Vulture updates - October 2017 - Around the World of Vultures & VSG activities

Abstract

Multi-species Action Plan (MsAP): On 29 Nov 2016 in Mumbai, India, the co-chairs of the IUCN SSC VSG signed an agreement as co-operating partner with the CMS Raptors MoU. This formalises the VSG’s support and commitment to implementation of the Raptors MoU in Africa and Eurasia and further cements the working relationship established as a partner in the drafting of the CMS Vulture MsAP. Members are invited to peruse the formatted version of the Final Draft of the Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve AfricanEurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) and also a concise Vulture MsAP summary that are now available online on the CMS COP12 web pages. This Final Draft Vulture MsAP was unanimously endorsed by the CMS Scientific Council at the 2nd Meeting of its Sessional Committee, which was held in July 2017 in Bonn, Germany. Significantly, the meeting also recommended CMS Parties accept the proposals covering all ten species of Old World vulture for listing on Appendix I to the Convention. For more details, please refer to the News item on the Raptors MOU website. A small team of VSG members attended the CMS COP12 in Manila, Philippines from the 2228 Oct 2017 and participated in a Side-Event co-organised with the CMS Raptors MoU Coordinating Unit, BirdLife International and Vulture Conservation Foundation. The event, entitled ‘Conserving African-Eurasian vultures for biodiversity and ecosystem services: the role of the Multi-species Action Plan’, was held on 24 Oct. Further vulture side events at the meeting featured Indian vultures (hosted by Indian Government), and the uplisting of Lappet-faced Vulture (hosted by the Saudi Wildlife Authority).