In a groundbreaking assessment released on Monday, the first-ever State of the World's Migratory Species report has revealed that migratory species across the globe are facing significant threats to their survival. The report, which focuses on the 1,189 species covered by the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, highlights that 1 in 5 species are at risk of extinction, with 44% witnessing populations decline.

Human activities are identified as the main culprits behind the endangerment of these species. Habitat destruction, hunting, and pollution from plastics, chemicals, light, and noise have all taken a toll on migratory animals. Furthermore, climate change is disrupting migration routes and timings by altering seasonal conditions.

Amy Fraenkel, the chief of the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, emphasized that the report should serve as a wake-up call. Migration itself is under threat, and this could lead to the demise of entire species. Migration is crucial for many species as they move across the globe to feed, breed, and rely on stopover sites along the way.

The report underscores the significant impact that unsustainable human activities have on migratory species. Agriculture and fishing emerge as the chief threats. Farming can destroy habitats, while the unintentional capture of non-target species, known as bycatch, poses a severe threat to whales. The intentional killing of migratory animals for wild meat or as pests is also a concern.

The detrimental consequences of human actions are evident across various animal classes. Over the past three decades, 70 CMS-listed species have become more endangered, including the steppe eagle, Egyptian vulture, and wild camel. Of the 158 mammals listed under the convention, 40% are threatened globally. Alarmingly, 97% of the 58 fish species listed face a high risk of extinction, including migratory sharks, rays, and sturgeons. Moreover, 134 out of the 960 CMS-listed bird species are assessed as threatened.

The report further identified 399 migratory species, such as albatrosses, ground sharks, and stingrays, as threatened or near-threatened, even though they are not yet listed under the CMS.

The report's findings aim to inform discussions at the upcoming Samarkand conference and highlight the urgent need for action to address the threats posed by fishing, farming, and pollution. While these migratory species provide valuable economic benefits through tourism and ecosystem services such as pollination, they also play an essential role in connecting communities worldwide and serve as indicators of changing seasons.

As the world grapples with the alarming state of its migratory species, concerted efforts are required to mitigate the harmful impacts of human activities and preserve the remarkable diversity and beauty of these magnificent creatures.