The first Red List assessment of raptors in North Africa presents an overview of the conservation status for 36 species of birds of prey which breed in the region.

Read the report here:
https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/49778

The first IUCN Red List assessment of the conservation status of raptors in North Africa shows that almost half of the species with breeding populations in the region are classified as threatened with extinction. Three of the assessed species have been classified as Regionally Extinct. In the last decades, no breeding populations of the Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) and the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) have been observed in North Africa. In addition, the Dark chanting-goshawk (Melierax metabates) was declared Regionally Extinct back in 2007.

Currently, the main threats to North African birds of prey are the illegal killing and trade, as well as poisoning and interactions with infrastructures such as power lines, which are leading to a decline in the breeding populations. Another significant threat is the use of pesticides and rodenticides in agriculture, which can negatively impact breeding success rates, reduce prey density and lead to secondary poisoning due to consumption of contaminated corpses. In addition, the loss of forest habitats, agroecosystems and wetlands is another major threat to raptors in North Africa, potentially affecting most of the species in the region in one or other way.

The report also highlights the overall lack of data on raptors throughout the North Africa region, which affects the distribution, population size and trends, as well as threats, with 42% of species having unknown population trends.

“Despite the gaps in current conservation knowledge, it is clear that a strategy is urgently needed to protect raptors in North Africa. Failing to act soon could result in the collapse of the regional populations of birds of prey and possibly of the many ecosystems where raptors play a key role.” stresses Hichem Azafzaf, scientific programme coordinator of the association Les Amis des Oiseaux (AAO/BirdLife Tunisia).


This assessment aims to provide a baseline for developing conservation and monitoring actions of breeding populations and their distribution in order to improve understanding of their conservation status, so as to determine, protect and manage potential breeding sites and key dispersal areas.

“Species management can only be effective with a clear understanding of the conservation status of the taxa which we are aiming to protect. It is therefore necessary to foster collaborative research and monitoring, especially on the size and distribution of breeding populations and the specific impact of their threats. If we truly want to preserve the diversity of birds of prey in North Africa, we need to fill these gaps”, comments Fabrice Cuzin, focal point for the preparation of the National Strategy for Conserving the Birds of Prey in Morocco.

Key species for ecosystem functioning

Birds of prey are key organisms for ecosystem functioning, which provide several vital environmental services for human well-being, such as rodent pest control, removal of dead animal remains through scavenging and wealth generation through ecotourism. Furthermore, they are fundamental elements in the food web as apex predators and scavengers, which additionally make them good indicators of the health of an ecosystem.

The present publication has been coordinated by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med), which since has pursued the mission to assess the regional conservation status of selected taxonomic groups ever since its opening in 2001 in Malaga. The Red List of North African Birds of Prey is the 14th publication in the series.

“Improving knowledge about biodiversity, its threats and the most relevant conservation measures will help to drive effective action. This Red List is further evidence that efforts to halt biodiversity loss in the region need a major boost in the coming years to safeguard the natural capital for future generations”, explains Antonio Troya, Director of IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.

“The Conservation Status and Distribution of the Breeding Birds of North Africa” is part of the activities of IUCN-Med contributing to the MAVA Action Plan M7-Reducing mortality of migratory birds and vultures. Furthermore, it is the result of a joint effort of BirdLife International, the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), Tour du Valat, Euronatur, WWF-Spain and WWF-Greece aiming to improve bird habitats and minimise or eliminate the intentional and accidental killing of priority bird species.

The report has been made possible thanks to the support of Red Eléctrica de España and MAVA Foundation.

Photo © Daniel Burón