1. How many species of Birds
of Prey and Owls within the Africa and Eurasia are
migratory?
2. How many of these migratory
birds of raptors have an unfavourable conservation
status?
3. What threats do they face?
4. Why do they need to be
protected?
5. What current measures are
in place to help conserve migratory raptors?
6. Are current international
conservation measures effective?
7. What would a migratory
raptor conservation instrument achieve?
8. What would a migratory
raptors instrument look like?
9. How many species would
a conservation instrument include?
10. How many range states
would be covered by the instrument?
11. How long would it take
to develop a conservation instrument under CMS?
12. What work has been done
so far?
13. Does CMS have a mandate
to develop a conservation instrument for migratory
birds of prey and owls?
14. What are the next steps?
15. What is the Convention
on Migratory Species?
16. What is the difference
between Appendix I and II?
1. How many species of Birds of Prey and
Owls within the Africa and Eurasia are migratory?
A report on the status of migratory raptors in
Africa and Eurasia, commissioned by the UK, identified
60 migratory species within the African Eurasian
region. This represents 28% of all birds of prey
and owls in the region.
2. How many of these migratory birds of
raptors have an unfavourable conservation status?
From a review of available literature and data
in Birdlife International’s World Bird Database,
it is clear that at least 32 of the 60 migratory
raptor species are rare or endangered, and many
of these are showing rapid or long-term population
declines. This figure could be even higher, given
that the conservation status of many species in
Africa, Asia and the Middle East is unclear.
3. What threats do they face?
The most serious threat faced by these birds comes
from human-induced habitat loss and degradation
(including impacts from pesticide use and pollution).
Climate change is expected to exacerbate these habitat-related
problems profoundly across the African-Eurasian
region. For some species, accidental mortality (collisions
with aerial structures, electrocution and poisoning),
persecution, shooting for sport, and trapping may
also be key or contributory factors causing population
decline.
4. Why do they need to be protected?
Raptors are long-lived species with low rates of
reproduction; characteristics that appear to be
associated with high risks of extinction. Species
with slow reproduction often take a long time to
recover from losses. As predators, many species
are naturally scarce, which further exacerbates
their vulnerability to threats. Also, they play
a key role in balancing the local ecosystems that
they use during their migration, such as keeping
rodent populations in check, and without them this
balance will be lost.
5. What current measures are in place to
help conserve migratory raptors?
Current conservation and management measures for
these migratory species include varying levels of
domestic protection in a number of range states.
In addition, there are eleven international agreements
which have the potential to help improve the conservation
status of raptors. These include broad ecosystem/environment
agreements such as the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), the Climate Change Convention,
and the Convention to Combat Desertification. In
addition, some species are given protection under
nature conservation agreements, such as the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),
the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the
Bern Convention.
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6. Are current international conservation
measures effective?
It is apparent that, despite the existence of the
international agreements, current measures are not
leading to an improvement in the populations of
migratory raptors in the African-Eurasian region.
Existing measures appear to be insufficiently focused
or coordinated to be able to address the problems
that raptors face throughout their range.
7. What would a migratory raptor conservation
instrument achieve?
The new instrument would bring a coordinated and
focused raptor conservation effort across range
states. There will be a unifying international action
plan designed to address the threats faced by migratory
raptors throughout the African Eurasian region.
The plan should ensure integration with existing
international agreements whilst addressing any identified
gaps. The plan would identify key transboundary
actions needed to improve the conservation status
of the species, promote activities to raise awareness
of the threats they face, monitor populations throughout
the region, and raise funds for conservation activity.
8. What would a migratory raptors instrument
look like?
This will be a matter for discussion at inter-governmental
negotiation meetings. But it could range from a
legally binding agreement akin to that in place
for bats in Europe (Eurobats) to a simple action
plan which countries agree to implement collaboratively.
The consultants engaged by the UK to examine the
merits of a possible international agreement for
migratory raptors in the African-Eurasian region
recommended a non-legally binding agreement and
associated action plan, which countries would sign
up to as evidence of their commitment to conserve
the species. A copy of the agreement and action
plan proposed by the consultants can be found at
www.cms.int/raptor.
9. How many species would a conservation
instrument include?
This is another matter for the inter-governmental
negotiation meetings, but it would be expected to
cover migratory raptors that are rare or endangered
within the geographical area covered by the instrument.
Once in place, the countries that have joined the
instrument would need to review which species should
be covered by it.
10. How many range states would be covered
by the instrument?
This would be dependent on the geographical boundaries
of the instrument agreed by the inter-governmental
negotiation meetings. Potentially in excess of 130
range states could be included as the boundary could
range from South Africa through to the eastern tip
of Russia with the Philippines the southern tip
in Asia.. Ideally flyway boundaries will determine
the overall geographic area of the instrument.
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11. How long would it take to develop a
conservation instrument under CMS?
This will depend on agreement on issues being reached
on the type of instrument and the content of the
action. However, it is thought that the development
of this instrument could be concluded in approximately
two years, ideally before the next CMS CoP in 2008.
12. What work has been done so far?
In 2005, the UK commissioned a report examining
the merits and drawbacks of an instrument under
CMS covering migratory raptors in the African Eurasian
region. The study found evidence that at least half
the migratory raptor populations in the region had
an unfavourable conservation status, and that a
CMS instrument had the potential to address this
situation. A copy of the report can be found at
www.cms.int/raptors.
13. Does CMS have a mandate to develop
a conservation instrument for migratory birds of
prey and owls?
Yes- The 8th meeting of the Conference of Parties
to CMS (November 2005, Nairobi), adopted recommendation
8.12 (see FAQ)
calling on Parties and non-Party range states to
consider whether a CMS instrument would help deliver
the objective of promoting the sustainable management
of migratory raptors and owls. This recommendation
was based on the findings from the above report.
14. What are the next steps?
The first inter-governmental negotiation meeting
should be held in the first half of 2007. This meeting
will aim to agree the core principles that should
be reflected in an instrument, the type of instrument
(i.e. whether legally or non-legally binding) and
the main provisions of an accompanying action plan.
It would also aim to agree the geographical scope
and the species list. A second meeting to conclude
the instrument is expected to be held in 2008. A
website to keep interested parties informed of latest
developments can be visited at www.cms.int/raptors
15. What is the Convention on Migratory
Species?
CMS is an intergovernmental treaty under the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which seeks
to conserve migratory species throughout their range.
The current list of Parties can be seen on
www.cms.int/about/part_lst.htm.
CMS delivers its conservation objectives by calling
on parties to protect the most endangered species
(listed on CMS’ Appendix 1) by conserving
or restoring their habitat, mitigating obstacles
to migration and controlling other factors that
might endanger them. The Convention also encourages
the Range States of Appendix II species to conclude
subsidiary agreements for their conservation and
management. These agreements are open to accession
by all Range States, not just to the CMS Parties.
The proposed raptor instrument will be one such
agreement
16. What is the difference between Appendix
I and II?
The CMS has two appendices. Appendix I is for migratory
species that have been categorised as being in danger
of extinction throughout all or a significant portion
of the range. Appendix II is for migratory species
that have an unfavourable conservation status, and
would benefit significantly from international cooperation.
Species can be listed on either or both of the Appendices.
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