STATUS AND CONSERVATION OF RAPTORS IN PAKISTAN

Legal protection for birds of prey exists at global, regional and national levels. Appendix I of the April 1993 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), lists 16 species of raptors.

Raptors exist at the top of many food chains. Their population is specially sensitive to alternations in ecosystem structure and energy flow. Today, like many other species, raptors are also struggling for their survival. Eagles, falcons, shikras and goshawks are all under threat in Pakistan due to excessive shooting, live trapping, commercial trade, destruction of natural habitats, environmental contamination, and overuse of pesticides on agricultural land. The provincial governments have imposed a ban on the hunting and trade of certain members of the raptor families such as accipitridae, pandionidae and the entire family of falconidae. Studies relating to the status of raptors and conservation are also being carried out by various goverrnment departments and non-governmental organizations. Among these are The Zoological Survey Department, Provincial Wildlife Departments, NCCW and NGOs like WWF, IUCN and "Falcon Foundation International Pakistan"

The Falcon Foundation International Pakistan has set up an Environmental Education Programme to educate and create awareness among people about raptors. This Foundation also carries out research in relation to the habitat and migratory patterns of the raptors and undertakes projects for the restoration of their habitats in collaboration with the range states.