Submitted by
Chris.BOWDEN
on Sat, 01/27/2018 - 11:16
General Information
Resolution
46439
IUCN Constituent
IUCN SSC Vulture Specialist Group 2017-2020
IUCN Constituent type
IUCN Species Survival Commission 2017-2020
Period covered
Geographic scope
Global
Actors involved in implementing this Resolution:
IUCN Members
Prokriti O Jibon Foundation ( Bangladesh )
Royal Society for Protection of Nature ( Bhutan )
Aaranyak ( India )
Bird Conservation Nepal/Nepal Panchhi Samrakchyan Sangh ( Nepal )
World Wide Fund - Pakistan ( Pakistan )
Endangered Wildlife Trust ( South Africa )
Zoological Society of London ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland )
BirdLife International ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland )
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland )
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland )
IUCN Commissions
F717E09E-5094-E611-97F4-005056BA6623
IUCN Secretariat
Yes
Other non-IUCN related organisations
Multiple, Vulture Conservation Foundation, Arulagam
II. Implementation
Activities carried out to implement this Resolution
Activity
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Description and results/achievements of activities:
Annual SAVE meeting pulled 21 partners including Govts together, and reviewed the Blueprint recovery plan. Govts regional steering committee also met. And a South India meeting was held in Jan 2018.
Status
On-going
Activity
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Description and results/achievements of activities:
A huge body of work being carried out mainly in South Asia by SAVE partners, BNHS, Arulagam, Corbett Foundation is underway.
Status
On-going
Activity
Field activities
Description and results/achievements of activities:
Through SAVE network in South Asia, a range of NSAID monitoring activities as well as awareness work, and safety-testing on vultures.
Status
On-going
Activity
Policy influencing/advocacy
Description and results/achievements of activities:
Key success in 2017 was the upholding of the Indian Govt Multi-dose vials of human diclofenac ban, which was challenged in the court. Arulagam, BNHS and SAVE (RSPB) had important roles in this successful defencce, along with Indian Health Ministryt and ministry of Environment. There are furher measures needed for the other NSAIDs. In Europe, there was a concerted campaign involving BlirdLife, Vulture Conservation Foundation and SEO Birdlife (Spain) to drive a diclofenac ban in EU states, especially Spain. In addition, there has been a lote of effort to define an international action plan incorporating the central theme of the resolution - this is the CMS Raptors MoU 'Multi-species action plan for old workd vultures. This was finalized in 2017 and adopted at CMS CoP in Manila October 2017.
Status
On-going
Activity
Scientific/technical activities
Description and results/achievements of activities:
Safety testing on Himalayan Griffons started Nov 2017, and is a key action. This is happening through SAVE, BNHS, IVRI. Completing this for up to ten drugs (one has begun only so a lot to do!) is crucial.
Status
On-going
Describe any challenges encountered in implementing this Resolution and the measures taken
The courtcase in Madras High Court (see above) has been a big concern in India (now successfully diffused thankfully).
Please report on the result /achievement of the actions taken
Key actions were the successful upholding of the India multi-dose larger vials of human diclofenac in the face of a court challenge brought by two prominent pharmaceutical companies. Also in South Asia, the Bangladesh Government banned ketoprofen and aceclofenac in 25% of the country where most vultures occur. Probably the major progress however was the initiation of safety-testing of NSAIDs on Gyps himalayensis in India, through a government institution with SAVE and BNHS involvement and direction. In Europe, there was significant activity and engagemement of BirdLife International partnership, and Vulture Conservation Foundation, as well as specifically by SEO Birdlife in Spain. The prospect of reversing the veterinary licensing of diclofenac in Spain at least is now looking more likely.
Report status
Published
Constituent type
IUCN Species Survival Commission 2017-2020