header South-West Asia IKB TF

The South-West Asia Illegal Taking of Migratory Birds Intergovernmental Task Force

The South-West Asia Illegal Taking of Migratory Birds Intergovernmental Task Force (SWA ITB TF) is established under CMS Resolution 11.16 (Rev.COP14) and related Decisions 14.126 to 14.129 and supports the Parties to the CMS, its related instruments, and other relevant MEAs in meeting their obligations to safeguard migratory birds from illegal hunting, taking, and trade in the South-West Asia Region.  

The establishment of the Task Force in COP14 was preceded by a number of preparatory meetings. In October 2021, a workshop in Jordan laid the groundwork by developing a roadmap to address illegal hunting, taking, and trade of migratory birds in South-West Asia. This was followed by an online meeting in February 2022, where a draft action plan for the region was formulated. The third milestone was reached with a meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 15–16 January 2024 to prepare the official launch of the Task Force.  

This Task Force is set up in full coordination with other ongoing CMS Avian Task Forces addressing the threat posed by the Illegal Taking in other parts of the world, such as the those operating in the Mediterranean (MIKT) and Asia Pacific (ITTEA) Regions.  

European Roller © David Grabovac, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons

Scope of the Task Force 

The goal of the Task Force is to eradicate illegal hunting, taking and trade (ITB) in South-West Asia. It will operate at a regional level, encompassing range states in South-West Asia, including Bahrain, Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. All migratory bird species regularly found in the South-West Asian region, as defined by CMS and its relevant associated instruments, will fall under the scope of the Task Force. 

Among the most important activities of the Task Force will include, but are not limited to: 

  • Support and guide a review on the status of hunting regulations related to migratory birds in the region;
  • Coordinate and support the implementation of the South-West Asia IKB Action Plan;
  • Support and guide a situation analysis on ITB in the region, building on the existing work of CMS MIKT in the Mediterranean and of the CMS Asia Pacific Task Force;
  • Ensure synergies with other relevant CMS Institutional Frameworks, such as the African Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP), the Raptors MOU and the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) Initiative.
  • Promote and facilitate implementation of relevant decisions and plans adopted in the framework of MEAs or regional protocols and agreements (e.g. GCC, ROPME, PERSGA)
  • Stimulate internal and external communication and exchange of information, experience, best practice and know-how;
  • Assist in resource mobilization for priority actions identified in the action plan
  • Monitor the implementation of the relevant decisions and plans and their effectiveness and regularly submit progress reports to the governing bodies of participating MEAs, including via an intergovernmental ‘scoreboard’ to monitor and indicate progress in eliminating IKB;
  • Strengthen regional and international networks with experience on IKB e.g., International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC); and
  • Liaise and share experience with both the CMS MIKT and the Asia-Pacific Task Force and with any other working groups or task forces established under or outside the umbrella of the CMS.  

 

This activity has been kindly sponsored by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

List of Members

MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE

Countries
   

 

List of Observers

OBSERVERS

 

Key Documents

CMS Mandate:

Operation of SWA ITB:

Relevant CMS Agreements, MOUs, Action Plans and Initiatives:

 

 

 

Useful Links

Meetings