The CMS Family refers to the Convention and the collection of Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding that have been concluded under it.

CMS as a framework convention provides for separate, international legally-binding instruments and other agreements among range states of single migratory species or, more often, groups of species. These agreements can be adapted to the requirements of particular regions with  the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention’s efforts.

To date, 19 international MoU and 7 Agreements have been concluded under the CMS umbrella, for bats, birds, elephants, dolphins and whales, marine turtles and seals, and many others.