
• Incubation Period: 2  to 8 days.
• Symptoms: 
• • Swollen lumps in the lymph nodes.
• Birth to Other Serious Diseases: Respiratory Failure, Gangrene, Meningitis, Sepsis
• Fatality Rate: 30% to 60%
• Treatment: 
  • It can be effectively treated and cured using antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, Gentamicin, and Doxycycline. 
  • Without treatment, it can result in fatality.
• Current Endemic Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Peru.

Current Status of Bubonic Plague

• Worldwide Cases: The WHO reports between 1,000 to 2,000 cases of plague annually. 
• Global Distribution: Cases in Africa, Asia, South America, and certain regions of North America. However, since the 1990s, most cases have been reported in Africa.

Deadliest Plagues in History

• The Plague of Justinian (541-542): Originating in the Byzantine Empire, this pandemic persisted in waves until the middle of the 8th century. 
• The Black Death (1346-1353): This devastating pandemic claimed the lives of at least one-third of Europe’s population, recurring until the 19th century. 
• The Third Plague Pandemic (1855 onwards): Originating in Yunnan, China, this bubonic plague pandemic spread globally, resulting in over 12 million deaths in India and China alone.

Also Read: 

• World’s First Vaccine For Chikungunya Approved
• GEMCOVACOM: India’s First MRNA Vaccine
• First Human Trials For Nipah Virus Vaccine
• India’s First Indigenously Developed Hepatitis A Vaccine

News Source: Indian Express

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Fresh protests have emerged from the Senegalese civil society platforms against the postponement of the scheduled presidential elections. 

• Senegal’s President Maky Sall postponed the Presidential elections due on February 25, weeks before the end of his second and final term.

About Senegal

Location

• It is a West African country.
• It is located in the Northern and Western hemispheres of the Earth.
• It lies in the Sahel region and forms a transitional zone between the arid Sahara (desert) to the north and the belt of humid savannas to the south.

Important Ports of Senegal

• Its Coastline stretches along the Atlantic Ocean, and has significant ports like Dakar, Kaolack, Ziguinchor and Saint-Louis.

Neighbouring Countries: 

• It is bordered by four countries; Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau and its western border lies  with the Atlantic Ocean.
• Senegal also shares its borders with Gambia, which is geographically enclaved within Senegal. 

Strategic Water Bodies

• Senegal River: The river forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania. 
• Other Rivers:
• • Saloum and Casamance 

News Source: The Hindu

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Advanced Genomic Techniques used in ancient DNA studies have provided extraordinary insights into the genetic makeup of our ancestors.

What Are Genomic Techniques?

• Genomic techniques are a bunch of different methods scientists use to study all the DNA in an organism. 
• This includes figuring out the order of the DNA building blocks, finding where specific genes are, and understanding how genes work. 
• These approaches involve processes such as sequencing, mapping, and analyzing DNA at the molecular level. 

Significance of Studying Ancestral DNA

• Genetic Disease in Ancient Humans: 

  • The use of sequences of aDNA has helped to know about genetic diseases such as Down’s syndrome, Klinefelter’s syndrome and Turner syndrome.
    • For Example: Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute discovered early cases of Turner syndrome, Klinefelter’s syndrome, and Down syndrome in ancient British aDNA from the Iron Age.

• Lifestyles of Ancient Humans: 

• • Ancient humans’ lifestyles can be understood by studying genetic remains like birch tree pitch.
  • Birch pitch was commonly used by ancient humans to fix tools and arrowheads.Microbes found in birch pitch can tell us about the oral health of the people who chewed it.

• Creation and Development of Stone Tools: 

• • Studying ancient DNA can give us important clues about how stone tools were made.
  • In the 1930s, a cave was excavated in Ranis, Germany, where ancient stone tools were discovered.
    • The cave  gave signs when modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans lived together.
    • The DNA sequencing of the  bones found in this site showed they belonged to Homo sapiens or modern humans.

• Cardiovascular Disease: 

• • A research team from Italy, Germany, and the U.S. analysed genetic variants linked to cardiovascular diseases in modern humans.
  • This research showed that  ancient people also faced  a risk of developing cardiovascular disease and calcified heart vessels. 
    • It shows that this disease has been widespread in human populations for at least 5,000 years.

