Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction across all or a significant part of their range. Parties must strictly protect them — no deliberate “taking” (hunting, capturing, disturbing, trading). Must conserve habitats and remove obstacles to migration.

Appendix II: Species with unfavourable conservation status that would significantly benefit from international cooperation — even if not yet threatened with extinction. Parties are encouraged to negotiate range-wide Agreements or MoUs and coordinate management.

Can a species be in both? YES ★ — and it commonly is. A species listed in both gets the mandatory strict protection of Appendix I AND the coordinated range-wide management approach of Appendix II. Example: Olive Ridley Turtle is listed in both Appendices. Jaguar was listed in both at COP13.

UPSC trap: Some students think Appendix I = more endangered, Appendix II = less endangered. While there’s some correlation, the real distinction is WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE: Appendix I demands strict protection from “taking,” while Appendix II demands international cooperation and agreements.

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB, Ardeotis nigriceps) was chosen as mascot of COP13 for powerful symbolic reasons: India was hosting for the first time, and GIB is India’s most emblematic critically endangered bird — a species that embodies both India’s rich natural heritage AND the scale of threat it faces.

Current status: IUCN Critically Endangered. Population: approximately 100–150 individuals globally — almost entirely in Rajasthan, with tiny remnant populations in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. India had ~1,200 GIBs in the 1980s; the collapse was caused by habitat loss (grassland conversion to cropland), egg collection, hunting, and increasingly — collision with overhead power lines.

Power line collision ★: India’s energy transition created a paradox — solar panels being installed in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park area (prime GIB habitat) brought vast overhead transmission lines. GIBs, which fly at low altitude and have limited forward vision, cannot see these lines and collide fatally. The Supreme Court in 2021 ordered that overhead lines in GIB critical habitat must be placed underground. This remains a contentious and ongoing issue.

At COP13: GIB was listed in Appendix I — giving it the highest level of CMS protection. India also established a captive breeding programme at SAC Jaisalmer (first captive-bred eggs hatched in 2023 — a hopeful sign).

The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) Initiative was finally adopted at CMS COP14 (Samarkand, 2024), but discussions had been going on for nearly two decades. India was the primary champion of this initiative.

What it does: Creates a framework for coordinated conservation of 600+ migratory bird species across 30 countries (from Siberia to Maldives). Establishes a coordinating unit in India (with Indian government funding) to facilitate research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing among all range countries.

Why it took 20 years: Geopolitical complexity — getting 30 countries from Siberia, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean to agree is politically challenging. Some countries have competing interests (e.g., hunting traditions for some species, water rights affecting wetlands). Funding arrangements were disputed. The definition of the flyway’s exact boundaries caused disagreement. India’s sustained diplomatic effort finally resolved these issues by COP14.

Why it matters for India: 240+ species using this flyway are declining. India’s wetlands are critical staging/wintering grounds for hundreds of millions of birds. Without coordinated protection across all 30 countries, even India’s best conservation efforts cannot save birds that face hunting, habitat loss, or infrastructure barriers in other parts of their range. The initiative finally gives India the international platform to lead regional bird conservation.

The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) is a marvel of evolutionary adaptation — holding the record for the world’s highest-altitude sustained bird migration. It has been recorded at up to 10,175m altitude during migration, higher than the top of Mount Everest (8,848m).

At those altitudes, the air contains only about 30% of the oxygen available at sea level. Most animals — including humans — would lose consciousness and die within minutes. Here’s how the bar-headed goose does it:

1. Haemoglobin adaptation: Its haemoglobin (blood oxygen-carrier) has a slightly different amino acid structure that gives it a much higher affinity for oxygen — it can extract oxygen from air that would be useless to most other species.

2. Respiratory system: Birds generally have a more efficient respiratory system than mammals — air flows through the lung in one direction (not in-out like mammals), allowing more complete oxygen extraction. Bar-headed geese maximise this.

3. Capillary density: Their flight muscles have denser networks of blood capillaries, delivering oxygen more efficiently to working muscle cells.

4. Smart route-planning: Research has shown they don’t fly in a straight line over the highest peaks — they follow valleys, exploit updrafts, and often cross at the lowest available passes rather than the highest summits. They also tend to cross at night when temperatures are slightly more stable.

For UPSC: Bar-headed Goose is listed in CMS Appendix II, breeds in Central Asia/Tibet, winters in India’s wetlands (Punjab, Rajasthan). Symbol of the Central Asian Flyway.