WPE5 & interactive tool launched at Ramsar COP11
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=
The 5th edition of the Wat=
erbird
Population Estimates series was presented at this year’s Rams=
ar
COP11 in Bucharest, Romania. This
edition collates all the latest information on distribution, status
and population trends of 2,304 populations of 871 species of waterbird =
from
32 families. Additionally, WPE5 is the authoritative and approved sourc=
e of
up-to-date ‘1% population thresholds’ used by governments
worldwide for the identification and designation of Wetlands of
International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The International
Waterbird Census community has provided crucial information and insights
for this review, together with the Waterbird Specialist Group network
convened by Wetlands International jointly with the
IUCN Species Survival Commission. This edition has been produced wi=
th
technical input from BirdLife International=
and
the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership in North
America and EAAF respectively.
=
=
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The fifth edition is released in our new user-friendly interactive online database (wpe.wetlands.org). This tool prov=
ides:
²
![](3D"AEWCNewsletterSEPT2012ENfinal_files/image004.jpg") Open
& universal access to all five Waterbird Population Estimates editi=
ons
as well as the 3rd and 4th Conservation Status Re=
view
editions produced for the
African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement.
²
Search functions to find spe=
cies
or populations by taxonomy, Ramsar or biogeographi=
c/flyway
region, conservation frameworks or Red List category.
²
Full population information,
including breeding & non-breeding range
²
Complete references and deta=
iled
notes
²
Options to export or print
search results
=
This
tool has been developed with the support of Environment Canada & the Ramsar
Convention on Wetlands. We are currently reviewing the first released
version of this tool. If you have any comments or suggestion, please
contact tom.langendoen@wetlands.org.
<=
/span>
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Anne-Laure Brochet
is the new facilitator for waterbird monitoring in the Mediterranean
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As part of a collaborative framework to
support the monitoring of waterbirds and the conservation of wetlan=
ds
in Mediterranean region, involving various organisations (French
Ministry of Ecology, MAVA Foundation, ONCFS and Tour du Valat), Anne-Laure Br=
ochet has
joined the Tour du Valat in August 2012=
as a
project leader (in replacement of Olivier Devi=
neau).
The goal of this project is to contribute to the reinforcement of t=
he
IWC scheme in Mediterranean region, in support of the work initiate=
d by
Wetlands International, which focuses on improving data quality and
management. Anne-Laure Brochet will focus on building and maintaining
links between the IWC and other existing projects for the monitoring
and conservation of waterbirds and wetland in Mediterranean region.=
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Before joining Tour du Valat,
Anne-Laure Brochet worked at a French
regional bird organization as Programme Officer. She was in charge =
of
the management of regional bird surveys, such as the regional Red L=
ist
and the regional Atlas of breeding birds. She also worked as a rese=
arch
scientist at the French Game and Wildlife Agency (ONCFS) where she
managed a national project on avian influenza viruses in waterbirds.
She also was involved in the French “Waterfowl & Wetlands
network”. She obtained in 2009 her PhD in ecology from Univer=
sity
Montpellier 2 (France),
where she studied the consequences of duck movements for seed,
invertebrate and parasite dispersal.
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AEWC webs=
ite
now in French
The website for the African-Eurasian waterbird=
census
is now available in French (click
here to view). This website provides background information on
the waterbird census, information on national Coordinators and th=
eir organisations, IWC documents and regular ne=
ws
updates.
