The Association for the Conservation of
Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK)
and the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat have signed a new Memorandum
of Cooperation (MoC) for the protection of the Sociable
Lapwing (Vanellus
gregarius).

The purpose of this MoC is to provide a framework for cooperation
and understanding and to facilitate collaboration between
the two organisations to further their shared goals and
objectives with regard to the conservation of the Sociable
Lapwing.

The objectives of this MoC will be achieved
through regular dialogue and consultation between AEWA,
ACBK and liaison with the Royal Society for the Protection
of Bird’s (RSPB)
Darwin-funded Sociable Lapwing Project.

ACBK will convene, service and coordinate
the AEWA Sociable Lapwing International Working Group. Thus
ACBK will provide a full-time post of Coordinator, who will
also facilitate the implementation of the Single Species
Action Plan (SSAP) for the Sociable Lapwing. Together with
RSPB, ACBK will revise the current SSAP according to the
outcomes of a workshop that took place in Almaty (Kazakhstan)
in March 2009. The revised plan will be extended to cover
the species' eastern flyway to the Indian subcontinent (outside
of the AEWA area) and will therefore be implemented in the
frameworks of both AEWA and CMS.




In 2006, supported by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and RSBP,
ACBK convened the Threatened Steppe-breeding Waders Working
Group. This informal international expert group was in charge
of organising and coordinating activities for the implementation
of the SSAPs for the Sociable Lapwing and the Black-winged
Pratincole. The new coordination mechanism for the Sociable
Lapwing conservation (AEWA Species Working Group) will be
based on the former expert group.

The need for this new MoC is based on the
poor conservation status of the Sociable Lapwing. This bird
species is globally threatened (IUCN Red List Category:
Critically Endangered (CR)) and is listed on the AEWA Table
1 in Column A, categories 1a, b, c and 2. Currently its
population is estimated at approx. 5,600 pairs.

The AEWA Secretariat looks forward to joining
forces with ACBK and working together towards an improved
conservation status for this threatened species.

For more information please visit:

•
Single Species Action Plan for the Sociable Lapwing
(PDF)

•
Sociable Lapwing action planning workshop in Almaty, Kazakhstan

•
ACBK Website