The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of 36 species of birds of prey that breed in northern Africa. The report provides the basis for the development of actions for the conservation and monitoring of breeding populations, as well as for the determination, protection and management of potential breeding sites.
The first assessment of birds of prey in North Africa by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List shows that nearly half of the species with breeding populations in the region are threatened with extinction.
Three species were classified as regionally extinct. both the black vultureaegypius monachus) like the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila Adalberti) have not been observed as breeders for decades in North Africa, while the goshawk dark lizard (Melierax metabolites) was declared regionally extinct in 2007.
The main current threats to raptors in this region are poaching and illegal trade, poisoning and interaction with infrastructure such as power lines, which are reducing breeding populations. Another important danger is the use of pesticides and rodenticides in agriculture, which can have a negative impact on reproductive success, as well as causing a decrease in prey density and secondary poisoning from the consumption of contaminated carcasses.
Added to this is the loss of forest habitats, agroecosystems and wetlands, which in one way or another potentially affect a large part of the species present in this area.
Lack of data makes it difficult to preserve
The IUCN report it also highlights the paucity of data on birds of prey in the North Africa region. There is a significant lack of information on population distribution, size and trends, as well as threats, with 42% of species showing unknown population trends.
“Despite the limitations of current conservation knowledge, it is clear that a strategy to protect birds of prey in North Africa is urgently needed. Failure to act quickly could lead to the collapse of regional raptor populations and perhaps many ecosystems in which birds of prey play a key role.“, stand out Hichem Azafzaf, coordinator of the association’s scientific program Les Amis des Oiseaux (AAO / BirdLife, Tunisia).
This assessment aims to provide a baseline for the development of conservation actions and monitoring of breeding populations and their distribution, in order to understand their conservation status and to determine, protect and manage potential breeding sites and key breeding areas.
“Species management can only be effective with a clear understanding of the conservation status of the taxa we intend to protect. Therefore, collaborative research and monitoring is needed, especially on the size and distribution of breeding populations and the specific impact of threats on them. We have to address these gaps if we really want to preserve the biodiversity of birds of prey in North Africa.“, comments Fabrice Cuzin, focal point for the preparation of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Birds of Prey in Morocco.
Key to ecosystem functioning
Birds of prey are essential organisms for the functioning of ecosystems and provide a number of environmental services vital to human well-being, such as controlling rodent pests, eliminating the remains of dead animals through garbage collection and generating wealth by through ecotourism. Furthermore, they are fundamental elements in the food web, such as predators and scavengers, which makes them good indicators of ecosystem health.
“Better knowledge about biodiversity, including threats and conservation measures, will help drive conservation actions. This Red List is further proof that efforts to halt biodiversity loss in the region need a big boost in the coming years to safeguard natural capital for future generations.”, explains Antonio Troya, director of the IUCN Mediterranean Cooperation Center.
This report is part of the activities of the IUCN Mediterranean Cooperation Center (IUCN-Med) that contribute to the MAVA M7 Action Plan – Reducing the mortality of migratory birds and vultures. A joint effort by BirdLife International, the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), Tour du Valat, Euronatur, WWF-Spain and WWF-Greece with the aim of improving bird habitats and minimizing or eliminating priority bird species for intentional killing and accidental.
Reference:
Garrido López et al. “The state of conservation and distribution of North African breeding birds of prey.” IUCN: Gland, Switzerland (2021)
