West African vultures (Accipitridae spp.)

Decision directed to Parties

West African range States for Gyps africanus (Whitebacked vulture), Gyps fulvus (Griffon vulture), Gyps rueppelli (Rüppell’s vulture), Necrosyrtes monachus (Hooded vulture), Neophron percnopterus (Egyptian vulture), Torgos tracheliotos (Lappet-faced vulture), and Trigonoceps occipitalis (White-headed vulture) are urged to: a) ensure that national laws to protect vultures and control trade in vulture parts and derivatives are effectively implemented, and ensure that penalties for non-compliance are sufficient to deter illegal trade; b) ensure that any international trade in West African vultures is not allowed except in accordance with CITES requirements, and if international trade is found not to be in accordance with CITES requirements, consider implementing a zero export quota; c) follow Resolution Conf. 16.7 (Rev. CoP17) on Non-detriment findings, and, in cases where there is an interest in exporting globally threatened vulture species, consider submitting non-detriment findings for the export of vulture specimens to the Secretariat for inclusion on the CITES website and review by the Animals Committee; d) prioritize implementation of the trade-related issues associated with the West Africa Vulture Conservation Action Plan, the regional implementation plan of the Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) 2017-2029 of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS); e) work with relevant experts and organizations for implementing demand reduction strategies for vultures and their parts and derivatives including for belief-based use and consumption and, where appropriate, expand the implementation of strategies that have been successful; f) work with relevant organizations to initiate wide-scale public awareness campaigns at regional, national and local levels about the impacts of trade in these species, including the importance of vulture species to ecology and human health, the negative impacts of belief-based use of vulture body parts, and existing national and international legislation that protects vultures; and g) report to the Secretariat on the implementation of this Decision well in advance of the 34th meeting of the Animals Committee and the 81st meeting of the Standing Committee to assist it in its reporting to the Animals Committee and Standing Committee, as appropriate.