Ap_annex 3 to the mou_final

ACTION PLAN
FOR THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY BIRDS OF PREY
IN AFRICA AND EURASIA
General Aim

The general aim is to ensure that all populations of African-Eurasian migratory birds of
prey (including owls) are maintained in, or returned to, Favourable Conservation Status
within the meaning of Article 1(c) of the Convention.
2.
Objectives

For the effective period of this Action Plan, the following objectives are set:
a)
To halt and reverse the population declines1 of globally threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) and Near Threatened birds of prey and alleviate threats to them such that they are no longer globally threatened or Near Threatened; To halt and reverse the population declines of other birds of prey with an Unfavourable Conservation Status within Africa and Eurasia and alleviate threats to them in order to return their populations to Favourable Conservation Status; and To anticipate, reduce and avoid potential and new threats to all bird of prey species, especially to prevent the populations of any species undergoing long-term decline. Species Categories
The bird of prey species included in Annex 1 of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are assigned within the following categories: Category 1: Globally threatened and Near Threatened species as defined according to the latest IUCN Red List and listed as such in the BirdLife International World Bird Database; Category 2: Species considered to have Unfavourable Conservation Status at a regional level within the Range States and territories listed in Annex 2 to the MoU; and Category 3: all other migratory species. 1 Population decline is taken to mean a reduction in abundance or range. The species in Annex 1 of this MoU are assigned to the categories provided for in paragraph 3.1 as given in Table 1, for the effective period of this Action Plan, unless Table 1 is amended in accordance with a procedure to be agreed by the Signatories at the first session of the Meeting of Signatories. Priority Actions

Taking into account the predicted impacts of threats and opportunities for reducing them,
the actions for achieving the objectives given in paragraph 2 are considered to be:
a.
Protecting all species from unlawful killing, including poisoning, shooting, persecution, and unsustainable exploitation; Promoting, as far as possible, high environmental standards, including through Environmental Impact Assessments, in the planning and construction of structures to minimise their impact on species, particularly by collision and electrocution, and seeking to minimise the impact of existing structures where it becomes evident that they constitute a negative impact for the species concerned; Conserving bird of prey habitats by encouraging an Ecosystem Approach to sustainable development and sectoral land use practices, as envisaged in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Ecosystem Approach (CBD V/6 and VII/11); Protecting and/or appropriately managing important sites: especially where Category 1 species breed, and all migration bottlenecks (known important sites are listed in Table 3); Taking into account the needs of bird of prey conservation in sectors and related policies such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industries, tourism, energy, chemicals and pesticides; Raising awareness about birds of prey, their current plight and the threats that they face, and the measures that need to be taken to conserve them; Assessing and monitoring of populations throughout the Range States to establish reliable population trends; conducting research to establish the impacts of threats on them and the measures that are needed to alleviate them; and, sharing information between Signatories and other Range States; Conducting research on species ecology and migratory behaviour, including analysing available data in order to describe flyway boundaries and migratory patterns, and routes, at the level of species’ populations; and Building capacity for conservation actions (in relevant institutions and local communities) by developing knowledge and monitoring of birds of prey. Implementation Framework
Activities The principal activities Signatories ought to undertake in order to
implement the general provisions of the MoU and the specific issues addressed in
this Action Plan are set out in Table 2. These activities will be addressed by the
strategies, or equivalent documents, as envisaged by paragraph 12 of the MoU.
The Coordinating Unit as envisaged by paragraph 16 of the MoU will assist
signatories with implementation.
Priorities The activities in Table 2 are accorded the following orders of priority:
First: an activity needed to prevent global extinction of a species. Second: an activity needed to prevent or reverse population declines in any globally threatened or Near Threatened species, or the majority of other species with an Unfavourable Conservation Status. Third: an activity needed to restore populations of a globally threatened or Near Threatened species, or to prevent population declines in any species with an Unfavourable Conservation Status. Fourth: an activity needed to restore populations in any species with an Unfavourable Conservation Status, or to prevent population declines in any species with a Favourable Conservation Status. These priorities ought to be taken into account in the preparation of strategies, or equivalent documents, for birds of prey as envisaged under paragraph 12 of the MoU. Time schedule The activities in Table 2 are accorded the following time
schedules:
Immediate: an activity expected to be completed within two years from the date that the MoU has become effective for that Signatory; Short term: an activity expected to be completed within three years from the date that the MoU has become effective for that Signatory; Medium: an activity expected to be completed within five years from the date that the MoU has become effective for that Signatory; Long term: an activity expected to be completed within seven years from the date that the MoU has become effective for that Signatory; and Ongoing: an activity expected to be undertaken throughout the period that the MoU is effective for that Signatory. Responsibilities The organisations expected to lead on the various activities are
indicated in Table 2. Signatories are urged to encourage the full range of
necessary organisations to participate in the implementation of this Action Plan
whether or not they are currently Signatories to the MoU.
Targets The Coordinating Unit will monitor the progress and efficacy of this
Action Plan according to the performance targets for certain activities given in
Table 2.
Synergy with MEAs