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New developments for the Bird=
s in
Europe 3 project
Earlier this year saw the launch of the new Birds in Europe 3 project. Led by B=
irdLife
International and supported by the European Commission, this project br=
ings
together leading organisations in the field (including Wetlands
International) to collate the best available data on the distribution,
trends and abundance of all European bird species, and produce the third
assessment of their population status. The IWC network will provide key
inputs to this project over the next three years. In his role as Project
Coordinator Ian Burfield (BirdLife
International) has already made substantial progress in the preparatory
phase of the project, including the appointment of Rob Pople
as European Species Programme Officer. Rob will take the lead in collat=
ing,
analysing and disseminating the vast amounts of European bird species
data. <=
/p>
For mo=
re
information on the Birds in Europe 3
project contact: Ian
Burfield (Project Coordinator BirdLife
International)
11th meeting of the AEWA
Technical Committee
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The Technical Committee of the African-Eurasian Waterbird
Agreement (AEWA TC) held its 11th meeting in <=
st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Ghana between 27-30 August. The meeting focused on planning the intersessional work of the TC up to 2015. The T=
C has
nine working groups which cover various aspects of the Agreement's wo=
rk,
including for the first time, a group dedicated to waterbird monitori=
ng
and chaired by Szabolcs Nagy of Wetlands
International. This working group will be responsible for following u=
p on
Resolutions 5.2 and 5.22 adopted at the AEWA MOP in La Rochelle. These include:<=
/o:p>
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(1) Providing
additional guidance to the Parties on how to ensure that populations =
are covered
by international monitoring schemes which are appropriate both in the=
ir
scopes and methods to produce reliable international population size =
and
trend estimates, including monitoring of seabirds and colonial breedi=
ng
waterbirds;
(2) Developing Conserva=
tion
Guidelines in order to provide guidance to the Parties on how to deve=
lop
individual monitoring programmes which are
appropriate in their scope and methods to obtain reliable estimates of
population sizes and trends of waterbird populations breeding or
wintering in their territories while striving towards a harmonised methodology;=
(3) Identifying priorit=
ies
for the systematic development of waterbird monitoring, in order to r=
each
the target of a 50% inc=
rease
by 2017 in the number of populations whose status is assessed on the
basis of regular monitoring data, as per the AEWA Strategic Plan
2009-2017, taking into account the conservation status of the
populations, their geographic representativeness=
and other factors;
(4) Working with the
Waterbird Monitoring Partnership to make progress towards the monitor=
ing
related targets of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 and to report to
MOP6 and, if required, to propose this issue to be revisited at MOP6 =
with
the aim to secure a long-term, sustainable solution for
international waterbird monitoring. =
Further details can be
found on the AEWA website: http://www.unep-aewa.org/meetings/en/tc_meetings/tc11/tc11.htm.
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Monitoring Workshop for West Africa- Dakar, 19-21June
In the framework of the
Conserving Migratory Birds in West Africa
and the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, a monitoring planning workshop =
was
hosted by Wetlands Intrenational Africa in
collaboration with BirdLife International,
SOVON and Vogelbescherming Nederland. The
workshop has discussed a monitoring strategy to improve the informati=
on
about the populations using the coastal wetlands of West Africa from =
Mauritania to Sierra Leone.
Practical pilot activities with bird counts and training in monitoring
will give input for the development of the strategy to gain a sustain=
able
and cost-effective monitoring system along the East
Atlantic flyway in future. A simultaneous total count of=
all
key sites organized by the local partners in W=
est
Africa will be carried out in January 2013. The workshop has also provide=
d an
opportunity to demonstrate the new IWC functionalities being built in=
to
the Observado.org system (see our waterbird
forum for more details) and to collect feedback from the national
coordinators present.
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![3Dline](3D"http://peggy.uncinc.nl/images/line.png") =
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Upcoming
Events
Waterbird Monitoring Partnersh=
ip
meeting in September 2012
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The next meeting of the Waterbird Monitori=
ng Partnership
will take place in September 2012. This meeting will focus on the M=
AVA
project (see
April 2012 newsletter) especially on the capacity building
initiative, WI attendance at the Pan-African Ornithological Congress
and the development of the online IWC database (see
June 2012 newsletter). There will also be a follow up on the re=
cent
meeting of the AEWA Technical Committee in <=
st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Ghana. Please visit o=
ur Waterbird
Forum for more information on the Waterbird Monitoring Partners=
hip
and details of previous meetings.
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Waterbird monitoring at the
Pan-African Ornithological Congress
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The 13th Pan-African Ornitholog=
ical
Congress will take place between 14-21 October<=
/span>
in Arusha,
Tanzania.
Wetlands International will be hosting a symposium on Wetlands and waterbirds in a
changing environment and two round table discussions dealing wi=
th the coordination of waterbird monitoring in Africa
and technical development o=
f the
International Waterbird Census. Please be aware that participan=
ts
from some countries cannot apply for a visa in their own country no=
r at
the point of entry. Click
here to see the list of countries and the guidance provided by =
the
PAOC organising committee.
