From victims of climate change to climate allies

Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing migratory species. As our COP15 policy briefing highlights, nearly half of CMS-listed species are now in decline, a trajectory that is worsening. But migratory animals are not just victims of climate change. They can also be powerful allies in tackling it.

Coastal seagrass ecosystems are a compelling example. Seagrasses occupy only a tiny fraction of the global ocean, yet they punch far above their weight in storing carbon. These underwater meadows capture carbon from the atmosphere and lock it away in their sediments for centuries. This "blue carbon" makes seagrass protection and restoration a critical nature-based climate solution.

What is often missing from the story is the role of marine animals themselves.

Dugongs: engineers of carbon-rich seagrass

In Bahraini waters, dugongs play an important role in shaping the health and productivity of seagrass meadows. By grazing, moving, and fertilising the seabed, they stimulate regrowth and influence how carbon is captured and stored in these ecosystems.

IFAW worked with leading scientists from the Yale School of the Environment and Bahraini scientists to study the impact of dugongs on carbon capture and storage by seagrasses. The research shows that when dugongs are present, the climate benefits of seagrass ecosystems increase dramatically. Carbon capture by seagrass more than doubles, while the amount of carbon stored in sediments nearly triples compared to a scenario without dugongs.

Across this area, seagrass meadows supported by dugongs are estimated to capture around 149,000 metric tonnes of carbon each year, equivalent to approximately 546,000 metric tonnes of CO₂.

"Protecting dugongs isn't just about saving a species," says Catherine Bell, IFAW's Director of International Policy. "Where dugongs thrive, seagrass meadows flourish-and these ecosystems become even more powerful carbon sinks when dugongs are present. In just 145 km² of seagrass habitat, dugong-supported meadows can lock away over half a million tonnes of CO₂ each year, delivering a climate benefit comparable to taking roughly 120,000 cars off the road annually. Protecting dugongs is not only about conserving an iconic marine mammal, it is about strengthening one of nature's most effective climate solutions."

When set against Bahrain's national emissions reporting, this level of CO₂ capture is comparable to the annual emissions of several significant sectors, including the chemical industry, agriculture, and wastewater treatment. It also represents roughly 10-30% of emissions from large sectors such as transport, oil and gas production, and aviation.

In other words, conserving migratory marine mammals can materially contribute to national climate commitments.

Why this matters at CMS

At CMS COP15, Parties will consider how to better integrate climate change into migratory species conservation, including through amendments to Resolution 12.21 on climate change.

IFAW strongly supports strengthening the evidence base around the ecosystem services provided by migratory species. Case studies like the dugongs in Bahrain show that wildlife conservation and climate mitigation are not competing agendas. They are mutually reinforcing.

We are urging Parties to:

• Strongly support the Scientific Council's proposed amendment to request case studies on migratory species and the ecosystem services they provide to strengthen the evidence base around ecosystem services.
• Recognise and integrate the climate benefits of migratory species into national biodiversity strategies and Nationally Determined Contributions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• Invest in protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems such as seagrass, mangroves, and saltmarshes.
• Safeguard the migratory animals that help maintain and enhance these ecosystems.

Beyond blue carbon: a broader agenda for migratory species

Our delegation will also advocate for strong action across a range of urgent issues outlined in our COP15 policy briefing.

These include:

• Eliminating bycatch of CMS-listed species.
• Reducing vessel strikes and underwater noise.
• Taking a precautionary approach to deep-sea mining and refrain from these activities until there is sufficient knowledge about the impact.
• Protecting seamounts and their importance to migratory species, acting as fixed reference points and safe havens for animals to take refuge on long-distance migrations
• Strengthening ecological connectivity so animals can move safely between feeding, breeding, and resting grounds.
• Supporting community-led conservation, recognising that animals and people thrive together.

From sharks to giant otters and cheetahs, many of the listing proposals at COP15 represent critical opportunities to halt decline and drive coordinated international action. But the dugong example underscores a broader shift we must make.

Too often, wildlife is framed as a beneficiary of climate policy. The reality is more powerful: wildlife is critical climate infrastructure. Migratory species help regulate ecosystems, move nutrients across landscapes and oceans, and enhance the resilience of habitats that store vast amounts of carbon.