UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.1.4/Rev.1 African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) Improving the Conservation Status of Migratory Landbird Species in the African-Eurasian Region (Prepared by the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Working Group) Version 28 April 2014 1 UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.1.4/Rev.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) is aimed at improving the conservation status of migratory landbird species in the African-Eurasian region through the international coordination of action for these species, and catalysing action at the national level. The overall goal is to develop an initial overarching, strategic framework for action at the international level to conserve, restore and sustainably manage populations of migratory landbird species and their habitats. This complements the work of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptor MoU) to restore the status of other African-Eurasian bird species. This Action Plan covers 34 globally threatened migratory landbird species, 124 Least Concern migratory landbird species with decreasing global population trends and 346 Least Concern migratory landbird species with increasing, stable or unknown global population trends. Consult Annex 1 and 3 for the background information and species list, respectively. The thematic areas of the AEMLAP focus are habitat conservation, taking and trade, research and monitoring, and education and information, as well as ‘other issues’ covering diseases and collision. The most important identified threat to migratory landbird species is habitat loss and degradation at breeding and non-breeding sites, as well as at the network of sites these species depend on during migration. Taking and trade for economic and cultural purposes can also negatively influence some populations. Other threats include the risk of disease and collision. In response to these threats, there is an urgent need for research and monitoring as well as education and information to provide useful data that directs conservation efforts and increases public awareness and support, respectively. All of these threats and responses are covered by the various actions contained in this Action Plan. 2 UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.1.4/Rev.1 AFRICAN-EURASIAN MIGRATORY LANDBIRD SPECIES ACTION PLAN INTRODUCTION The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), signed at Bonn on 23 June 1979, calls for international co-operative action to conserve migratory species. Article IV.4 of the Convention encourages Parties to conclude agreements, including non-legally binding administrative agreements, in respect of any populations of migratory species. Accordingly, at the 10th Conference of the Parties (CoP) of CMS, Resolution 10.27 on Improving the Conservation Status of Migratory Landbirds in the African Eurasian Region was adopted. It urges Parties to develop an Action Plan for the conservation of African-Eurasian migrant landbird species and their habitats throughout the flyway, and calls for the establishment of a working group to steer the production and implementation of the Action Plan. To this end, the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbird Working Group (AEML-WG) and Steering Group (AEML-SG) were set up. The AEML-WG is established under the CMS Scientific Council, and comprising technical and policy experts nominated by the Scientific Council, from across the African-Eurasian flyway region, contributing to the development and implementation of the Action Plan. The AEML-SG is a closed subset of the AEML-WG, coordinating the Action Plan development and implementation process. Migratory landbird species constitute an important part of the global biological diversity which, in keeping with the spirit of the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and Agenda 21, should be conserved for the benefit of present and future generations. Many populations of migratory landbird species that migrate over long distances between and within Africa and Eurasia are particularly vulnerable because they cross the territory of different countries, and make these annual and cyclic movements on a broad front – having a widely dispersed distribution across habitats. There is increasing concern regarding the considerable number of African-Eurasian migratory landbird species, especially those that spend the non-breeding season south of the Sahara, that have declining population trends at a national, regional and/or global level. There is also concern over the lack of knowledge of the status and trends of many migratory landbird species in Africa and Asia. Urgent action is needed to reverse significant and potentially significant population declines. 3 UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.1.4/Rev.1 Among the factors which contribute to the unfavourable conservation status of many African-Eurasian migratory landbird species, the loss, degradation and fragmentation of habitats resulting from human economic activities and land-use practices with negative effects on biodiversity is of high priority. Climate change is likely to have an exacerbating effect, causing a temporal and spatial ecological dyssynchrony that adversely influences migratory landbird populations. This document constitutes a unifying international plan of action to focus implementation and delivery to address the key pressures facing migratory landbird species within the African-Eurasian flyway. It details specific actions, however the mode of implementation is dependent on strategies and resource availability in and across Range States in the African-Eurasian flyway region. This Action Plan complements the work of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptor MoU), also encompassing the CMS MoUs on Aquatic Warbler and Middle European Great Bustard, as well as identify areas of synergy with other instruments that have the potential to contribute to the conservation of migratory bird species, such as the Bern Convention. There is the need for immediate and concerted international actions to conserve African-Eurasian migratory landbird species and to maintain and/or restore their populations to a favourable conservation status. The effective implementation and enforcement of the actions listed in this Action Plan depends on the involvement of, and cooperation between, all Range States in the region, as well as relevant international and national intergovernmental, non-governmental and private sector organisations, with the aim of encouraging research, training and awareness-raising to maintain, restore, manage and monitor migratory landbird species. Consult Annex 1 for further details on the introduction and background information. The aim of this Action Plan is to improve the conservation status of migratory landbird species in the African-Eurasian region through international coordination of action for these species, and catalysing necessary actions at the national level. The overall goal is to develop an initial overarching and common strategic framework for action at the international level to protect, conserve, restore, and sustainably manage populations of migratory landbird species and their habitats in the African-Eurasian region. 4 UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.1.4/Rev.1 SCOPE OF ACTION PLAN The geographic scope of this Action Plan is the area of the migration systems of African-Eurasian landbird species, hereafter referred to as the ‘Action Plan area’. This includes Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. Consult Annex 2 for the map of the Action Plan area and list of Range States. The taxonomic scope comprises populations of Galliformes, Gruiformes, Charadriformes, Columbiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes, Cuculiformes, Coraciiformes, Piciformes and Passeriformes, which are principally ecologically dependent on terrestrial habitats and for which the entire population, or significant proportions of the population, cyclically and predictably cross one or more national jurisdictional boundaries. The migratory landbird species covered by this Action Plan are further classified into three categories: - A (globally threatened and near-threatened), - B (Least Concern, but with decreasing global population trends), and - C (Least Concern, with increasing, stable or unknown global population trends). Migratory landbird species covered by AEWA, the Raptor MoU or other instruments have been included, but indicated as such in Annex 3 of this Action Plan. Consult Annex 3 for the detailed species list. THREATS TO MIGRATORY LANDBIRD SPECIES Migratory landbird species depend on a variety of terrestrial habitats throughout the flyway. Factors that limit population trends may occur in breeding, stop-over or non-breeding sites and landscapes. Habitat loss and degradation poses the most important threat to migratory landbird species. Taking1 and trade for economic, subsistence, recreational and cultural purposes may also negatively influence their populations. Other threats include the risk of disease and collision. Besides direct action to address these pressures, there is an urgent need for research and monitoring as well as education and information to provide useful data that directs conservation efforts and increases public awareness and support, respectively.