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Important up=
coming
dates
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Deadline for IWC data submission
The deadline for submitting data t=
o be
included in this year’s Annual National Totals report was t=
he
15th September. The report will be published in mid
December. We are very grateful to all the national coordinators t=
hat
have already provided their count information. If you have not yet
provided counts but would like them to be included in the report,
please do send them to us as soon as possible and we will do our =
best
to include them. Details of the data we have received since Janua=
ry
2012 are listed in the monthly news updates on our website: http://www.wetlands.org/Afri=
canEurasianWaterbirdCensus/NewsOutputs/tabid/2790/Default.aspx
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In Memory of Dr. Martin
Schneider-Jacoby<=
/span>
With
deep regret we inform you of the sudden passing of Dr. Martin
Schneider-Jacoby. Dr. Martin was a highly respected champion of water=
bird
conservation, especially for his contribution to waterbird work in the
Balkans. His enthusiasm and dedication to the conservation of waterbi=
rds
and the wetlands upon which they depend has left a lasting legacy. His
knowledge and expertise were invaluable in developing the network of
counters and coordinators throughout the Balkans (in this video, Dr.Martin was
helping the waterbird counting team from Ntace Pise in Bosnia & Herzo=
govina)
and he was a driving force behind the Adriatic Flyway Conference that
brought about the Ulcinj Declaration, whi=
ch
highlighted the importance of protecting the critical area of the Boiana-Buna-Delta. Our sincere condolences to h=
is
family, friends and former colleagues at EuroNat=
ur,
where Dr. Martin worked since 1987.
Please visit the Euro=
Natur website for a full tribute to =
Dr.
Martin.
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The AEWA Plan of Action for Africa<=
/o:p>
Back in May, AEWA held a pre-MOP workshop with delegates from =
25
African countries. Under discussion was the finalisation of the AEWA =
Plan
of Action for Africa, which sets out AEWA’=
s
key objectives and targets for waterbird conservation in Africa and steps to meet these. This includes
supporting and strengthening waterbird monitoring activities and a nu=
mber
of capacity building initiatives in the period 2012-2017. To view the=
2nd
draft of the AEWA Plan of Action for Africa,
click
here.
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20 years of waterbird counts i=
n Botswana:
a review by Stephanie Tyler
BirdLife =
Botswana published its first review =
of
waterbird counts in Botswana
in 2001 covering the period 1991-2000. Now, ten years on, it is produ=
cing
its second review, this time spanning a full twenty years of counts. =
This
is a remarkable achievement, both for the relative consistency of the
counts and for the effort made in ensuring that this information is
available and analysed. Wetlands International congratulates Stephanie
Tyler and BirdLife Botswana in producing t=
his
timely review, which provides an important case study for the world
demonstrating the dynamic nature of wetlands and waterbirds during a
period of changing climate. We look forward to seeing more data in the
next ten years and hope that close attention is paid to the sound
recommendations provided within this fascinating and useful review. <=
o:p>
For more information contact: Stephanie Tyler or Birdlife Botswana
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Irish Wetland Bird Survey:
2001-2009<=
/span>
This 130 page report summarises the results of the Irish Wetla=
nd
Bird Survey between 2001/02 and 2008/09 inclusive. Based on the counts
provided by a large number of dedicated observers, it provides detail=
s of
the status and distribution of more than 50 wintering waterbird speci=
es
at their key wetland sites in Ireland. This detailed =
and
comprehensive report contains a number of fascinating insights at bot=
h a
national and wider flyway level, providing a must-read reference for
policy makers, managers and the interested public. =
For more information contact: iwebs=
@birdwatchireland.ie
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New Annual
Reports now available for Germany & Sweden<=
/p>
Germany: This
year’s annual bird status review, "V&=
ouml;gel
in Deutschland 2011", focuses on waterbirds and can be downloaded
here (in German only). With 72 pages packed with interesting
information on waterbirds and critical sites in Germany, this report
makes great use of the exceptional national counts collected for over=
40
years to produce a series of detailed analyses.
