India has become the 56th country to sign a pact on conservation of birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia, a move that will help the country gain knowledge in effectively managing the habitats of such raptors.
The government signed the 'Raptor MoU', covering 76 species, out of which 46 including vultures, falcons, eagles, owls, hawks, kites, harriers and others are also found in India.
The agreement was signed on March 7 this year at the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in Abu Dhabi by Ambassador of India to the UAE T P Seetharam.
The agreement, under Article IV paragraph 4 of the CMS, is not "legally binding".
The Union Cabinet had on December 30 last year approved the proposal of the Environment Ministry to sign the pact on conservation of migratory birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia with CMS or Bonn Convention with regard to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The CMS aims to conserve migratory species and India is a signatory to it since November 1, 1983.
An earlier official statement had said that given that the 'Raptor MoU' is also in conformity with the provisions of the existing Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, wherein the birds have been accorded protection, India would gain domain knowledge which would be helpful in effectively managing the habitats of these raptors.
It would also include concerted trans-boundary efforts for conservation through interaction with other range countries by signing of the pact with the CMS.
The agreement also seeks willingness of the signatory range states for working for conservation of the raptor species and their habitats.
An action plan has been formulated which primarily envisages conservation action for raptor species, the statement had said.
