Launch marks a bold step towards conserving vultures in the subregion

24 April 2024 - The launch of the West African Vulture Conservation Action Plan (WAVCAP) marks a significant milestone in the efforts to safeguard vultures in the subregion. Vultures, essential for maintaining ecological balance by scavenging on decaying carcasses, have experienced alarming declines, with African vulture populations plummeting by 80-97% over the last five decades, with some species facing a decline of over 92%. The main threats include poisoning (responsible for 61% of recorded vulture deaths across Africa); belief-based use (29%); and electrocution by energy infrastructure (9%). Halting and reversing these declines is imperative to prevent vultures from becoming extinct.

In West Africa, widespread poisoning of vultures for belief-based use poses a severe threat, with incidents such as mass poisoning in Guinea-Bissau in 2020 resulting in the death of over 2000 Critically Endangered Hooded Vultures. Other threats in the region include direct killing for meat and habitat destruction. Urgent intervention is needed to address these unsustainable losses.

The development of the WAVCAP is a result of collaborative efforts involving individuals and institutions dedicated to vulture conservation. The Plan aims to address key threats faced by vultures in West Africa, with a focus on reducing the imminent threat posed by belief-based use. The vision of the WAVCAP is to ensure that by 2043, vulture populations across West Africa have achieved sustainable levels, have become protected by effective legal frameworks, and are thriving in a healthy environment in harmony with people. The Plan targets actions to be carried out across 16 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte D'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. While ambitious, this vision is essential for the conservation of vultures in the subregion.

The WAVCAP builds upon the groundwork laid by the CMS Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) and responds directly to the CMS Resolution 12.10 (Rev.COP14) on Conservation of Arican-Eurasian Vultures. It urges CMS Parties and non-Parties to implement the Plan and emphasises the need for subregional and international collaboration to safeguard vulture populations.  Further, the Plan calls for action from governments, civil society, academia, and local communities to commit to saving Africa’s vultures.

Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, Federal Minister of State Environment, Nigeria said:  

"The vulture bird is an important member of our ecosystem that does the dirty work of cleaning our environment of carcasses, keeping it healthy and preventing diseases. Vultures are also our important ally in preventing illegal poaching. Unfortunately, over the years, their survival has become threatened by indiscriminate harvesting for use in traditional medicine and deliberate poisoning by illegal poachers. The West Africa Vulture Conservation Action Plan, which spells out the critical actions we need to undertake to save the vulture, is therefore a commendable initiative that I support on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria. The change we seek can only come from making commitments to save these birds as enshrined in the Plan.”

Ms. Rouba Abou-Atieh, Executive Coordinator of the CMS Office - Abu Dhabi, which hosts the Coordinating Unit of the Raptors MOU said:

“Vultures play a vital role in our natural ecosystems and cultural heritage. Their presence is not only enriching but also essential for maintaining a healthy environment. The decline of vulture populations in South Asia resulted in a surge of diseases, leading to over 500,000 additional human deaths within just a few years. It is imperative to prevent similar consequences in Africa. The Raptors MOU serves as a mechanism for fostering international collaboration to safeguard vulture populations, ensuring they can continue to provide crucial ecosystem services vital for environmental integrity and human well-being.”

Mr. Kariuki Ndang’ang’a, Regional Director for Africa, BirdLife International said:

“The West Africa Vulture Conservation Action Plan could not have come at more opportune time. As vultures continue to decline, our efforts and actions should match the vulture crisis. With Africa being home to 11 species vultures of which six are known to occur in West Africa the continent should be on the forefront of saving the species. I am hopeful, that the coordinated operationalisation of WAVCAP, and support from key stakeholders including governments and local communities will turn the tide for vultures in West Africa.”

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Notes to Editors:

A full version of the West African Vulture Conservation Action Plan can be downloaded here.

Photos can be downloaded here.

Media contacts

Coordinating Unit of the Raptors MOU, CMS Office – Abu Dhabi, [email protected].

Lewis Kihumba, Communications Manager - Africa, BirdLife International, [email protected], +254 723 736855.

About CMS and the Raptors MOU

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is an environmental treaty of the United Nations that provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. CMS brings together the Range States of migratory animals and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout their migratory range.

The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU) is an international agreement established under the framework of CMS. It aims to promote internationally coordinated actions to achieve and maintain the favourable conservation status of migratory birds of prey throughout their range in the African-Eurasian region, and to reverse their decline when and where appropriate.

About BirdLife International

BirdLife is the world’s largest conservation partnership with over 10 million members and supporters, and over 115 national partners worldwide (25 in Africa) - one per country. The partnership strives to conserve birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. https://www.birdlife.org/

About Nigerian Conservation Foundation:

NCF is the premier NGO dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria. Established in 1980, the Foundation has a vision of "a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature". NCF operations focus on environmental education, biodiversity conservation, policy advocacy, public sensitization on environmental issues, mitigating environmental pollution and poverty reduction. NCF is the BirdLife partner in Nigeria. https://www.ncfnigeria.org/