Morocco Launches First National Strategy for Birds of Prey Conservation at Jbel Moussa Ornithological Fair
Tangier, The Gulf Observer: On the occasion of the Jbel Moussa Ornithological Fair in northern Morocco, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts (ANEF) officially launched the National Strategy for the Conservation of Birds of Prey 2024–2034. The ten-year plan, the first of its kind in the region, is dedicated to protecting twelve species of migratory and resident raptors, including the bearded vulture, Egyptian vulture, Bonelli’s eagle, golden eagle, and the griffon vulture, which recently returned to Morocco as a breeding species after a forty-year absence.
Located along the main migratory route between Europe and Africa, Morocco provides a critical passage for more than 300,000 birds of prey each year. However, these species face severe threats from electrocution on power lines, collisions with wind turbines, habitat loss, poisoning, and poaching. The new strategy aims to reverse population declines by mitigating such risks, strengthening habitat protection, improving food availability, and enhancing monitoring and research. A network of raptor care centres will also contribute to the rehabilitation and reintroduction of vulnerable species.
“Morocco is confirming its pioneering role in the conservation of endangered species and the protection of raptors, which are not only sentinels of ecological balance, but also a living heritage shared between the shores of the Mediterranean,” said Zouhair Amhaouch, Head of the Department of National Parks and Protected Areas at ANEF.
The initiative is coordinated with IUCN’s Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med) and its Conservation Planning Specialist Group, in collaboration with scientific institutions, NGOs, and local stakeholders, with support from the MAVA Foundation and the French Development Agency through Expertise France.
“This initiative illustrates our commitment to supporting Mediterranean countries in their efforts to halt biodiversity loss and meet the global targets of the Kunming-Montreal Framework,” noted Maher Mahjoub, Director of IUCN Med.
The launch coincides with International Vulture Awareness Day 2025, underscoring the global significance of safeguarding large scavengers vital to ecosystem health. By 2034, the strategy envisions improved conservation status for Morocco’s breeding raptors and a secure migration corridor reconciling socio-economic development with biodiversity protection.
With this move, Morocco becomes the first country in the region to adopt a dedicated ten-year framework for birds of prey conservation, marking a milestone in regional and international cooperation for biodiversity.