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, the Annual Report 2022-23 of the NCSC (National Commission of Schedule Castes) has been submitted to the President of India. 

Key Highlights From the NCSC Report 

• Key Recommendation From NCSC 

• • The report may include recommendations for the measures required to be taken by the Union and the States for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes.

About NCSC: National Commission For Scheduled Castes

• It is a Constitutional Body under Article 338 of the Indian Constitution.
• Mandate: To provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests.
• Function: The Commission has to present to the President annually and at other times as the Commission may deem fit.
• Composition: It comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and three additional Members.
• Appointment: By the President with a warrant under his hand and seal.
  • The conditions of service and office tenure are also determined by the President.
• Historical Background: Initially, the Indian Constitution provided for the appointment of a Special Officer under Article 338 which was designated as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Amendments & Changes: 
  • 65th Amendment Act, 1990: It replaced the one-member system with a multi-member National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • 89th Amendment Act, 2003: The erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions from the year 2004- National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
  • 102nd Amendment Act, 2018: It provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). Until 2018, NCSC was also required to discharge similar functions regarding the other backward classes (OBCs). 

News Source: PIB

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The Home minister paid tribute to freedom fighter Vasudev Balwant Phadke on his death anniversary. 

About Vasudev Balwant Phadke: Biography

• Father of the Indian Armed Rebellion: He was one of the first revolutionaries of India, also known as the ‘Father of the Indian Armed Rebellion.

• Inspired by: 
  • Speeches of leaders like Dadabhai Nauroji and M G Ranade inspired Phadke.
• Contribution to the Indian Freedom Struggle: Vasudev Balwant Phadke was the first Indian leader to go from village to village to preach the mantra of swaraj and to encourage the people to rebel against foreign rule. 
  • In 1879, along with his associates Gopal Hari Karve, Vishnu Gadre, Ganesh Dedhar, and others, Phadke ji formed one of the first revolutionary armies of India.
• Established Poona Native Institution (now known as the Maharashtra Education Society): Phadke ji along with Waman Prabhakar Bhave and Laxman Narhar Indapurkar, set up the Poona Native Institution in 1874. 
• Passing away: 1883

Factors that Influenced Vasudev Balwant Phadke to Rebel Against the Britishers

• Deccan famine of the late 1870s: The famine combined with the government’s increased revenue demands added to people’s misery.
• Maharashtra famine: In 1886-87, Phadke revolutionary group issued a proclamation condemning the government’s economic policies.
• Latent anger against the Britishers: Vasudev Balwant Phadke resented his bosses for denying his requests for leave to be with his dying mother and later, to attend rituals for her first death anniversary
• Public Organisations like Sarvajanik Sabha in Pune: provided a platform where people could discuss the state of the country.
• Influence of Lahuji Raghoji Salve: Salve gave arms training and generated feelings of patriotism in students’ minds.
  • Apart from Phadke, Salve’s student’s included Tilak and Mahatma Phule.
• Tribal Support: He found support among the nomadic tribes residing near Pune, the Ramoshis, Kolis, Bhils and Dhangars, to organise a revolt.  With a 300-strong army, he began his armed struggle.

Conclusion

In the short span of his life, Vasudev Balwant Phadke paved the way for an organised armed movement that would fight for the freedom of India.

News Source: AIR

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti / Shivaji Jayanti, is celebrated on February 19 every year. 

• 2024 marks the  394th birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Biography

• Birth: Shivaji Maharaj was named Shivaji Bhosale and was a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. 
  • He was born at Shivneri Fort in 1630.
• Founder of Maratha Empire: He carved an enclave from the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur that marked the beginning of the Maratha Empire.

