The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Morocco’s Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts (ANEF) have launched the country’s first National Strategy for the Conservation of Birds of Prey, covering the period 2024–2034, along with an action plan to protect twelve species of migratory and resident raptors. The launch took place in Tangier during the Jbel Moussa Ornithological Fair, a key event for ornithology experts in northern Morocco. The strategy targets iconic species such as the bearded vulture, Egyptian vulture, Bonelli’s eagle, golden eagle, and griffon vulture, the latter having recently returned as a breeding species after a forty-year absence. Morocco’s location along a major migratory corridor between Europe and Africa makes it critical for the conservation of over 300,000 birds of prey annually, many of which face threats from electrocution, wind turbines, habitat loss, poisoning, and poaching.
The strategy is the result of collaboration between government departments, scientific institutions, NGOs, and local stakeholders. Its action plan focuses on mitigating mortality risks associated with energy infrastructure, protecting natural habitats, improving food availability, and enhancing research and monitoring efforts. A network of raptor care centres is also planned to support the rehabilitation and reintroduction of vulnerable species. By 2034, the strategy aims not only to improve the conservation status of breeding birds of prey in Morocco but also to reinforce the country’s role as a favorable migration corridor while balancing socio-economic development with nature conservation.
For ANEF, the initiative underscores Morocco’s ongoing commitment to protecting endangered species and conserving raptors, which are considered both ecological sentinels and a shared Mediterranean heritage. The strategy is part of a wider approach led by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), supporting countries in the region to implement biodiversity conservation strategies and achieve the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Framework.
The launch of the strategy during Morocco’s first Ornithological Fair also coincided with International Vulture Awareness Day 2025, highlighting the ecological importance of these scavengers. Morocco thus becomes the first country in the region to adopt a ten-year strategic framework specifically for birds of prey, marking a decisive step toward conserving its rich fauna and promoting regional cooperation. The initiative was developed through extensive collaboration with experts and institutions, coordinated by ANEF, IUCN Med, and the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group, with support from the MAVA Foundation and the French Development Agency through Expertise France.
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