Global Initiative on the Taking of Migratory Species (GTI)

News: To address the illegal and unsustainable taking of wildlife, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) officially launches the Global Initiative on the Taking of Migratory Species (GTI) during a special event here at its 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15).

About Global Initiative on the Taking of Migratory Species (GTI)

• It is a collaborative global effort under Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) to address the drivers of illegal and unsustainable taking.
• Launched at: It is launched in March, 2026 during the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in Campo Grande, Brazil.
• Aim: The GTI aims to provide coordinated support to CMS parties and fill longstanding gaps in global conservation efforts, and is expected to equip countries with the tools, partnerships and knowledge required to safeguard migratory species from this growing threat.
• Objectives and focus areas: It will focus on four key areas of work –
  • Improve data and monitoring
  • Strengthen legal and policy frameworks
  • Enhance community engagement
  • Raise awareness.
• Meaning of Illegal and/or Unsustainable Taking: Illegal and/or unsustainable taking refers to the removal of wild animals from nature in ways that are prohibited under the Convention and/or exceed the level of taking that can be sustained by species populations.
  • Taking for domestic motivations can include hunting, fishing, trapping, or capturing migratory species for food, domestic sale, sport, medicine, rituals, or retaliation in human–wildlife conflict.
  • This form of taking is a major direct driver of biodiversity loss globally.
• Launching partners: The initiative is being launched together with partner organizations whose work is directly relevant to addressing these challenges – the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), BirdLife International, the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and TRAFFIC etc.
  • The Governments of Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, and France are among the CMS Parties participating in this new initiative and provided financial support.