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11/22/11 (AEIN) The U.N. Environmental Program issued a statement on Monday urging countries around the world to take steps aimed at protecting migratory species. It warned of mass extinctions by 2050 if additional immediate action does not come to fruition.
The UNEP released a report on the same day outlining methods to protect such species from harm. It called upon additional countries to sign the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and urged new efforts to limit poaching in Africa and Asia.
The report also described some recent successes in protecting migratory species. It stated that Palau's declaration of a shark sanctuary in coastal waters had both curtailed the hunting of sharks for their fins and promoted an increase in shark diving tours.
Additionally, it praised efforts by China, the Congo, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Rwanda and Uganda to protect various migratory species. However, the report warned that poaching continues to rapidly increase in the grassland areas of many African and Asian countries.