A meeting organized by the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) was held at Loch Lomond, Scotland, from October 22-25, there to identify and elaborate on options for cooperation on African-Eurasian Migratory Raptor Conservation.

More than 100 delegates from over 60 countries successfully negotiated the general nature of an agreement and associated action plan for the conservation of migratory birds of prey. Negotiations to conclude the agreement will continue at a subsequent meeting to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The progress made at Loch Lomond signals a strong commitment to the conservation of these majestic but particularly vulnerable species. International action to conserve these birds and their habitat is critical at this time given that more than 50% of migratory raptors in the African-Eurasian region have a poor conservation status and many more are showing declining numbers.

The future agreement aims to protect all species from shooting, persecution and unsustainable exploitation. Protecting and appropriately managing important breeding sites and all migration bottlenecks will help to restore and preserve crucial habitats of these birds. The development of sustainable land management policies and practices are additional measures to achieve this objective. Population surveys and research activities to assess threats on birds of prey will enable to implement tailored conservation measures. Awareness of migratory raptors, their current plight and the threats they face will alert a wider audience to those measures which need to be taken to conserve these birds.

Raptors and owls are generally large, long-lived species with low rates of reproduction - characteristics that appear to be associated with high risks of extinction. As predators, which typically occur at or near the top of food-chains, many raptor and owl species are naturally scarce, which further exacerbates their vulnerability to threats. The main threats faced by raptors are land use practices that reduce prey availability and suitable breeding habitat, pollution, poisoning, hunting, persecution, illegal taking and trade, e.g. for falconry, and collisions and electrocution from overhead power-lines. The latter problem is addressed by CMS Resolution 7.4 from 2002.

Hunting, trapping and persecution levels are probably declining for most species, but the trapping of Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) for falconry has greatly increased in the last decade and is now unsustainable

Climate driven habitat change will also exacerbate existing human induced changes, which are already the most significant threats to most migratory raptors in the African-Eurasian region.

For some species accidental poisoning e.g. from baits poisoned with strychnine, persecution, shooting for sport and trapping may also be key or contributory factors causing population declines or long-term reductions in range, but the impacts of these losses on populations requires further study.

Raptors have had a long history of interaction with man. Since earliest times, several species, particularly the largest, have been persecuted owing to actual or perceived predation of stock and game. In contrast, the larger falcons have been highly prized for falconry, leading to the provision of strict protective measures in many countries.
Many raptors are migratory, moving long distances between typically more northern breeding areas to typically more southerly areas used in the non-breeding season. These movements link countries and their annual cycle takes them through diverse biotopes and landscapes, generally concentrating the birds during migration at well-known places. More than 50% of migratory birds of prey in the African-Eurasian region have poor conservation status. Migratory raptors face additional conservation problems because they need adequate networks of suitable habitat along their migration paths.

Birds of prey or raptors hunt for food primarily using their talons. They display a characteristic curved tip to their beak and have superb vision. The following species are to be covered under a new agreement: Diurnal birds of prey that belong to the orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes in several groups including osprey (Pandionidae), hawks, eagles, buzzards, kites and vultures (Accipitridae). Beyond this Secretary Birds (Sagittariidae), falcons (Falconiformes) and nocturnal birds of prey are designated for protection under the agreement. The term "raptor" includes owls.

This meeting came as a follow-up to an according Recommendation 8.12 made at the 8th Meeting of the Conference Of Parties (COP) in 2005, calling upon range states and other stakeholders to engage in co-operative activities to promote the sustainable management of migratory raptors and owls by, in particular: (a) protecting and managing important breeding sites and migration bottlenecks; (b) alleviating habitat degradation through the development and promotion of sustainable land management policies and practices; (c) controlling the shooting, poisoning, and taking of these birds and their eggs; (d) raising awareness of the plight of these birds, the threats they face, and the measures needed to conserve them; (e) monitoring populations throughout the region to establish population trends and carry out appropriate research; and (f) exchanging information in order to develop and implement best-practice approaches to the conservation and sustainable management of these species.

In January 2005, the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned a study to assess whether or not an international agreement to conserve migratory raptors including owls should be established under the auspices of the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) in the African-Eurasian region.
The aggregate Afrotropical and Palearctic range of this group of species would represent the potential area of any CMS instrument, which comprises all Afrotropical and Western Palearctic countries, plus Afghanistan, China (mainland only), Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This range is referred to hereafter in this report as the African-Eurasian region.

From a review of the available literature and data in Birdlife International’s World Bird Database, it is clear that at least 32 (53%) of the 60 migratory raptors that occur in the African-Eurasian region have an Unfavorable Conservation Status, and 10 of these are Globally Threatened or Near Threatened. Furthermore, a high proportion of these 32 species are in continued long-term or rapid population declines. Since the conservation status of many species in Africa, Asia and the Middle-east is poorly known, other species in these regions may also be declining. Although there are many documented threats to migratory raptors in the region, available data proved inadequate to quantify population level impacts. Nevertheless, for the majority of species the most important threats are probably the result of human induced habitat loss and degradation including impacts from pesticide use and other forms of pollution.

A CMS Agreement could in the first place focus on the protection of sites where mass concentrations occur, and as a second goal promote joint efforts to stop the illegal shooting and killing of species by means of education programmes, assistance with law enforcement, etc.). Migration routes and threats are very well known within the Western Palearctic, but concentrated migration is also known from several places in Asia, with further studies necessary in both regions.

The general aim of an agreement would be to ensure that all populations of raptors including owls listed in Appendix 1 of the Memorandum of Understanding are maintained in, or returned to, favorable Conservation Status.
There are strong benefits to be expected from co-operative international approaches to raptor conservation.