PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Species action plans (SAPs) for non-huntable bird species and management plans (MPs) for huntable bird species have expired, while new conservation strategies need to be developed for some species that are showing sharp population declines. Furthermore, a new conservation approach that identifies and addresses groups of bird species sharing similar habitat conditions (e.g. grasslands) needs to be tested.
OBJECTIVES
The EuroSAP project focused on the delivery of new or revised SAPs for European bird species having conservation priority. The overall objective was to halt the population decline of threatened bird species listed in Annexes I and II of the Birds Directive, and to achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their conservation status. It would also produce state-of-the-art tools for European stakeholders, ready-to-use and for use well beyond the project’s duration. This would lay the foundation for better cooperation among EU Member States, international conventions and non-governmental organisations involved in international bird conservation efforts, for the effective delivery of SAPs.
The project’s other specific objectives included the implementation and update of six existing SAPs and EU management plans endorsed by the European Commission in the late 1990s and early 2000s (white-headed duck, velvet scoter, Dalmatian pelican, cinereous vulture, bearded vulture and European turtle-dove), and to develop two new plans for species of greatest urgency (Yelkouan shearwater and Monteiro’s storm petrel). The project will also develop a pilot group action plan for the European lowland grassland waders (Eurasian oystercatcher, northern lapwing, ‘Baltic’ dunlin, ruff, common snipe, Eurasian curlew, black-tailed godwit and common redshank), taking into account priority needs across their flyway.
Specifically the project would:
- Undertake the most urgent update and revision of six SAPS for birds with continuous population declines and/or those in need of coordinated conservation efforts at international level;
- Develop new action plans for two threatened bird species, in accordance with the latest IUCN Red List assessment;
- Respond to an expressed need of the European Commission by developing, testing and applying a methodology for multi-species action plans based on commonalities in their habitat needs; and
- Put in place a system for coordination between the main actors involved in the development and implementation of SAPs, which will also help streamline management during the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases of the international species action planning cycle, and lead to improved information flow, transparency and effectiveness of consultations.
RESULTS
The EuroSAP project beneficiaries reviewed six existing Species Action Plans (SAPs) and EU Management Plans for bearded vulture, cinereous vulture, Dalmatian pelican, European turtle-dove, white-headed duck and velvet scoter; developed two new SAPs for Monteiro's storm-petrel and Yelkouan shearwater; and piloted a Multi-Species Action Plan for European wet-grassland waders.
The process of reviewing progress with previous plans, of preparing new status reports and developing new Species Action Plans was carried out by conservation NGOs, with the overall programme coordinated by BirdLife International. The final set of plans produced by the project team highlighted the actions which are necessary to protect the target species over the next 10 years.
Project beneficiaries successfully developed and tested a Species Action Plan Tracking Tool (SAP TT), which can follow each step in the SAP process from plan preparation, monitoring and review of plan implementation, updating of status reports and regular review of the Species Action Plan. There are over 50 active EU Species Action Plans and the long-term aim will be to consider using the SAP TT when they come up for review. Already, three additional SAPs, all outputs of LIFE projects, have been added to the Tracking Tool.
Finally, the project team established an African-European Species Coordination Group. This is an informal group to encourage coordination between the main actors in the protection of EU endangered bird species, including the European Commission, global conventions and NGOs. This was supported by the EC Nature Protection Unit and regular updates were presented to the EU Expert Group on the Birds and Habitats directives (NADEG). The final Species Action Plans were endorsed by NADEG in May 2018.
