More Steps to Protect Migratory Birds Soon

The conference, being attended by delegates from around 50 countries, is organised by the Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi (EAD), in coordination with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Convention on Migratory Species(CMS) and UK’s Department of Food and Agriculture.“Birds of prey are exposed to threats from changing land use practices, pollution and lack of suitable breeding areas. Moreover, long-distance migrants are particularly vulnerable to additional pressures of hunting, power lines on their way and lack of suitable stopover sites, as they stop to refuel along their migration paths,” Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, said in his opening remarks.

According to a study commissioned by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 52 species of birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia are now threatened.

“Today we need urgent and affirmative action not only to safeguard these globally threatened birds of prey but also to improve the conservation status of many other migratory birds of prey, which are not listed as threatened at the moment but have poor conservation status,” the minister said.

Delegates are finalising the international agreement and action plan, which will be signed on Wednesday.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com