Abstract
There has been an increasing trade in birds of prey from Guinea to the countries of the European Community (EC). Such trade has both increased in volume and in the range of species being traded. All Old World birds of prey (Falconiformes) and owls (Strigiformes) are listed on the appendices to CITES – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Accordingly, their trade is regulated by the provisions of the Convention. If other requirements are met, any trade should only be permitted if the Scientific Authority of the state of export is certain that such trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species concerned. However, information on the abundance, distribution and threat status of such raptors in Guinea is scarce. As a result, many applications for trade to the EC have been refused (under the stricter measures of the EC) because trade has been judged, by the Scientific Authorities of the importing Member State, to be detrimental to the survival of the species concerned. Some species of raptor from Guinea are now subject to import suspensions into the European Community or to negative opinions. However, the continued trade in wildlife is important to Guinea. If so, it is clearly desirable that any such trade should be sustainable yet the information required to ensure that this is the case is not readily available. This project is proposed in order to assist the CITES Authorities of Guinea and those of the European Community to share a common and improved understanding of the current status in Guinea of those raptors most likely to be in trade. It is intended that by use of rapid survey techniques in targeted areas of Guinea (those areas from which birds for international trade are known or suspected to be derived), such information will be available to assist the making of non-detriment findings under CITES. In addition, it is intended that this project provide an element of capacity building for some members of the Guinean CITES authorities. The project should also provide a contribution to the understanding of the ornithology of the region.
United Kingdom