For more information contact Johannes
Wahl (DDA)
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Sweden: The
annual report of IWC counts in Sweden for the 2010/11 =
season
is now available and can be downloaded
here. The report is in Swedish but includes an
English summary and captions on all figures and tables. This
comprehensive report includes details of the IWC January counts,
supplementary national counts in September, the International Goose
Counts and the national crane count. Similar Swedish reports dating b=
ack
to the 2000/01 season are also available here
and more information on various waterbird monitoring schemes in Sweden
and the region can be found here<=
/span>.
For more information contact Leif
Nilsson (University of Lund)
If you
have a national IWC report you would like to be included in future
newsletters, please let us know!
<=
/o:p>
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Application =
for
the 2013 Whitley Awards is now open
Whitley Awards are a form of conservation funding and
international profile prize that recognise grassroots conservation
leaders. The Awards are worth £35,000 in project funding to be spent in a o=
ne
year period. Whitley Awa=
rds
focus on nationals of countries where international funds are hardest to raise, most needed, and will make
the largest conservati=
on
impact. PhD projects, MSc disserta=
tions
and undergraduate projects are not eligible for the Whitley Award. WFN does not fu=
nd
expeditions, government work or government departments. The applicati=
on
period is open until October 31st 2012.<=
/p>
For more information vi=
sit
the Whitley Fund for Nature websi=
te.
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Recommendati=
ons from
the Global Flyway Network Conference in Oman now available=
Last November the Global Flyway Network Conference was held in=
Oman=
and the recommendations from this meeting are now available on our Waterbird
Forum. This document outlines the importance of <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">Oman=
as a wintering and stopover location for migratory shorebirds. In
particular, the wetland Barr al Hikman ho=
lds a
huge diversity and large numbers of wader species. The recommendations
include ensuring the conservation of these key wetland sites,
strengthening monitoring activities in Oman,
developing communication and coordination of activities in the Middle East
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World Migrat=
ory
Bird Day 2012 Breaks All Records – Most Successful Global Campa=
ign
Yet!
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Over
250 events in a record 78 countries celebrated and raised awareness a=
bout
migratory birds for World Migratory Bird Day on 12-13 May 2012 making=
it the
most successful campaign since its inception in 2006. Under the theme
“Migratory birds and people – together through time”,
events focused on the historical, social, economic and environmental
connections that people around the world have with migratory birds. =
World Migratory Bird Day
events were held on six continents in a great diversity of ways. From
bird watching in Argentina
and photo exhibitions in India
to the City of Vancouver=
’s
World <=
/span>
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|
Migratory Bird Day declaration and edu=
cation
seminars in Mo=
ngolia,
the amazing diversity of World Migratory Bird Day events almost match=
es that of the birds themselves. Such a wide variety of activiti=
es
shows how people can come together in different ways to celebrate
migratory birds and highlight the need for their protection. <=
/span>
The World Migratory Bird Day Team would like to thank all the
event organizers, bird conservation organizations, birding and concer=
ned
citizen groups, governments and finally the thousands of dedicated
individuals that made 2012 our most successful campaign ever. Without=
the
devoted work and passion from individuals and organizations such as y=
ou,
World Migratory Bird Day would not be possible. <=
/p>
Please visit the World Migratory Bird Day website =
to
find out more.
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A new Global Birding Initiative: Ple=
dge
to Fledge
The Global Birding Initiative (GBI) is being forme=
d as
a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the growth and
enjoyment of birding through education, sharing, and discovery by
creating a dynamic birding network around the world. The first ever&n=
bsp;Global
Birding Initiative, Pledge to Fledge (P2F)
Campaign challenged birders of every interest and skill level to make=
a
real difference by sharing their passion for birds with others. P2F 2=
012
took place on August 24th - 26th. On this weekend,
birders, educators, and nature enthusiasts, across six continent=
s,
mobilized in savannahs, wetlands, forests, backyards, and parks,
accompanying friends and non-birders to experience the thrill of
searching for, observing, and identifying birds in nature.
Please visit the Global
Birding Initiative to find out more.
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More
on WI...<=
/o:p>
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