• Titles: Chhatrapati, Shakakarta, Kshatriya Kulavantas and Haindava Dharmodhhaarak.
• Capital: Raigad Fort; he ruled from there until his death.
• Hill forts: He seized the Torna fort, Raigad and Kondana forts, etc. He also repaired numerous forts in strategic locations.  
• Naval Force: He ensured that a strong naval presence was established along the Konkan coast to protect the sea trade of the Maratha empire. (The Indian Navy’s new ensign draws inspiration from Shivaji)
• Revenue administration: He implemented the Ryotwari system. The revenue system was based on the Kathi system, in which every piece of land was measured by Rod or Kathi.
  • Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were sources of income in Maratha administration:
  • Chauth referred to 1/4th of the standard paid to Marathas as a safeguard against Shivaji’s forces raiding non-Maratha territories.
  • Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of 10% demanded from areas outside of the kingdom.
• Military administration: He established an efficient army and paid soldiers in cash and high-ranking officials through jagir grants (Saranjam).
  • Infantry, Cavalry, and Navy comprised Shivaji’s army.
  • Groups of highly mobile, peasant pastoralists (kunbis) provided the backbone of the Maratha army.
• Self-rule for Hindus/Hindavi Swarajya: He could unite diverse communities under the banner of Hindavi Swarajya (self-rule for Hindus) enabling him to carve out a formidable empire in the Deccan region.

Significance of Shivaji Jayanti

• Lays Emphasis on administration and Governance: His governance was marked by a decentralised administrative system, empowered local chieftains, and promotion of local self-governance.
•  Role of Jayanti in Indian Freedom Struggle: The festival celebrations began in 1870 in Pune with Mahatma Phule and were later championed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. 
  • Tilak highlighted the contributions of Shivaji, emphasising courage, resilience, and perseverance to influence people in the face of adversity.

Reference: Livemint

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This article is based on the news “NITI Aayog Releases Position Paper– Senior Care Reforms” which was published in the PIB. NITI Aayog recently released a position paper titled “Senior Care Reforms in India: Reimagining the Senior Care Paradigm” discussing the current trends, challenges and reforms for the ageing population.

Population Ageing Trends in India and Global

• Ageing In India: Senior citizens in India, who currently represent over 10% of the population, are projected to grow to 158 million by 2025 and 319 million by 2050, marking a significant demographic shift.
• Global Ageing Trends: According to WHO, the global population aged 60+ is expected to double from 12% in 2015 to 22% by 2050.

• Dependency Ratio Changes: India’s total dependency ratio is forecasted to decrease until 2025 due to a growing working-age population initially, then increase to 61.22 by 2050.

Key Findings of Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) 2021 Report

It was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is a full-scale national survey and a seminal study on the status of the ageing population in India.

• Health

  • Physical health: Around 75% of the elderly have one or more chronic diseases and 40% have one or more disabilities.
  • Mental Health: In India, 20% of the elderly face mental health challenges, with undiagnosed depression likely being much higher than reported, suggesting a significant hidden burden.
  • Functional Abilities: Among elderly citizens, 11% face impairments, 24% have daily living activity limitations, 58% struggle with mobility tasks, and 43% rely on aids or supportive devices.

• Social

• • Demography: The sex ratio of India’s elderly population stands at 1065 with women making up 58% of the population.
    • A dependency ratio of 62 per 100 working-age individuals highlights a significant reliance on the younger workforce.
  • Knowledge and Awareness: 12% are aware of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 and around 28% are aware of any senior concession.
    • Additionally, nearly a quarter face challenges in providing necessary documentation for these services.
  • Food Security: Food insecurity among India’s elderly is rising, with nearly 6% consuming less or skipping meals, and 5.3% not eating despite hunger.

• Financial and Economic Status Of Senior Citizens in India

• • Employment: Approximately 50% of male and 22% of female senior citizens in India are employed, with a higher work participation rate in rural areas.
  • Pension Facility: 78% of the elderly population without a pension.
  • Access to healthcare finance: Only 18% of India’s seniors have health insurance, facing an average out-of-pocket expense of ₹31,933 for private healthcare, with health costs being a leading cause of debt among 26% in urban areas.
• Digital Wellbeing: Access to mobile phones is limited for senior citizens, with only 13 % of senior citizens having ever used the internet.

Impact of Ageing Population

• Lack of Support System for the Elderly: The increase in the average age of the population, shift towards smaller nuclear families and increased migration due to work, education, and marriage have left the elderly behind with scarce or practically no support system.
• Ageing-related Stereotypes and Stigma: Ageing is increasingly viewed negatively with the elderly often being viewed as a burden in society. This contributes to social isolation and mental health issues among the elderly.
• Economic Impact: The growing number of older adults leads to a decline in  their contribution to the labour force.
  • Also, the social benefits extended by the elderly population through their unpaid work, are neither recognized nor quantified.
• Digital Divide: A considerable gap in digital literacy among senior citizens has led to hindrances in accessing several online services. 

