Cogradulations to all at BirdLife.
The 10th Meeting of the
Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species (CMS) made a number of decisions that should lead to
significant improvements in the conservation status of the world’s migratory
birds.
As well as agreeing a new policy
framework for streamlining of conservation work across the world’s flyways,
resolutions were adopted that should see the development of a flyway action
plan for African-Eurasian land birds, the development of guidelines on
minimizing poisoning of birds and the application of updated guidelines on
minimizing the impacts of power lines on birds.
“The excellent spirit of
collaboration among delegates from both the governmental and non-governmental
sectors as well as other stakeholders at COP10 was a demonstration that the CMS
is THE global intergovernmental framework for delivering on the ground species
conservation” said Nicola Crockford, head of the BirdLife delegation. “The
CMS’s importance for delivering BirdLife’s conservation objectives continues to
grow as its future shape evolves.”
Resolution 10.27 on improving the
Conservation Status of Migratory Land birds in the African Eurasian Region was
proposed by Ghana following
a meeting with the High Commissioner for Ghana at the British Bird watching
Fair in August. The resolution seeks to improve the conservation status of
these mostly passerine species, which are probably declining faster than any
other suite of birds in the region.
Most African-Eurasian migratory land
birds are not covered by current flyway initiatives and conservation
activities. They tend to be widely dispersed, migrating over a broad front, and
face a range of different threats on their breeding, passage and wintering
grounds. To address these, thanks to the support of the Government of
Switzerland, an international action plan will be developed during the course
of the next three years coordinated through the forum of the CMS.
The meeting also adopted
Resolution 10.26 on Minimizing the Risk of Poisoning to Migratory Birds as
proposed by Switzerland.
Funding is being sought to develop the first ever global guidelines on how to
combat the threat of poisoning.
Resolution 10.11 on Power Lines
and Migratory Species provided an important update on guidelines to minimize
the impact of power lines on migratory birds.
BirdLife also proposed paragraphs
adopted in resolutions on synergies and partnerships and on capacity building
to promote the concept of national biodiversity working groups to ensure on the
ground implementation of the biodiversity conventions.
With the adoption of Resolution
10.10 on Guidance on Global Flyway Conservation and Options for Policy
Arrangements, developed by the CMS Flyway Working Group of which BirdLife was a
member, for the first time a proposed overarching framework was provided for
all work under CMS on migratory birds.
The globally Vulnerable Far
Eastern Curlew Numenius
madagascariensis, Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis and Saker
Falcon Falco cherrug were
added to Appendix 1 (migratory species in danger of extinction), together with
the Red-footed Falcon Falco
vespertinus, and the Bobolink Dolichonyx
oryzivorus to Appendix II (migratory species that would benefit
significantly from international co-operation).
BirdLife and its Partners hosted
and co-hosted a number of side events on topics including Global Water bird
Flyway Conservation best practice, with a focus on East Asian intertidal habitats
and the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus; the
Vulnerable Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus
paludicola (APB, BirdLife in Belarus); Vulnerable Lesser
White-fronted Goose Anser
erythropus (NOF, BirdLife in Norway); the MOU on South American
Grasslands (Guyra Paraguay); and the Saiga Antelope Saiga tatarica (ACBK, BirdLife in Kazakhstan).
Dr Leon Bennun, BirdLife’s
Director of Science, was elected CMS Appointed Councillor for Birds.