# Presentation: 408860

## Collaboration under a Common Vision

- Advancing a Range-wide Approach to Waterbird Conservation at Priority Sites throughout the Neotropics:

## Background

- _Background_
- Project initiated in late 2004 with funds from NMBCA. Coordinated by BirdLife International and Guyra Paraguay on behalf of the Waterbird Conservation Council

## Goal

- _Goal_
- To develop a strategic approach to advance understanding and address specific issues related to waterbird conservation throughout the Neotropics

## Approach

- _Approach_
- Regional strategies developed from the outputs of a suite of activities at the national and regional level, which include data compilation and synthesis, priority-setting, information dissemination, and communication with key stakeholders.

## Geographic Scope

- _Geographic Scope_
- All countries of Central America, the Caribbean and South America
- _Taxonomic Scope_
- Waterbirds = Seabirds, coastal waterbirds, wading birds and marshbirds. But also waterfowl (ducks, geese and swans) and shorebirds

## Are these waterbirds?

## Implementation

- _Implementation_
**  **Seven person coordination team (Paraguay, Ecuador, El Salvador and Puerto Rico)
-   Partner organizations hired in all countries in Central and South America to develop national reports
-   Caribbean national diagnoses developed through                               Caribbean coordinator
-   Site maps produced by Sociedad Ornitologíca de Puerto Rico, SalvaNATURA and Guyra Paraguay

## Objectives

- _Objectives_
- Determine the status of all waterbird species and their habitats in the Neotropics.
- Raise awareness and support for waterbird conservation issues throughout the Americas.
- Develop local capacity to monitor and inventory waterbirds in poorly known areas of Central America and the Caribbean.
- Develop strategies for five high priority site conservation projects in MesoAmerica and the Caribbean.

## Some Achievements

- _Some Achievements_
-  	National reports/diagnoses completed for all countries                 	in Central and South America and the Caribbean
-  	Regional syntheses developed for all three regions
-  	Regional watchlists prepared
-  	Key sites identified and mapped
-              Spanish version of plan produced and distributed
-              Participation from over 300 experts
-              Attendance at many key meetings
-  	Raised $200,000 and leveraged another $600,000

## “Common Vision” Recommendations

**Working Together**
- Draw together all interested parties within an “Americas Waterbird Conservation Alliance” to develop, coordinate and maintain conservation efforts for waterbirds and their habitats in the Americas.
- Collaborate and coordinate fund-raising efforts.

## “Common Vision” Recommendations

**Species**
- Develop a single waterbirds Internet portal with access to database information on species, e.g.
- Wetland International’s Waterbird Database
- BirdLife/CI Biodiversity Bird Database
- PRISM & ISS databases, etc.
- Develop simple standardized monitoring protocols for a subset of waterbird species to be used in concert with ongoing programs, e.g.
- Neotropical Waterbird Census
- DU-coordinated waterfowl surveys
- PRISM & ISS
- Consolidate and expand existing monitoring programs with the goal of compiling population data and assessing trends.

## “Common Vision” Recommendations

**Sites**
- Through the waterbirds Internet portal provide access to:
- Centralized list of key waterbird sites for the Americas, linking to information from existing programs (e.g. IBAs, WHSRN, Ramsar, national protected areas);
- Portfolio of projects and examples of site conservation success stories.
- Identify key networks of sites and develop plans to manage them within a flyway model.
- Promote the development of partnerships between sites (North-South, South-South, North-North, etc.).
- Connect local communities through a network of sites, making links and building ties at national, flyway, and hemispheric scales.

## “Common Vision” Recommendations

**Advocacy **
- Ensure that information on the conservation of waterbirds is widely available to key decision makers in government, management authorities, regional institutions, etc.
- Evaluate the feasibility of a regional waterbird agreement for the conservation of migratory species, modelled on the CMS Afro-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement.
**Awareness & Education**
- Ensure easy access to conservation materials and education programs (e.g. Shorebird Sister Schools Program, World Wetland Days).

## Some Final Reflections

- First systematic attempt to estimate waterbird population sizes and trends on a country-by-country basis in the Neotropics
- Project-driven approach has helped build constituencies
- Grassroots call for a “unified approach”
- Great opportunity to build on existing initiatives (e.g. Neotropical Waterbird Census, Central American and Caribbean Waterfowl Counts)
- When expanding initiatives to Latin America it helps to keep structures and processes simple!

## Thank you