Samarkand, Uzbekistan: Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) at COP14 have unanimously approved the Revised Action Plan for Great Bustards in Asia! This document, proposed by the Government of Mongolia, was edited by Drs Mimi Kessler and Nyambayar Batbayar of the Eurasian Bustard Alliance & Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia and contains contributions by over 30 regional experts.
By definitively laying out the population status and threats to this species, and prioritizing actions for its conservation in Asia, the passage of the Action Plan marks a new chapter in international efforts for the Great Bustard.
The renewal of the Concerted Action for Great Bustards in Asia was also on the agenda of CMS COP14. While coordinated work under the previous triennium of this Concerted Action concerned the drafting of the Action Plan, the next triennium will focus on its implementation. After two periods of leadership by the government of Mongolia, moving forward the government of Iran will take the leading role in managing the Concerted Action.
During the Plenary of CMS COP14, these agenda items were introduced by the Government of Mongolia. The Government of Kazakhstan, the European Union, and IUCN shared words of support.