President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Tuesday proposed to Parliament for Maldives to become a member of Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
CMS is an international treaty which falls under the United Nations Environment Program. The program aims to protect migratory wild animals, their habitats and ecosystems.
According to the President’s Office, the decision was made during a cabinet meeting after considering a paper submitted by Ministry of Environment.
As now there are 127 countries participatory members of CMS treaty.
The President’s Office said that protecting and preserving the natural environment and life contained therein is a high priority of the government.
It was highlighted that the provisions of this convention are in harmony with the spirit of the Maldives’ own laws and regulations pertinent to safeguarding the natural bounty of the country.
The convention covers special protection to numerous species, including sharks, turtles, tortoises, dolphins, whales, birds, and manta rays, and calls on states to implement measures devoted to protecting their numbers and habitats.
Maldives becoming a party to this convention would confer several benefits to the country, especially regarding its commitment to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)’s that are pertinent to marine and land biosphere, as well as goals relevant to the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan 2016-2025.
Furthermore, the President’s Office noted taking part in the treaty to preserve marine and land wildlife would flourish tourism and fishing, which are the main economic sectors in Maldives.
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