ISSUE 01 January 2014 |
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UNEP ON THE GROUND | |
Raptor experts meet in Edinburgh to plan conservation of migratory birds of prey | |
New priorities were set to assist signatory states in implementing the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU). The First Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group to the Raptors MOU brought together eminent raptor specialists to develop a two-year work plan aimed at addressing threats to migratory birds of prey. It convened on 20-23 January in Edinburgh, Scotland, thanks to the generous support received from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Scottish Government, and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Raptors act as sentinels to the health of the environment, including for human well-being. The conservation status of most of these species is currently classified under IUCN criteria as ‘unfavourable’, primarily due to human-related factors.
Addressing the main threats to migratory birds of prey, such as electrocution, poisoning and illegal persecution are the highest priorities for the next two years. Since many of these threats also affect other wildlife species, the Group recognized the need to work with other Multilateral Environmental Agreements to achieve effective outcomes. Governments, industry, landowners as well as scientists and conservation bodies also need to play a role in this process.
The Technical Advisory Group was established in July 2013. It comprises ten Regional Representatives covering Africa, Asia, Europe , the Middle East and North Africa, five additional raptors specialists, and a representative from BirdLife International, the IUCN delegated Red List Authority for birds.
Acknowledging the logistical challenges of working in a geographically widespread group, the Raptors MOU has developed an online Workspace: an innovative and powerful platform that facilitates participation, promotes communication, and provides real opportunities for online collaboration for members of the Group.
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ISSUE 01 January 2014 |
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Managing resource wealth in fragile states | |
In Geneva, on 11 December 2013, UNEP and the World Bank co-hosted a full day expert meeting on geo-mapping extractive resources in fragile states, with a specific focus on the g7+ countries – a voluntary grouping of 18 fragile and conflictaffected states. These countries boast some of the most abundant reserves of natural resources that if managed well have the potential to accelerate growth and development. However, while many of the g7+ countries are rich in natural resources, they face challenges ensuring that the exploitation of their resource wealth results in multiple development benefits, including revenues, jobs and infrastructure.
Following a direct request from the g7+ secretariat, UNEP and the World Bank are working together to produce a series of interactive maps to help fragile states strengthen information transparency on resource contract boundaries and ownership and to help visualize interactions between resource contracts and different kinds of environmental, social and natural hazard risks. The mapping platform also provides a common and accurate pool of resource contract information to all stakeholders to help equalize information asymmetries and inform expectations. Efforts are now underway to finalize the first three prototypes maps for Afghanistan, DR Congo, and Sierra Leone.
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