TNAG-0532-FCO40-627-Conservation-of-wildlife-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 7

First World Conference on Birds of Prey, Vienna, Austria 1-3 October 1975.

Realising that birds of prey (including owls) are an integral part of a living landscape in which they in many ways play an important and useful ecological role;

Being aware that birds of prey as the last links in food chains are valuable indicators of environmental pollutants;

recognising that a diversity of birds of prey in various types of habitats is a significant sign of well-balanced ecosystems and environmental quality of importance to man;

Concerned at the decline of birds of prey on all continents through unnecessary illconsidered and/or carekss alteration and destruction of habitats, direct persecution, pollutants travelling along food chain in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems;

Noting the high scientific, educational, recreational, ethical and aesthetic values of birds of prey which in manifold ways inspire and stimulate mankind; Considering that the continuous decrease of birds of prey on all continents is to a great extent due to traditional misconceptions and misunderstandings of the ecological role of these birds in environments of all types;

The World Conference on the Conservation of Birds of Prey organised by the International Council for Bird Preservation in Vienna, October 1-3, 1975

(1) Draws the attention of governments and conservation organisations to the

need to introduce educational programmes through all media on the role of birds of prey;

(2) Calls on governments national and/or provincial

which have not already

done so to give total protection to all birds of prey in their national and provincial legislation; and on intergovernmental organizations to intensify their efforts to further this process;

(3) Requests governments to take urgent steps to implement existing legislation

protecting birds of prey and where necessary restrict activities damaging the populations of these birds;

(4) Urges governments of countries where endangered species or subspecies of

birds of prey live to accept the ultimate responsibility for the survival of these birds;

(5) Appeals urgently to governments to give full consideration to ecological guidelines in the use of areas essential for birds of prey to maintain a proper ecological balance in these areas as an important part of their national heritage and that of all mankind;

(6) Recommends that the World Wildlife Fund places high priority on applications

for grants for conservation of birds of prey;

(7) Recommends the European Information Centre for Nature Conservation of the

Council of Europe to dedicate one of its future information campaigns to the protection of birds of prey, in close collaboration with ICBP and other appropriate international organizations;

(8) Recommends that national sections of the ICBP whose countries have a well-

developed interest in birds of prey and adequate means for their protections should seek ways of helping national sections or other appropriate organizations in countries where popular sympathy for the protection of birds of prey is low and where legislation is inadequate, by providing resources, both educational and financial;

(9) Recommends that bird identification tests be required as part of the

licensing of hunters;