The Governments of the United Kingdom and United
Arab Emirates jointly led an initiative to explore
the development of a new agreement to help conserve
migratory birds of prey and owls in the Africa-Eurasian
region. This follows decisions by the World Working
Group on Birds of Prey and Owls (Budapest 2003)
and the Convention on Migratory Species (Nairobi
2005) calling for action to tackle the threats faced
by these birds.
Photo right:
Eleonora's Falcon 2004 © Nick P. Williams;
www.FalconImages.com
The initiative has been underpinned by a study commissioned
by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs in 2005 which found that more than 50% of
migratory birds of prey in the African-Eurasian
region have a poor conservation status and many
are showing rapid or long-term population declines.
A variety of human-induced threats are causing problems
such as habitat loss and degradation, illegal shooting
and poisoning, collisions with aerial structures
and electrocution by power lines. Climate change
will add to these problems.
Photo left:
Osprey 2003 © Nick P. Williams; www.FalconImages.com
A meeting to identify and elaborate an option for
international cooperation on African-Eurasian migratory
raptors under CMS was held in Loch Lomond, Scotland,
from 22-25 October 2007. It was co-sponsored by
the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
of the United Kingdom (DEFRA), Scottish Natural
Heritage, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
(EAD) and CMS. The Scottish Executive will host
the event in conjunction with Government of the
United Kingdom.
Photo right:
Red-footed Falcon 2003 © Nick P. Williams;
www.FalconImages.com
A second meeting of the Range States to negotiate
and conclude a MOU was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from
20-22 October 2008. On 22 October 2008, 28 Range
States signed the MOU, which entered into effect
on 1 November 2008. With the signature of the MoU
at the Ninth Conference of the Parties to CMS in
Rome, December 2008, by South Africa and Birdlife
International, the membership reached 29 Range States
and one Supporting Organisation. Other Range States
in Europe and the Arab region are considering the
signature of the MoU soon.
In the meanwhile, the UNEP/CMS Project Office has
been set up in Abu Dhabi with support of the authorities
of the United Arab Emirates. One of the main purposes
of the Project Office is coordinating the implementation
of the MOU. The official opening is expected soon
The initiative was based on a broad support of
international and many national NGOs; the meetings
were co-sponsored by the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom (DEFRA),
Scottish Natural Heritage, the Environment Agency
of Abu Dhabi (EAD) and CMS
The development of the MOU is a key example for
the prosperous cooperation of expert-oriented non-governmental
organisations and governmental authorities under
the umbrella and with active organisational contribution
of the CMS Secretariat.
