Over the past 100 years, populations of Morocco’s large birds of prey, such as the bearded and Egyptian vultures, suffered losses. The IUCN Red List designates the bearded vulture as Near Threatened and the Egyptian vulture is considered Endangered. Their greatest threats include poisoning and electrocution by power line. In fact, in a 2019 survey carried out by IUCN partners, 170 electrocuted birds were found along 80 km of power lines. This is why Moroccan conservationists and international partners are targeting these and other breeding raptors —including the golden, tawny and Bonelli’s eagles, northern goshawk, osprey, Eleonora’s and peregrine falcons—with a new conservation strategy that aims to ensure a future for these species in the country.
In January, CPSG’s Jamie Copsey facilitated a workshop in Rabat, Morocco to undertake a comprehensive review of the causes, impacts, and threats facing Morocco's priority birds of prey as a first step toward developing this new national strategy.
“It is hugely rewarding to work with such an engaged and collaborative group of conservation professionals.” Copsey said. “The review completed in this workshop will form the basis of our understanding going into full action planning for these iconic species later this year.”
The review built on the results of surveys carried out in 2017 by Moroccan and Spanish experts. The new strategy depends on cooperation between the two countries, as the birds migrate between them, encountering threats to their survival along their migratory paths.
"Migratory birds face increasing threats on their long journeys,” said IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med) Director Antonio Troya. “Given the migratory behavior of these species, it is essential to address common conservation problems in a coordinated manner, taking advantage of the interaction of certain populations, such as some raptors between Spain and Morocco. The exchange of knowledge among different institutions in each country is essential to conserve migratory birds and their habitats in North Africa.”
The workshop was led by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests in partnership with IUCN-Med. Experts, representing NGOs and governments of both Morocco and Spain, as well as European zoos, worked to ensure strong cooperation and the success of the strategy that is taking shape to change the future for raptors in Morocco.