Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Field activities
Policy influencing/advocacy
Scientific/technical activities
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
The implementation of the resolution is well advanced and well followed through by the IUCN members (listed above) with other partners.
Major activities include:
Convene stakeholders/Networking:
Continued to promote the CMS Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP, adopted by CMS parties in 2017) by CMS parties and other stakeholders
With BirdLife Partners and other organisations, helped Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Secretariat to convene a high-level meeting following the disastrous sentinel poisoning incident in NE Botswana in mid 2019, issued strong condemnation and called on governments to take action to prevent further similar incidents; also contributed to a letter to African Union (coordinated by IUCN VSG) on the subject.
Education/Communication/Raising awareness: All anti-poisoning activities described under 'Field Activities' below include strong components of awareness-raising and education on the importance of vultures and impacts of poisoning. A wide range of activities was carried out to support International Vulture Awareness Day, through Wildlife Clubs Vulture conservation news was reported via BirdLife's website, with several new stories published this year
Field activities:
AFRICA: Actions to save Africa's vultures from poisoning continued in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia by BirdLife Partners.
ASIA: BirdLife is a Partner in the SAVE (Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction) consortium. Work in S Asia is reported on separately by other members of SAVE. In SE Asia, the BirdLife Secretariat has been more directly involved in supporting vulture conservation action in relation to NSAIDs, poison baits and vulture feeding stations in Cambodia and Myanmar.
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA (FLYWAYS): In Europe and Africa, several BirdLife Partners and other collaborating organisations are taking action for vultures with particular attention to Egyptian Vulture in Eastern Europe, coordinated by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, with a project extending to the Sahel in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Niger and Chad. Fieldwork in Ethiopia has found large numbers of Egyptian Vultures but found these to be highly vulnerable to electrocution on poorly designed electricity transmission infrastructure and measures are now being developed to mainstream better practices or retrofit existing dangerous pylons in priority areas.
Policy influencing/advocacy:
Attempts to have vulture-toxic veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs withdrawn in Europe have not been successful (e.g. the Spanish Government has extended the license), but BirdLife and other partners helped to secure a ban on veterinary diclofenac in Cambodia, rapidly following discovery of availability of this vulture-toxic drug in the country. In Myanmar, a project to assess the risk from veterinary diclofenac is underway.
Policy influencing/advocacy:
Supported the adoption of CITES decisions 18.186-192 on West African vultures, with particular attention to the trade in body parts for belief-based use, also with reference to the problem of sentinel poisoning; side-event at CITES COP and intervention in committee discussion helped ensure decisions were adopted.
Scientific/technical activities Led on publication of a multi-authored opinion piece for the journal Bird Conservation International on ‘Vulture conservation: the case for urgent action’ to further encourage implementation of the MsAP and propose practical ways to advance.
Vulture Safe Zones as a concept for Africa advanced with expanded areas being tested, and guidance developed.
The ban on veterinary diclofenac in Cambodia was a positive step, showing the way for other countries, and a welcome change from the expanding availability of NSAIDs elsewhere.
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
Despite local successes in (apparently) reducing poisoning incidence, poisoning continues, with a particularly bad spate of events in southern Africa including the death of 537 vultures in a single 'sentinel poisoning'. Awareness and condemnation are increasing, with media reporting of such events which previously might have been ignored, but the drivers are deep-rooted.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
Convene stakeholders/Networking: Continue to promote increasing BirdLife network contribution to implementation the Vulture MsAP, collaborating with other organisations.
Education/Communication/Raising awareness: Continue programmes to promote vultures in a positive light to decision-makers and the public, including by demonstrating their ecosystem service values. Increased emphasis on belief-based use and other threats in West Africa following new opportunities there, in particular through CITES.
Field activities: Continue and expand anti-poisoning and Vulture Safe Zone programmes in Africa with replication and continuation of the rapid response and emergency funding mechanisms
Policy influencing/advocacy: Increase pressure to ban vulture-toxic veterinary NSAIDs and carry out safety testing on more veterinary medicines. Increase efforts to address threats of collision and electrocution with energy infrastructure through work in Ethiopia, Kenya and further N on Red Sea Flyway.
Are these actions planned for yet:
