Bonn, 2 May 2025 – Bustards — majestic, ground-dwelling birds found across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia are flagships for biodiversity richness of steppe and grassland ecosystems. But these once-abundant symbols of healthy grassland ecosystems are now in alarming decline. In response, conservationists and policymakers from around the globe are joining forces to launch a global plan to secure their future. 

Bustards (family Otididae) are large birds inhabiting open grasslands, steppes, and semi-arid regions. Some species are among the heaviest flying birds in the world and the the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) for instance is known for its striking appearance and enormous size. However, these birds are now under serious threat. Sixty percent of bustard species are at risk of extinction, due to a combination of: 

• Illegal taking and unsustainable harvesting 
• Collisions with energy infrastructure 
• habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification  
• Climate change 

As indicator species, bustards reflect the overall health of grassland ecosystems. Their decline is a warning sign of broader environmental degradation and unsustainable land use. 

To address these urgent threats, a diverse group of experts, government officials, and conservation organizations came together under the “Bustards Without Borders” (BWB) initiative. From 14 to 20 April 2025, the First Workshop on the Development of a global Multi-species Action Plan (MsAP) for the Conservation of Bustard species was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Organized by WWF-Pakistan and with support from the Swiss Ornithological Institute (SOI), the workshop brought together over 30 participants, including high-level Government representatives of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC & EC), Focal Points of CMS Parties (Hungary, Pakistan), representatives of international experts from all regions inhabited by bustards (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe), IUCN, conservation NGOs and project implementation partners, and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). 

The first comprehensive draft of the MsAP compiled during the workshop in Islamabad outlines actions for the sustainable conservation of bustards and their habitats, including: 

• on-the-ground conservation activities,  
• training, awareness-raising,  
• population and distribution monitoring, and  
• research on unsustainable pressures 
• strengthening policy frameworks for bustard conservation 
• mobilizing governments and stakeholders to promote synergies and concerted efforts worldwide.  

The draft plan is expected to be submitted for endorsement at the upcoming CMS 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CMS COP15) to be held from 23 to 29 March 2026 in Campo Grande, Brazil.  

Six species of bustards (Otididae) are currently listed in CMS Appendix I and/or II. Five more species are included in the list of Potential Avian Taxa for Listing under Resolution 14.20.  

Other international single-species action plans have also already been adopted over the years under CMS and its daughter agreements: the Action Plan of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of the Middle-European Population of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), and the Action Plan for the Great Bustard in Asia, adopted at COP14 in 2024.  

Overall, this new MsAP aims to unite and expand all the existing efforts and is designed to cover all 26 species of bustards in over 100 Range States. 

The BWB initiative began during the CMS COP14 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (February 2024), under the mandate of CMS Resolution 11.17 (Rev.COP14) — the Action Plan for Migratory Landbirds in the African-Eurasian Region (AEMLAP). It was formed by representatives of governments, NGOs, and experts including from the IUCN SSC Specialist Group for Bustards, and environmental consultant stakeholders to promote coordinated global action, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration between governments, scientists, and civil society. 

Since then, the initiative has gained momentum, with the Islamabad workshop marking a significant step toward reversing population declines and ensuring sustainable land management for the benefit of bustards and biodiversity more broadly. 

Protecting bustards is not only about saving a group of iconic birds — it is about ensuring the sustainability of the landscapes they depend on, which also support human communities, agriculture, and broader biodiversity. The development of the new Multi-species Action Plan is a call to action for the international community to mobilize support, strengthen partnerships, and take bold steps toward the long-term survival of bustards worldwide.