International commitment is
needed now from over 120 countries to ensure the recovery of 15 vulture
species.
African-Eurasian Vultures are the
most threatened group of terrestrial migratory birds on the planet. Many have
extensive soaring migrations (and a Rüppell's Vulture Gyps
rueppelli was recorded as the world's highest-flying bird when it collided
with an airliner), and their massive ranges mean that their safety can only be
guaranteed if many countries come together and agree on a plan for their
protection. This is where BirdLife International's work comes in, supported by
Partners around the world, with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (CMS) providing a key platform.
It's a huge problem and a huge
area, so we have made an appropriate plan: namely, the Multi-species Action
Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP), developed by
BirdLife, the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Vulture Specialist Group and
Vulture Conservation Foundation, under the guidance of the CMS Memorandum of
Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and
Eurasia (Raptors MOU), with input from numerous individual experts on vultures
and their conservation.
"We as conservation
organisations recognise the importance of vultures and are doing all we can to
save them, but this colossal task needs action on an unprecedented scale
through the support of governments as well as the private sector and many
others", says Roger Safford, Senior Programme Manager, Preventing
Extinctions, BirdLife International. The comprehensive action plan sets out actions,
and links to practical guidance, for governments of the 128 countries in Africa
and Eurasia that have vultures (Vulture Range States), and other stakeholders,
on preventing poisoning, avoiding electrocution and collisions with energy
infrastructure, tackling persecution and illegal trade, restoring habitat, and
ensuring natural food supplies.
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