African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas

Philip Shaw; Darcy Ogada; Leah Dunn; Ralph Buij; Arjun Amar; Rebecca Garbett; Marc Herremans; Munir Virani; Corinne Kendall; Barbara Croes; Martin Odino; Shiv Kapila; Peter Wairasho; Christian Rutz; André Botha; Umberto Gallo Orsi; Campbell Murn; Glyn Maude; Simon Thomsett

doi:10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0

African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas

Philip Shaw^*, Darcy Ogada^*, Leah Dunn, Ralph Buij, Arjun Amar, Rebecca Garbett, Marc Herremans, Munir Virani, Corinne Kendall, Barbara Croes, Martin Odino, Shiv Kapila, Peter Wairasho, Christian Rutz, André Botha, Umberto Gallo Orsi, Campbell Murn, Glyn Maude, Simon Thomsett

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major cause of biodiversity loss, and poses the greatest extinction risk to birds worldwide. Tropical raptors are of particular concern, being relatively slow-breeding, apex predators and scavengers, whose disappearance can trigger extensive cascading effects. Many of Africa’s raptors are at significant risk from habitat conversion, prey-base depletion and persecution, driven principally by human population expansion. Here, we describe multi-regional trends among 42 African raptor species, 88% of which had declined over a c. 20–40 year period; 69% exceeding IUCN criteria classifying species at risk of extinction. Large raptors had experienced significantly steeper declines than smaller species, and this disparity was more pronounced on unprotected land. Declines were greater in West Africa than elsewhere, and more than twice as severe outside of protected areas (PAs) than within. Worryingly, species suffering the steepest declines had become significantly more dependent on PAs, demonstrating the importance of expanding conservation areas to cover 30% of land by 2030; a key target agreed at CBD COP15. Our findings also highlight the significance of a recent African-led proposal to strengthen PA management; initiatives considered fundamental to safeguarding global biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and climate resilience.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	45-56
Journal	Nature Ecology and Evolution
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0
Publication status	Published - 4 Jan 2024

Keywords

Avian scavenger
Vulture
Extinction crisis
Population collapse
Cascading effects
Continental decline
Protected area
Human-wildlife coexistence

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas
Shaw, P. (Creator), Ogada, D. (Creator), Dunn, L. (Creator), Buij, R. (Creator), Amar, A. (Creator), Garbett, R. (Creator), Herremans, M. (Creator), Virani, M. (Creator), Kendall, C. (Creator), Croes, B. (Creator), Odino, M. (Creator), Kapila, S. (Creator), Wairasho, P. (Creator), Rutz, C. (Creator), Botha, A. (Creator), Orsi, U. G. (Creator), Murn, C. (Creator), Maude, G. (Creator) & Thomsett, S. (Creator), Figshare, 2024
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.23727030.v1
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Shaw, P., Ogada, D., Dunn, L., Buij, R., Amar, A., Garbett, R., Herremans, M., Virani, M., Kendall, C., Croes, B., Odino, M., Kapila, S., Wairasho, P., Rutz, C., Botha, A., Orsi, U. G., Murn, C., Maude, G., & Thomsett, S. (2024). African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 8, 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0

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title = "African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas",

abstract = "The conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major cause of biodiversity loss, and poses the greatest extinction risk to birds worldwide. Tropical raptors are of particular concern, being relatively slow-breeding, apex predators and scavengers, whose disappearance can trigger extensive cascading effects. Many of Africa{\textquoteright}s raptors are at significant risk from habitat conversion, prey-base depletion and persecution, driven principally by human population expansion. Here, we describe multi-regional trends among 42 African raptor species, 88% of which had declined over a c. 20–40 year period; 69% exceeding IUCN criteria classifying species at risk of extinction. Large raptors had experienced significantly steeper declines than smaller species, and this disparity was more pronounced on unprotected land. Declines were greater in West Africa than elsewhere, and more than twice as severe outside of protected areas (PAs) than within. Worryingly, species suffering the steepest declines had become significantly more dependent on PAs, demonstrating the importance of expanding conservation areas to cover 30% of land by 2030; a key target agreed at CBD COP15. Our findings also highlight the significance of a recent African-led proposal to strengthen PA management; initiatives considered fundamental to safeguarding global biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and climate resilience.",

