Migratory journeys don’t stop at national borders and they don’t bypass our cities. From urban wetlands acting as vital stopovers or breeding sites for migratory birds to coastal cities hosting marine giants, our local governments are the stewards of the corridors that make these incredible journeys possible.
Our key priorities this week
The Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC)
As the only local government network in this high profile partnership, launched by the CMS Secretariat at CMS COP14 in Samarakand in 2024, we were invited to present on the Journeys for Life Initiative at the CMS Secretariat’s high level official side event on 25 March titled From Partnerships to Practice: Advancing Ecological Connectivity Action on the Ground. Our input at the side event highlighted the role of cities and regions in supporting ecological connectivity through forging connectivity across governance systems, institutions, functions and the whole of society. We support the Resolution on ecological connectivity introduced by the CMS Secretariat and are pushing for “partnerships to practice,” to ensure urban action is integrated into global migration strategies.
World Coastal Forum side event on Strengthening Cooperation for Coastal Connectivity to Conserve the World’s Migratory Species
We were invited to present ICLEI’s Journeys for Life Initiative at this official side event organized by Eco-Foundation Global (EFG), BirdLife International, IUCN, the CMS Secretariat and ETF.
This half day event, organized by ICLEI SAMS took place on 26 March and was held at the Bioparque Auditorium in Campo Grande. With the aim of serving as a platform for the leadership of local and regional governments, the event focused on Brazilian cities and states, exploring the conservation of migratory species and its intersection with key issues such as biodiversity and climate agendas, urban planning and local policies.
Multilevel governance
Throughout the COP, we advocated for stronger collaboration between national and local governments to promote ecological connectivity and strengthen the protection of migratory species and their habitats across all jurisdictions.
Pre-COP Inter-flyway Meeting – From Dialogue to Coordinated Action: Strengthening Flyway Cooperation
This meeting, organized by the Hans Seidel Foundation took place on 22 March 2026 and we were invited to present ICLEI’s Journeys for Life Initiative. The meeting participants included several CMS Parties, the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership (of which ICLEI is a member), Birdlife International, the Central Asian Conservation Network, the Asian Development Bank, WWF, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Wildlife Institute of India.
Site visit to the Pantanal Biopark
ICLEI SAMS organized this site visit offering an immersive experience in environmental education, science, and conservation, in a space that houses the largest freshwater aquarium circuit in the world. The route showcases different aquatic ecosystems — especially those of the Pantanal — with hundreds of species, allowing visitors to understand biodiversity and ecological processes in an interactive way. The Biopark is consolidating itself as a strategic space for raising awareness about the protection of biodiversity and migratory freshwater species.
Side Event – From COP15 on Migratory Species to COP17 on Biodiversity: how Brazilian subnational governments can prepare for and lead the implementation
This side event organized by ICLEI SAMS took place on 25 March at the Espaço Conexão Sem Fronteiras – Parque Estadual das Nações Indígenas, in Campo Grande, and it was focused on pathways to advance the biodiversity agenda at the local level. In this context, ICLEI plays a key facilitating role by connecting cities of all sizes to technical knowledge and financial resources.
Migratory species remind us that nature knows no borders. By strengthening the role of cities and regions, we can ensure these journeys continue for generations to come.
