Economic Value of Vultures in Southern Africa Estimated at 1.8 Billion USD Annually
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Synopsis
A recent report from BirdLife International highlights the significant ecosystem services vultures provide in southern Africa, valued at 1.8 billion USD annually. The study emphasizes the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these vital birds from extinction and ensure ecological balance in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Vultures contribute significantly to ecosystem services.
- Economic value of vultures in southern Africa is 1.8 billion USD annually.
- Major threats include poisoning, electrocution, and habitat destruction.
- Conservation efforts could lead to economic gains of 30 million USD yearly.
- Vultures are crucial for tourism and ecological balance.
Nairobi, Feb 25 (NationPress) The ecosystem services provided by vultures in the southern African region, such as sanitation and pest control, are valued at 1.8 billion US dollars each year, as reported in a study released in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday.
Compiled by BirdLife International, a prominent conservation organization, the report highlights Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, underscoring the crucial role of vultures in maintaining ecological balance and enhancing human health.
The African continent hosts 11 species of vultures, with seven at risk of extinction, categorized as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, as noted in the report.
According to the findings, Africa's vulture population has drastically declined by 80 to 97 percent over the past fifty years, with the principal threats being poisoning and electrocution.
The report highlights the alarming trend of widespread vulture poisoning in southern Africa, often linked to cultural practices, while also mentioning habitat destruction, climate change, and electrocution from high-voltage power lines as significant threats to their survival.
In a tragic incident in 2019, mass poisoning resulted in the deaths of 500 critically endangered vultures in Botswana. The report emphasizes that these iconic birds are vital for promoting tourism in the southern African region.
Failure to safeguard vulture populations could result in approximately 47 million dollars in economic losses for the region annually, while effective conservation strategies could yield about 30 million dollars every year.
Matthew Lewis, the head of conservation in Africa at BirdLife International, expressed concern over the decline of vultures on the continent, highlighting the pressing need for key stakeholders to enhance their conservation initiatives in natural habitats to reap numerous economic, health, and ecological benefits for local communities.
"This groundbreaking research on the economic significance of vultures in the southern African region is essential for advancing conservation efforts," Lewis stated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Leeroy Moyo, the preventing extinctions program manager at BirdLife Zimbabwe, a non-profit organization focused on conserving indigenous bird species, emphasized the necessity of policy advocacy, community awareness campaigns, and innovative conservation strategies to ensure a sustainable future for vultures.
