Multi-Species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures

Vultures are a distinctive and important components of biodiversity. They also provide critical ecosystem services by cleaning up carcasses and other organic waste in the environment, which has huge ramifications in preventing the spread of diseases in both wild and domestic animals, and pathogenic risks to humans. The IUCN Red List status of African-Eurasian vultures has seen drastic changes for the worse in recent years. The main reason for this is major population declines of these species driven by poisoning, both intentional and otherwise. Several other threats have also been identified. The Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) provides a comprehensive, strategic conservation plan covering the geographic ranges (128 states) of all 15 species of migratory African-Eurasian vultures and promotes concerted, collaborative and coordinated international actions. The aim is to rapidly halt current population declines in 15 African-Eurasian vulture species: Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus, White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis, Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus, Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis, White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus, Indian Vulture Gyps indicus, Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris, Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres, Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli, Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus, Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus, and Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus. This includes bringing the conservation status of each species back to a favourable level and providing conservation management guidelines applicable to all Range States. The Vulture MsAP is a result of extensive consultation with stakeholders, conservation and species experts.