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Insect Decline and its Threat to Migratory Insectivorous Animal Populations

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Table of Contents

  1. Preamble

Insect Decline and its Threat to Migratory Insectivorous Animal Populations

Recalling that Article II of the Convention acknowledges the need to take action to avoid any migratory species becoming endangered,Deeply concerned about the dramatic declines in insect biomass and the potential negative effects on migratory insectivorous animal populations, such as many bird and bat species,Acknowledging Article VII of the Convention on Migratory Species, which states that the Conference of the Parties may make recommendations to the Parties for improving the effectiveness of the Convention,Aware that environmental impact assessment is foreseen in other conventions concerned with biodiversity conservation, and in CMS Agreements,Welcoming EUROBATS Resolution 8.13 Insect Decline as a Threat to Bat Populations in Europe, and the urgent need for guidelines for prioritized action,Recalling the Rio 15 principle,Recalling Resolution 11.15 (Rev.COP12) Preventing Poisoning of Migratory Birds, which adopts the Guidelines to Prevent the Risk of Poisoning to Migratory Birds (UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.1.2) including "[r]ecommendations to prevent risk to birds from insecticides used to protect crops" as well as "[n]oting the objectives of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, which promotes the environmentally sound use of hazardous chemicals and shared responsibility to protect the environment from harm",Further recalling Resolution 11.17 (Rev.COP12) which adopts the Action Plan for Migratory Landbirds in the African-Eurasian Region (AEMLAP) including a number of actions addressing intensive agriculture,The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
1.Calls upon the Parties, subject to the availability of resources, to:
a)encourage and support scientific research on the impact of insect decline on migratory insectivorous animal populations, e.g. birds, bats and freshwater fish; including identifying the gaps in research, species specific data collection and monitoring, making use where appropriate of existing monitoring methods, such as those developed by FAO or recognized by IUCN;
b)avoid the detrimental effects of pesticide use on non-target insects as a food resource of migratory insectivores in and around areas that are important for the conservation of these species, including by reducing the use and risks;
c)promote action programmes for the conservation of insects and restoration of their habitats in consideration of their vulnerability, aiming at the known causes of insect decline, including pesticide usage and habitat loss;
d)take a precautionary approach with respect to the use of pesticides, including enhancing efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices;
e)raise awareness regarding the concerns mentioned above with land managers and other stakeholders;
f)promote continued cooperation and collaboration between scientists, professionals, stakeholders and international bodies, whose work is related to insect decline.