Warming temperatures, extreme weather, and shifting water systems are severely affecting migratory species across the globe. These changes are altering species’ ranges, shrinking habitats, and threatening the ecological services that sustain both wildlife and human communities.
Migratory species, from whales to elephants to birds, play critical roles in maintaining ecosystem balance. Yet their dependence on habitats that stretch across continents makes them particularly vulnerable. A disruption in one region can trigger cascading effects thousands of miles away, underscoring the urgent need for international action.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) released the findings, which detail how climate change disruption is affecting migratory species across the board.
Timing mismatches threaten survival
One of the most striking impacts of climate change is the disruption of natural cycles. In Alaska and the Arctic, for example, shorebird nesting is becoming misaligned with insect emergence. This mismatch, caused by unexpected warming and cooling, reduces chick survival and reproductive success.
Research shows that in western Alaska, every degree change in temperature shifts nesting time by one to two days. Over the last decade, climatic cooling unexpectedly delayed nesting by four to five days. These later nests produced fewer, smaller eggs and shortened incubation periods, threatening long-term population health.
Migratory species as climate allies
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) workshop report emphasizes that migratory species are far more than travelers—they are critical allies in climate change mitigation.
Forest elephants boost carbon storage by dispersing seeds and shaping forest structure in ways that increase carbon absorption. Whales act as nutrient transporters, cycling essential minerals across ocean basins and helping support marine productivity. Bird migrations connect ecosystems, enabling seed dispersal and pest control across regions.
Losing these species means losing vital ecosystem services that protect the planet’s resilience.
Migratory animals as an early-warning system
“Migratory animals are the planet’s early-warning system and they are in trouble,” said Amy Fraenkel, CMS Executive Secretary.
She warned that declining monarch butterflies, whales altering migration routes, and bird populations collapsing are clear signals. “Climate change is having impacts now, and without urgent action, the survival of such species is in jeopardy,” she added.
Path to CMS COP15 in Brazil
The workshop, hosted by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), was convened by the CMS Scientific Council’s Climate Change Expert Group. Their deliberations are shaping proposals for CMS COP15, to be held in Campo Grande, Brazil, in March 2026.
“The world’s migratory species face increasingly formidable challenges from habitat deterioration and overexploitation,” said Dr Des Thompson, CMS COP-appointed Scientific Councillor for Climate Change. “Climate change compounds these problems, with greater extremes in weather affecting habitats, food resources, and the ranges species occupy.”
Indigenous knowledge and local solutions
Workshop participants highlighted the importance of Indigenous Peoples and traditional knowledge holders in designing solutions. Many communities that live alongside migratory species already manage land and water sustainably. Their expertise can help identify community-based approaches to protect migration corridors and improve resilience.
Case studies discussed during the workshop emphasized the need to manage migration routes, anticipate range shifts, and remove barriers to migration caused by human activity. Sharing success stories, participants said, is critical for building a global playbook of climate adaptation strategies.
Conservation investment and global alignment
Safeguarding migratory species requires unprecedented levels of international cooperation and financial investment. The report calls for climate strategies that prioritize ecosystem health while also aligning with global biodiversity frameworks.
Without such integration, conservation risks becoming fragmented, leaving species exposed to worsening climate impacts. Strengthening cooperation between frameworks such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is essential to secure both biodiversity and climate goals.
A global call for urgent action
The CMS workshop findings highlight an undeniable truth: the fate of migratory species is tied to human survival. These animals not only reflect the health of ecosystems but also sustain them. Losing them weakens our planet’s natural defenses against climate change.
As CMS COP15 approaches, the challenge is clear. Countries must work together, invest in conservation, and integrate climate and biodiversity strategies. Migratory species, the planet’s travelers, are sending us an urgent signal—one we cannot afford to ignore.
