DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref:
336/08) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 22 October 2008
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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