Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI)

Recently, Central Asian countries endorsed the 2026–2032 Work Programme under Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI) to protect 17 migratory mammals.

About CAMI

• Launch: Established in 2014 at COP11 of the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) in Quito, Ecuador.
  • CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention, aims to conserve migratory species across borders through international cooperation. It addresses threats to species caused by habitat loss, climate change, and human activities.
• Objective: Provides a common regional framework to address threats to migratory mammals through transboundary conservation, policy coordination, and capacity building.
• Coverage: Encompasses 14 range countries — Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Species Covered (17 Mammals): Argali sheep, Asiatic cheetah, Asiatic wild ass, Bukhara deer, Eurasian lynx, Gobi bear, Goitered gazelle, Kiang, Mongolian gazelle, Pallas’s cat, Persian leopard, Przewalski’s horse, Saiga antelope, Snow leopard, Urial, Wild camel, and Wild yak.
• Key Features:
  • Regional Coordination: Strengthens conservation of shared ecosystems and migration corridors across Central Asia.
  • Programme of Work (PoW): Sets priority transboundary regions for conservation and outlines strategies for anti-poaching, habitat restoration, and monitoring.
  • Collaboration: Supported by IUCN, CMS Secretariat, NGOs, and national governments for technical and financial assistance.
  • Focus Areas: Tackling habitat fragmentation, climate change, migration barriers, illegal hunting, and weak cross-border coordination.

Recent Developments (2025)

• Range States reaffirmed commitments and showcased conservation successes with Saiga Antelope, Bukhara Deer, and Persian Leopard.
• Fifteen organizations, including IUCN and national institutes, pledged support for PoW implementation.
• The CAMI resolution will be updated at the upcoming CMS COP15 (Brazil, March 23–29, 2026).

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India’s Role

• India, as a Range State, contributes to conservation of Snow Leopard, Argali, and Kiang within its trans-Himalayan regions.
• Aligns CAMI objectives with national initiatives like the Project Snow Leopard and Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP).

Significance

• Enhances transboundary cooperation for protecting migratory species that “know no borders.”
• Promotes regional ecological connectivity across mountain, steppe, and desert ecosystems.
• Strengthens India’s and Central Asia’s commitment to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 15 – Life on Land).

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