Bonn, 6 June 2008- Currently categorised as ‘Endangered’ in the global IUCN Red List and nationally ‘Critically Endangered’ in South Africa, the enigmatic White-winged Flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi, received deserved attention at a recent workshop. The workshop was held between 26 and 28 May 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to develop an International Single Species Action Plan for the flufftail under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and of the Agreement on the conservation of Africa-Eurasian Waterbirds (AEWA). Currently, the flufftail is listed in Appendix I (Endangered Migratory Species) of CMS and in Column A, Categories 1a, 1b and 1c of the AEWA Table 1.

This tiny bird, belonging to the Rail family, is mainly known from Ethiopia and South Africa, with scanty records from Zimbabwe. Evidence of breeding has been found in three wetlands in the highlands of Ethiopia (in July/August) and the highly secretive Rail has been recorded at nine wetlands in South Africa from November to March. Whether a single population migrates between Ethiopia and South Africa, or each country hosts its own sub-population, is not yet known. It inhabits short, dense marsh vegetation, shallowly flooded in the wet season and dominated by sedges, grasses and forbs. The flufftail’s favourite seasonal marshes in Ethiopia are, however, threatened by excessive trampling and grazing by livestock, human disturbance, cutting of marsh vegetation for the traditional coffee ceremony, drainage, catchment erosion and water abstraction, among others.

During the workshop, existing National Species Action Plans for South Africa and Ethiopia, developed in 2003, were used as the basis for updating threats to the White-winged Flufftail, and actions required to address them on an international basis.

Three days of intensive work (including visits to two of the breeding sites) generated a realistic and achievable international species action plan, as well as a renewed sense of urgency and vigour for the activities needed to ensure the continued survival of this threatened species.

The action plan includes measures to increase the species population through increasing the extent of suitable habitat for the species. Key among these will be innovative actions to reduce habitat destruction, degradation and, most importantly, disturbance caused by intensive livestock grazing at the known core breeding areas in Ethiopia. However, it was recognised that securing of suitable habitat at breeding areas in Ethiopia needs to be done through sustainable use under community-based conservation programmes. The continuation and expansion of initiatives being carried out by Site Support Groups (SSGs) involving local communities was seen as essential.

As pointed out by Ato Geremew Gebre Selassie of the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS), “The marshes occupied by this species in Ethiopia are an integral part of the livelihoods of resident communities – mainly providing pasture for dairy cattle. The White-winged Flufftail habitats cannot therefore be secured without full engagement of these communities.”

Also attending the workshop was a representative from Middelpunt Wetland Trust in South Africa, a trust created specifically for conservation of the White-winged Flufftail. Local and national government representatives from both Ethiopia and South Africa contributed to the effectiveness of the workshop.

Substantial knowledge gaps about the species will need to be filled to optimise environmental management plans for the bird, key among them being the determination of whether the flufftail is an intra-African or altitudinal migrant.

The action planning workshop was commissioned by the secretariats of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or the Bonn Convention), with funding from the Italian Ministry for the Environment, was convened by the Africa Partnership Secretariat of BirdLife International and hosted by EWNHS.