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title: "Chatham and Laysan Albatrosses to have their formal conservation status improved?"
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# Chatham and Laysan Albatrosses to have their formal conservation status improved?

BirdLife International's [Globally Threatened Bird Forum for Seabirds](http://www.birdlifeforums.org/WebX/Globally%20Threatened%20Bird%20Forums/Threatened%20Seabirds/) is currently considering whether to downlist the Chatham Albatross *Thalassarche eremita* from **Critically Endangered** to **Vulnerable** based on the believed current stability or upward trend of its population ([click here](http://www.birdlifeforums.org/WebX/.2cba6b21) for the proposal). 

 [Click here](https://www.acap.aq/acap-species) to access the ACAP Species Assessment for this New Zealand endemic albatross. 

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/C/Chatham_Albatross_by_Graham_Robertson.jpg "Chatham Albatrosses: no longer Criticilly Endangered?  Photograph by Graham Robertson")

 The forum is also considering downlisting the Laysan Albatross *Phoebastria immutabilis* from **Vulnerable** to **Near Threatened**, based on evidence that the population trend is currently stable ([click here](http://www.birdlifeforums.org/WebX/.2cba6549)).   BirdLife's current assessment for the Laysan Albatross may be seen at [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3958&m=0](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3958&m=0).

 The ACAP Species Assessment for the Laysan Albatross is still under review, but is expected to be posted to the web site in the near future, along with that for the Black-footed Albatross *P. nigripes*.  Once done, Species Assessments will then be available on-line for all 29 of the currently ACAP-listed species: an important milestone for the Agreement. 

 Comments to the forum on these two proposals are encouraged and will be published on the forum on-line.  Follow the instructions on the forum site. 

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 December 2009*