Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Safe passage for migrating Birds of prey
New international measures to protect more than 70 of the world's migratory birds of prey and owls were agreed today.
A joint initiative by Britain and the United Arab Emirates, has secured an agreement by over twenty countries signed, in Abu Dhabi to protect migratory birds of prey and owls found in Europe, Africa and Asia.
The measures will provide protection along the bird's migratory routes and signatory countries have committed to:
* Identify and protect important habitats, routes and congregatory sites for birds of prey, and restore them if necessary.
* Work with neighbouring countries to ensure that habitats are maintained or established where they cross borders.
* Investigate and solve problems caused or likely to be caused by human activities
* Assist the recovery and re-introduction of bird populations where they have declined
Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for Wildlife said:
"I am delighted that we have been able to reach an international agreement to protect some of the world's most important birds of prey such as ospreys, golden eagles and snowy owls. We need these measures to protect birds of prey along the whole route that they travel on their annual migration, which can cross the boundaries of many different countries with different laws to protect wildlife."
John O'Sullivan of the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) said:
"Migratory birds are a particularly appropriate symbol of the need for international efforts in nature conservation."
"This key agreement will help ensure that migratory birds of prey and owls, including some of the world's most charismatic and threatened species, have a safer passage during their epic annual journeys".
Human activity has led to the decline in migratory bird of prey and owl species, with 50% of the world's species under threat from habitat loss and degradation, persecution, accidental killing, and climate change. Many of these birds have an important cultural role for communities across the world, they are an important part of the world's biodiversity, and can provide economic benefits for example through tourism.
Notes for Editors
1. In 2005 an independent study by Defra found that more than fifty percent of migratory birds of prey and owls in the African-Eurasian area were under threat either at the global or regional level, and that a global or regional agreement would help their conservation.
2. The Memorandum of Understanding follows the meeting in October 2007 in Loch Lomond, organised by Defra to seek agreement to take forward measures to tackle the threats faced by migratory birds of prey http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071025e.htm . It is formed as part of the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species.
3. The Memorandum of Understanding can be found at http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/birdsofprey/Doc_06_MoU_BOP_FinalText_Ea.pdf and further measures include:
-Preventing the introduction of non-native birds of prey, including hybrids where they would affect conservation of native species
-Encouraging and sharing research, and base conservation on it
-Raising awareness of the importance of birds of prey
-All countries or regions preparing a strategy for the conservation of their migratory birds of prey
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