In the last 10 years, Guinea has emerged as a significant exporter of live wild birds to the UK and the European Community. This trade has involved a significant number of birds of prey. Due to concerns over the sustainability of this trade, some of these species have been subject to import suspensions into the European Community under regulations implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
This project was initiated by the CITES Authorities in the UK, in collaboration with the relevant authorities in Guinea, and aimed to provide a shared and improved understanding of the current status and distribution in Guinea of diurnal and nocturnal raptors on which to base assessments of the sustainability of any trade.