Challenges Faced By Senior Citizens Care System

• Health Domain Fragmented approach to Service Delivery

• • Fragmented services provided by various small-scale or unorganised providers like nursing agencies and physiotherapists result in suboptimal care.

• • Healthcare Gaps for the Elderly: Lack of availability of targeted immunisation programs, mental health services, assistive devices, home-based care services etc are significant healthcare gaps for the elderly.
  • Eldercare Infrastructure Gap: There is a Mismatch between the demand and supply of care & support institutions and a high dependence on the private sector for Tertiary care services.
  • Paucity of trained manpower for the healthcare needs of seniors: There is insufficient focus on geriatric healthcare and a limited senior care workforce.
  • Limited financing of elderly health care: Senior people have long-term healthcare needs with high health expenditures. Furthermore, senior health care insurance has a very shallow penetration (18%).

• Social Domain

  • Narrow and inadequate social security system: Senior citizens have a limited scope of social security nets and are vulnerable to gaps in implementing social security schemes & programs.
  • Limited awareness of rights and provisions: Low awareness regarding social security schemes. Only 12% of elderly people know the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 and the Annapurna scheme.
  • Changing family structure and loss of social support: Change in family structure has led to mental, physical, social, and financial insecurity among elderly people.
  • Social Inequality: Rural-Urban regional divide, gender-based disparity & inequality and caste-based discriminations also determine the elderly care facilities.
  • Inadequate elderly- friendly infrastructure: Lack of accessible physical infrastructure such as accessible transportation, disabled-friendly toilets, accessible buildings, wheelchairs, ramps, wide doors is a major barrier to the social inclusion of elderly people.

• Economic Domain

  • Need for a universal and comprehensive financial support system: Less than 20% of the elderly population is covered with any health insurance and nearly 78% of them remain without any pension cover.
  • Insufficient financial literacy and awareness about available financial schemes: Financial illiteracy and digital divide leads to reduced awareness about financial support schemes.
  • Deficient support in lifetime financial planning: Many adults reach old age without sufficient savings, insurance, or public or private pensions to live on or to fund long-term care. 70% are dependent on family for everyday maintenance.

• Digital Domain

• • Insufficient digital access: Senior citizens comprise almost 8.6% of the country’s population, and less than 3% are Internet users
  • Paucity of digital training modules for the elderly: A Help age India analysis highlights that urban elderly people, despite having access to smartphones, do not know how to use them beyond the basics.

Action Plan for Development of Senior Citizens Care Support System

• Health Empowerment and Inclusion

  • Health Literacy Enhancement: Improving health knowledge among seniors and their caregivers.
  • Geriatric Healthcare Strengthening: Integrating elderly care within existing healthcare frameworks, including specialised services.
  • Infrastructure and Workforce Development: Upgrading healthcare facilities to cater to elderly needs and enhancing the skills of healthcare workers.
  • Mental Health and Emergency Services: Focusing on mental well-being and emergency response for seniors.
  • Nutritional and Holistic Health: Addressing dietary needs through initiatives and integrating Ayush systems for comprehensive senior care.

• Social Inclusion and Empowerment

  • Community Sensitization: Raising awareness about the elderly’s needs and challenges to foster a supportive community.
  • Peer Support Groups: Creating networks for the elderly to share experiences and support each other.
  • Legal and Welfare Awareness: Informing the elderly about their rights, legal safeguards, and available welfare schemes.
  • Legal Reforms: Strengthening laws for elderly welfare and ensuring swift resolution of cases in maintenance tribunals.
  • Housing and Care Homes Reform: Improving elderly-friendly living conditions and senior care facilities.
  • Centralised Senior Care Portal: Developing a comprehensive online resource for senior care services and promoting the care economy sector.

• Economic Empowerment and Inclusion

  • Reskilling: Offering programs to update the skills of the elderly for better employment opportunities.
  • Public Fund Coverage: Expanding the reach of public funds and infrastructure to support the elderly financially.
  • Savings Plans: Implement mandatory savings schemes for those who can afford them to ensure financial security.
  • Reverse Mortgage: Utilizing reverse mortgage mechanisms to enhance seniors’ liquidity.
  • Tax Reforms: Adjusting tax and GST policies on senior care products for easier adoption and financial relief.
  • Geriatric Health Insurance: EncourAgeing the private sector to develop targeted health insurance products for the elderly.
  • Capital for Senior Care: Boosting liquidity and investment in the senior care sector.

