Strengthening regional cooperation to conserve Asia’s vultures

Cambodia, under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment, hosted the 11th Meeting of the Asia Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for Conservation of Vultures, reinforcing the country’s important role in advancing regional cooperation for the conservation of Asia’s threatened vultures.

Led in Cambodia by the Ministry of Environment, the meeting brings together government representatives from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, alongside IUCN, SAVE, BirdLife International, NatureLife Cambodia, WCS, WWF, ACCB, Rising Phoenix, and other conservation partners. Lao PDR and Myanmar are also participating as observer countries, providing an important opportunity to strengthen their engagement and explore a pathway towards formal RSC membership.

Discussions focus on shared priorities including transboundary threats, veterinary drug regulation, poisoning, population monitoring, Vulture Safe Zones, and stronger technical cooperation and information exchange among range countries. The meeting agreed to invite Myanmar and Lao PDR to be the new members of RSC and scale up the cross-boundary collaboration (i.e. Cambodia and Lao PDR).

“Vulture conservation cannot stop at national borders. Through the RSC, we can strengthen regional cooperation and turn our shared commitment into coordinated conservation action across Asia.” H.E. Dr. Srey Sunleang, Director General, General Directorate of Natural Protected Areas, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia and Chairman of Cambodia Vulture Working Group.

Through the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and strengthened cooperation among governments and conservation partners across the region, Cambodia is helping build the collective action needed to secure a safer future for Asia’s vultures.