Linkage to multilateral environmental agreements through the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan

There is compelling evidence of widespread declines of African-Eurasian migratory landbirds in recent times. Status of migratory landbirds are good indicator of environmental health and ecosystem functioning. Thus, their... [ view full abstract ]

There is compelling evidence of widespread declines of African-Eurasian migratory landbirds in recent times. Status of migratory landbirds are good indicator of environmental health and ecosystem functioning. Thus, their conservation is critically important. BirdLife International have supported the development and implementation of a UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) initiative called the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP; also referred to as the Landbirds Plan). This is a multilateral environmental policy instrument aimed at turning the tide on the decline of migratory landbird species in the African-Eurasian flyways region and delivering on-the-ground actions. The AEMLAP geographic range coveres 128 countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, while the taxonomic range covers 502 avian species.
Necessitated by the relatively broad movements of migratory landbirds across a varied terrestrial range, the AEMLAP approach looks beyond site-based conservation methods to networking diverse local and international activities. The development of a strong network to advise on national priorities and regional coordination and support stakeholders to engage with CMS focal points and commit to co-ordinated implementation is key. AEMLAP complements the efforts of the other existing multilateral environmental agreements, e.g. AEWA and Raptor MoU.
The AEMLAP has employed a modular approach to tackling the multifaceted challenge of migratory landbird conservation; identifying habitat loss (agriculture, water management, energy development and climate change), taking and trade (legal and illegal hunting, trapping and poisoning), and disease and collision as major threat groups, as well as research and public engagement as major gaps. AEMLAP provides a vehicle for flyway-scale conservation policy, intervention, research, education and other actions, and has become a platform for multilateral engagement of governments and NGOs with academia, development agencies and private sector to delivery concerted conservation efforts.