ColleaguesWe would like to thank you for the contributions you’ve so far made so far to the BirdLife-led online consultation process to discuss possible changes to the global threat status of bird species. More contributions are still welcome. The Africa species under discussion are listed below. The initial deadline for contributions is 31 January 2009, when we will assess the contributions made and post up a draft list of preliminary decisions. You will then have two more weeks to comment further. Final decisions will be made and posted up on 28 February. The results will be fed into the 2009 IUCN Red List. Southern Giant-petrel (Macronectes giganteus): downlist to Least Concern? Sidamo Lark (Heteromirafra sidamoensis): uplist to Critically Endangered? Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra): downlist to Endangered? Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus): uplist to Near Threatened? Bateleur (Terathopius escaudatus): uplist to Near Threatened? Northern Giant-petrel (Macronectes halli): downlist to Least Concern? Madagascar Grebe (Tachybaptus pelzelnii): uplist to Endangered? Madagascar Snipe (Gallinago macrodactyla): new information requested? Grey Crowned-crane (Balearica regulorum): uplist to Vulnerable? Black Crowned-crane (Balearica pavonina): uplist to Vulnerable? Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei): downlist to Vulnerable? Short-clawed Lark (Certhilauda chuana): has it declined? Jos Plateau Indigobird (Vidua maryae): uplist to Near Threatened? On request we can provide detailed discussions for respective species. However, all these are available online. To read and contribute to discussions on the species under review, visit the online forum at http://www.birdlifeforums.org/WebX/.2cba27b2/ All contributions that are used will be explicitly acknowledged in the species accounts that will appear on the BirdLife and IUCN websites, and in future publications. To maximise feedback, please distribute this message as quickly and widely as possible to relevant people within your networks. If you would like to propose additional category changes (e.g., if you have evidence that a species should be considered for threatened status), add a posting here.please post a comment on the relevant 'Suggestions for new topics' forum, or email jez.bird@birdlife.org. For more general information about the GTB Update, visit http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/gtb_ forums.html. NB: If you do not have proper access to internet, you may as well send you comments by email. Thank you very much in advance for your cooperation. We look forward to receiving your contributions via the web forum before 31st January 2009. Kariuki
P. Kariuki Ndang'ang'a |