Morocco Introduces Nationwide Plan for Protecting birds of prey species
Morocco Launches National Strategy for Birds of Prey Conservation
In a significant step towards wildlife conservation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Moroccan National Agency for Waters and Forests (ANEF) have launched the National Strategy for the Conservation of Birds of Prey 2024-2034. This groundbreaking strategy was unveiled during the Jbel Moussa Ornithological Fair, held on September 5, 2025, in northern Morocco, coinciding with World Vulture Day 2025, a global event promoting awareness for ecosystem health.
The strategy aims to improve the conservation status of breeding raptors in Morocco, making the country a favorable migration corridor between Europe and Africa. Morocco plays a vital role for over 300,000 raptors each year as it is on the main migratory route between these continents. The strategy targets twelve species of raptors, including the bearded vulture, the Egyptian vulture, the Bonelli's eagle, the golden eagle, and the griffon vulture.
The strategy includes an action plan to mitigate and prevent raptor mortality related to energy infrastructure, strengthen the protection of their natural habitats, improve food availability, and increase research and monitoring activities. A network of raptor care centers will contribute to the rehabilitation and reintroduction of weakened specimens into the wild.
The strategy's development was a collaborative effort between the National Water and Forest Agency, the IUCN Mediterranean Cooperation Centre (IUCN Med), the IUCN Specialist Group on Conservation Planning, and numerous experts and institutions. The initiative is part of a broader approach led by IUCN Med, which supports several countries in the region to develop and implement strategies and action plans for biodiversity conservation.
Notably, Spain introduced the first strategic initiative for the protection of birds of prey in the region for the period 2024-2034. The strategy for the conservation of raptors in Morocco, launched during the Ornithological Fair, is the first of its kind in the region, strengthening wildlife diversity conservation and regional cooperation.
For more information, photos, or interviews, please contact Sonsoles San Román at [email protected] or Lourdes Lázaro Martín at [email protected]. The development of the strategy received support from the MAVA Foundation and the French Development Agency through Expertise France.
These species face multiple threats such as electrocution on power lines, collisions with wind turbines, habitat degradation, poisoning risk, and poaching. The strategy expresses a strong ambition to reverse the decline of the targeted species' populations and make Morocco a safe haven for these majestic birds.
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