Abu Dhabi / Trondheim, 8 October 2015 – Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU) agreed to list more threatened species of migratory birds of prey on the MoU at their Second Meeting (MoS2) on 5-8 October 2015 in Trondheim, Norway, raising the number of species covered from 76 to 93.

Over 60 delegates from 23 Signatory States, five non-Signatory Range States and 11 stakeholder organisations reviewed the species of African-Eurasian migratory birds of prey listed in Annex 1 of the Raptors MoU, including considering updates to taxonomy and nomenclature to keep pace with current understanding.  Adopting comprehensive proposals put forward by the interim Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the Raptors MoU, 18 new species were added based on emerging evidence of movement patterns consistent with the definition of ‘migratory species’ in the Raptors MoU; and two species were added and three removed following recent taxonomic changes.  Most of the species added are Globally or Near Threatened species according to the IUCN Red List (2015) and listed on BirdLife International’s World Bird and Biodiversity Database. 

In addition, the Meeting took decisions relating to: the listing of internationally important sites for raptors (Table 3 of Annex 3 of the Action Plan to the Raptors MoU); Range States included in the geographical range of the MoU (Annex 2); Rules of Procedure for MoSs; development of National / Regional Raptor Conservation Strategies; and, establishment of the TAG. Signatories also agreed that the Coordinating Unit of the Raptors MoU would facilitate and oversee the development of a Multi-species Action Plan to conserve African-Eurasian Vultures – an initiative based on CMS Resolution 11.14 (Programme of Work on Migratory Birds and Flyways) to address rapid declines of this group of birds known as the African Vulture Crisis. 

The international coalition to conserve migratory birds of prey in the African-Eurasian region grew further at the meeting.  The Union of the Comoros signed the Raptors MoU, bringing the total number of Signatories to 53, plus three Co-operating Partners.