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The Action Plan

In 1995, the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention adopted a new protocol concerning the Specially Protected Areas and biological diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD Protocol). The IInd annex of this protocol lists the endangered or threatened species found in the Mediterranean, including 15 bird species. An “Action Plan for the conservation of bird species listed in Annex II of the Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity” was elaborated for these pelagic and costal bird species and published in 2003 :

  • Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
  • Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan
  • European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis
  • European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii
  • Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus
  • White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
  • Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus
  • Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
  • Osprey Pandion haliaetus
  • Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae
  • Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris
  • Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii
  • Lesser crested Tern Sterna bengalensis emigrata
  • Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
  • Little Tern Sterna albifrons
 

The development of this Action Plan follows various initiatives taken by other organizations, such as BirdLife International partners in Mediterranean countries, WWF, IUCN, MedMarAvis, Tour du Valat, on the conservation of biological diversity, particularly with respect to birds, and their important sites and habitats.

Having for main purpose to maintain and/or restore the population levels of bird species found in the SPA Protocol’s Annex II to a favorable conservation status and to ensure their long-term conservation, the Action Plan also aims to contribute to the sharing of knowledge and expertise between the Mediterranean countries and to co-ordinate efforts among the countries and other relevant initiatives and agreements. It also encourages a synergic approach among the Mediterranean countries in the protection of these bird species and their habitats and encourages research to fill the many gaps in our knowledge concerning coastal and pelagic birds in the Mediterranean, particularly seabird distribution and their movements, feeding, moulting and wintering areas at sea.

For that the plan proposes many actions under the 5 following topics:

  • Protected Areas
  • Legislation
  • Research
  • Advocacy, awareness raising, education and training
  • National Action Plans