• Digital Empowerment and Inclusion

• • Affordable Access: Implement senior discounts to make digital devices more accessible.
  • Digital Literacy: Launch targeted campaigns and workshops to boost digital skills among the elderly.
  • Technology Utilisation: Leverage AI, IoT, big data, and machine learning for routine senior care procedures.

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This article is based on the news “CMS COP14 ends in Samarkand; proposals listing 14 migratory species adopted” which was published in the DownToEarth. The 14th Conference of Parties of CMS ended in Samarkand, Uzbekistan with the proposed recommendation of listing 14 migratory species. 

CMS COP14: Convention On Migratory Species

• The proposals for amendment of CMS Appendices I and II were discussed and recommended by the Committee of the Whole (COW) or countries for adoption. 

• It aims to maintain existing populations and improve connectivity among migratory species for effective migrations by removal of barriers.
• Slogan: “Nature Known No Border”

Also Read: UN Climate Summit 2023 or COP28

Key Outcomes of 14th CMS (Convention On Migratory Species)

Proposals for 14 Enlisting Migratory Species: Eurasian Iynx, Peruvian pelican, Pallas’s cat, Guanaco, Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin, Harbour porpoise, Magellanic plover, Bearded vulture, Blackchin guitarfish, Bull ray, Lusitanian cow nose ray, and Gilded catfish.

• Important Recommendations are: 
  • Indian Skimmer: The 14th CoP of CMS adopted an action plan for improving the conservation status of migratory landbird species in the African-Eurasian region.

• • • India and Bangladesh submit a joint proposal to list Indian Skimmer under the Convention On Migratory Species (CMS). It also noted issues about its riverine and coastal habitats and its possibility of extinction in Southeast Asia following its severe decline identified in early 2020.
  • Hawksbill Turtle: The 14th CoP of CMS adopted the Single Species Action Plan to conserve the Hawksbill Turtle in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Ocean region.
    • It shared concerns that the Hawksbill Turtle was identified as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2008.
  • Angel Shark: In another discussion, CoP 14 also adopted a Single Species Action Plan for the Agnleshark in the Mediterranean Sea.
    • It is also Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  • Eurasian Iynx and Balkan Iynx: The proposal to include the Eurasian Iynx and Balkan Iynx in Appendix 2 of the Convention was made by North Macedonia.
    • Aim: The protection efforts aim to maintain existing populations and improve connectivity for effective migrations.
    • Countries Adopting: Albania and Turkmenistan supported the proposal and recommended it for adoption.
  • Guanaco: COW also recommended a proposal to include Guanaco in Appendix 2 of the Convention for adoption.
    • Aim: To safeguard its habitat, restore populations, and maintain connections between populations.
  • Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): The proposal to include Harbour porpoise made in Appendix 1, was made by the European Union.
  • Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus): A proposal to include in Appendix 1 and 2 was recommended.

About Convention On Migratory Species (CMS)

• Convention On Migratory Species (CMS) also known as the Bonn Convention, is an international environmental treaty under the agies of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Commenced on: It came into force on November 1, 1983.
• Parties: As of 1 March 2022, the Convention on Migration Species has 133 parties.
  • Several countries although not party to the convention are party to one or more of the Agreements and have signed one or more of the MoUs.

• Aim Of Convention On Migratory Species (CMS) 

  • To conserve migratory species of wild animals and their habitats throughout their ranges.

• • To collaborate among various states (countries where the species lives) to develop and implement conservation plans

Classification of Species Under Convention On Migratory Species (CMS)

Convention On Migratory Species (CMS) has two appendices to list migratory species.

• Appendix 1: Migratory species assessed as being in danger of extinction throughout or a significant portion of their range.
• Appendix 2: Migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status and require international conservation and management agreements.
• Note: Appendices 1 and 2 may be amended at any Conference of the Parties meeting. Amendments consist of migratory species or their populations being added to or removed from the appendices.

What Are Migratory Species?

• According to Convention On Migratory Species (CMS), migratory species are animals that undertake regular, cyclical journeys between habitats owing to food, temperature, shelter, etc.

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