Insofar as a Range State or a Regional Economic Integration Organisation (REIO)
Signatory which is represented as a Signatory to this Memorandum of Understanding is
also Contracting Party to one or more Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
that has or have provisions that achieve or otherwise assist the aims, objectives and
activities of this Action Plan, such MEAs will be applied as appropriate and to their full
extent in the first instance.
7.
Progress Reports

Taking advice from Signatories on their progress in implementing this Action Plan as
envisaged in paragraphs 12 and 14 of the MoU, the Secretariat will report on progress
with implementing the Action Plan in accordance with paragraph 15 of the MoU.
8.
Period of Effectiveness

This Action Plan comes into effect on the same date as the MoU for a period of seven
years. At least two years before the expiry of this period, a full review of the Action Plan
will be undertaken and a revised version prepared for the approval of the Signatories.
Table 1: Categorisation of African-Eurasian birds of prey covered
by the Action Plan(1, 2)

Category 1

Scientific name
Vernacular name
Red List status(3)

Category 2(4)
Scientific name
Vernacular name

Category 3(5)
Scientific name
Vernacular name

Notes
1: Listed in Annex 1 of this MoU
2: Some species have uncertain migratory status and are not currently included in Annex 1 of this MoU
3: Globally threatened and Near Threatened species as defined by IUCN and listed on BirdLife International’s World
Bird Database (EN = Endangered; VU = Vulnerable; NT = Near Threatened) as at 2008 4: Species that are considered to have Unfavourable Conservation Status at a regional level within the area (defined Table 2: Activities to be done under paragraph 5 of the Action Plan
Activities
Species Countries Priority
Organisations Target
Activity 1: Improvement of legal protection
grounds) where this is considered detrimental to the conservation of the species; and c) egg-collection and taking from the wild. Unless this is authorised by the competent body and only where the action is sustainable and not detrimental to the conservation status of the species concerned introduced. Details are relayed to Secretariat and included in national reports Activities
Species Countries Priority
Organisations Target
Activity 2: Protect and/or manage important sites and flyways
appropriately managed sites taking bird of prey conservation requirements into account potential causes of significant incidental mortality from human causes (including fire, laying poisons, pesticide use, power lines, wind turbines) Activity 3: Habitat conservation and sustainable management
former grassland habitats having natural vegetation cover and under sustainable management Activities
Species Countries Priority
Organisations Target
of prey are modified to avoid bird of prey electrocution industries, tourism, energy, chemicals and pesticides Activity 4: Raise awareness of problems faced by birds of prey and measures needed to conserve
them
to them and actions, including review of superstitions about them, that can be taken to conserve them spectral actions that can be taken to conserve them actions that can be taken to conserve them Activities
Species Countries Priority
Organisations Target
of birds of prey, and the need to monitor and protect them Activity 5: Monitor bird of prey populations, carry out conservation research and take appropriate
remedial measures
Immediate Governments, Monitoring network numbers (spring and autumn) can be undertaken Secretariat and included in national reports; breeding and migratory population trends reliably established measures to maintain Favourable Conservation Status and their survival, identify and then implement appropriate measures to assist in achieving and maintaining Favourable Conservation Status Activities
Species Countries Priority
Organisations Target
captive breeding), where this is shown to improve their conservation status in the wild, and where these are in accord with IUCN guidelines as to inform conservation and management responses Activity 6: Supporting measures
Second Immediate Governments, National, Regional implemented with particular regard for Cat. 1 and Cat. 2 species, submitted to the Secretariat before the First Meeting of Signatories Activities
Species Countries Priority
Organisations Target
ornithological & globally threatened collated from the Signatories, the Secretariat proposes amendments to Tables 1 and 3 of this Action Plan for approval by the Signatories concerning monitoring, scientific research and conservation activities Table 3: Provisional list of Important Bird Areas that are currently known to be
important congregatory bird of prey sites in Africa and Eurasia
These include sites that qualify according to global and regional criteria for globally
threatened species and congregations of migratory birds.
This indicative list should be treated as a minimum list of internationally important areas.

Armenia
Haute chaîne du Jura: défilé de l'écluse, Haute Soule : Forêt d'Irraty, Organbidexka Azerbaijan
Bulgaria
Val de Drôme: Les Ramières-printegarde China (mainland)
Gibraltar (to UK)
Marstal Bugt and the coast of south-west Djibouti
Jezre’el, Harod and Bet She’an valleys Southern Arava valley and Elat Mountains Lithuania
Madagascar
Switzerland
Mongolia
Syrian Arab Republic
Palestinian Authority Territories
Portugal
Chudsko-Pskovski Lake and adjacent areas
Delta of the River Don
Irendyk ridge
South Baikal migratory corridor
Teberdinski Nature Reserve
Saudi Arabia
Farasan
Wadi Jizan

Source: http://cms.eaudeweb.ro/sites/default/files/document/Raptors_Action_Plan_E_0.pdf