Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies
Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials
Date of this Version
1995
Document Type
Article
Citation
Published by: IUCN, Gland Switzerland, 1995
Compiled by: Philip J.K. McGowan, Simon D. Dowell, John P. Carroll, Nicholas J. Aebischer, and the WPA/BirdLife/SSC Partridge, Quail and Francolin Specialist Group
ISBN: 2-8317-0269-0
Abstract
Executive Summary
This Action Plan covers the world's partridges, quails, francolins, snowcocks and guineafowl, a group of birds from the order Galliformes comprising 141 species according to the most recent taxonomic consideration (Sibley & Monroe 1990), plus one further species newly discovered in 1991 (Dinesen et al. 1994). These birds attract considerable interest throughout the world on account of their importance in ornamental collections, as food sources, as sporting quarry, as indicators of the health of ecosystems and as objects of great beauty. The objectives of this document are to identify the most threatened species and sub-species within this group (chapters 2 & 3) and prioritise the conservation action required to protect them by outlining project briefs for the most urgent cases (chapter 4).
The plan of action will be distributed to biologists, conservationists, captive breeding specialists, politicians, policy makers, government officials, educationalists, planners, grant-awarding bodies and commercial concerns that are in a position to help. Partridges, quails, francolins, snowcocks and guineafowl have a world-wide distribution and are absent only from the polar and cold temperate regions. The greatest threats to their continued existence occur in the sub-tropical and tropical regions where deforestation, overpopulation, wetland drainage and overgrazing are most acute. T hese problems are often immense and in many cases will require national and international efforts to resolve them. Much can be done at the local level, however, and the projects in chapter 4 should be considered by those with local influence in the areas concerned as well as by national officials and politicians. The full co-operation and involvement of local people is essential if any of these projects are to be successful.
Chapter 1 gives an overview of the species involved, threats to them and possible courses of action to protect them. Whilst intended as a general introduction, it will be particularly useful to readers who are unfamiliar with the group. Chapter 2 summarises the conservation status of all partridges, quails, francolins, snowcocks and guineafowl. The species identified as threatened are examined more thoroughly in chapter 3, which is divided into regional sections for easy reference: countries/regions that are especially highlighted include Central and South America. East Africa, India, China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Each species account contains detailed information on known distribution and current threats. Chapters 2 and 3 are written largely with biologists and professional conservationists in mind, i.e. those people who will be carrying out the scientific work proposed in the project plans of chapter 4.
Chapter 4 contains the project proposals that are targeted at the species most in need of conservation action. Like chapter 3, it is divided into regional sections. Each project plan j ustifies the project from a conservation and scientific stand-point. The information on time scale and projected budgetary requirements will enable potential sponsors, grant awarding bodies and policy makers to assess the feasibility of their involvement. Field biologists who are likely to carry out the work are advised to use these project plans in direct consultation with policy makers, government officials and grant awarding bodies when developing these projects further. Governments and politicians can use these project ideas to consider plans for high-profile conservation initiatives, either alone, or in conjunction with other conservation projects in the same regions. A number of the projects have the potential for research student involvement, particularly with survey work and the gathering of baseline data on population biology, so universities in the countries concerned should peruse chapter 4 for research ideas.
Whilst we will endeavour to distribute this Action Plan to all who we think might further its objectives, we are sure that those reading it will know of others who could make use of it, so we urge readers to bring this publication to the attention of any such people. The Partridge, Quail and Francolin Specialist Group will do its best to stimulate the follow-up of this Action Plan and will be pleased to advise on its implementation. We look forward very much to its success.
Comments
Copyright © 1995, IUCN and World Pheasant Association.
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