One of the greatest challenges in managing migratory birds is that they exist within a legal quandary. As a recognized principle of international law, states have sovereign rights over all wild animals that fall within their jurisdictional boundaries but no jurisdiction over animals outside of these boundaries. The practical result of this principle is that animals that migrate from one jurisdiction to another are subject, in succession, to the sovereign rights and policies of all states along their migration route. Because a migratory population represents a single biological unit, successful management is not possible without cooperation among range states. This reality is what prompted the formation of international treaties and conventions to protect migratory species. The effectiveness of the safety net developed by these treaties depends on the level of participation achieved. Rogue or hold-out states may have outsized impacts on migratory populations regardless of the treaties and collective management programs established by cooperating states.
Rogue states and the future of shorebird populations - The Center for Conservation Biology
Rogue states and the future of shorebird populations - The Center for Conservation Biology