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author = "Philip Shaw and Darcy Ogada and Leah Dunn and Ralph Buij and Arjun Amar and Rebecca Garbett and Marc Herremans and Munir Virani and Corinne Kendall and Barbara Croes and Martin Odino and Shiv Kapila and Peter Wairasho and Christian Rutz and Andr{\'e} Botha and Orsi, {Umberto Gallo} and Campbell Murn and Glyn Maude and Simon Thomsett",

note = "Funding: Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, through its collaborative program with the University of Dschang, Cameroon, at the Centre for Environment and Development Studies in Cameroon (CEDC). ",

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doi = "10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0",

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Shaw, P, Ogada, D, Dunn, L, Buij, R, Amar, A, Garbett, R, Herremans, M, Virani, M, Kendall, C, Croes, B, Odino, M, Kapila, S, Wairasho, P, Rutz, C, Botha, A, Orsi, UG, Murn, C, Maude, G & Thomsett, S 2024, 'African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas', Nature Ecology and Evolution, vol. 8, pp. 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0

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T1 - African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas

AU - Shaw, Philip

AU - Ogada, Darcy

AU - Dunn, Leah

AU - Buij, Ralph

AU - Amar, Arjun

AU - Garbett, Rebecca

AU - Herremans, Marc

AU - Virani, Munir

AU - Kendall, Corinne

AU - Croes, Barbara

AU - Odino, Martin

AU - Kapila, Shiv

AU - Wairasho, Peter

AU - Rutz, Christian

AU - Botha, André

AU - Orsi, Umberto Gallo

AU - Murn, Campbell

AU - Maude, Glyn

AU - Thomsett, Simon

N1 - Funding: Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, through its collaborative program with the University of Dschang, Cameroon, at the Centre for Environment and Development Studies in Cameroon (CEDC).

PY - 2024/1/4

Y1 - 2024/1/4

N2 - The conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major cause of biodiversity loss, and poses the greatest extinction risk to birds worldwide. Tropical raptors are of particular concern, being relatively slow-breeding, apex predators and scavengers, whose disappearance can trigger extensive cascading effects. Many of Africa’s raptors are at significant risk from habitat conversion, prey-base depletion and persecution, driven principally by human population expansion. Here, we describe multi-regional trends among 42 African raptor species, 88% of which had declined over a c. 20–40 year period; 69% exceeding IUCN criteria classifying species at risk of extinction. Large raptors had experienced significantly steeper declines than smaller species, and this disparity was more pronounced on unprotected land. Declines were greater in West Africa than elsewhere, and more than twice as severe outside of protected areas (PAs) than within. Worryingly, species suffering the steepest declines had become significantly more dependent on PAs, demonstrating the importance of expanding conservation areas to cover 30% of land by 2030; a key target agreed at CBD COP15. Our findings also highlight the significance of a recent African-led proposal to strengthen PA management; initiatives considered fundamental to safeguarding global biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and climate resilience.

AB - The conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major cause of biodiversity loss, and poses the greatest extinction risk to birds worldwide. Tropical raptors are of particular concern, being relatively slow-breeding, apex predators and scavengers, whose disappearance can trigger extensive cascading effects. Many of Africa’s raptors are at significant risk from habitat conversion, prey-base depletion and persecution, driven principally by human population expansion. Here, we describe multi-regional trends among 42 African raptor species, 88% of which had declined over a c. 20–40 year period; 69% exceeding IUCN criteria classifying species at risk of extinction. Large raptors had experienced significantly steeper declines than smaller species, and this disparity was more pronounced on unprotected land. Declines were greater in West Africa than elsewhere, and more than twice as severe outside of protected areas (PAs) than within. Worryingly, species suffering the steepest declines had become significantly more dependent on PAs, demonstrating the importance of expanding conservation areas to cover 30% of land by 2030; a key target agreed at CBD COP15. Our findings also highlight the significance of a recent African-led proposal to strengthen PA management; initiatives considered fundamental to safeguarding global biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and climate resilience.

KW - Avian scavenger

KW - Vulture

KW - Extinction crisis

KW - Population collapse

KW - Cascading effects

KW - Continental decline

KW - Protected area

KW - Human-wildlife coexistence

U2 - 10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0

DO - 10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0

M3 - Article

SN - 2397-334X

VL - 8

SP - 45

EP - 56

JO - Nature Ecology and Evolution

JF - Nature Ecology and Evolution

ER -

African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas

Cite this