Our Impact

Advancing Shorebird Conservation: Outcomes and Impact

Science and research icon depicting looking glass and bar chart

Science & Research

  • 11 shorebird species have updated population trend estimates  for the Pacific Americas Flyway and for North Temperate and Neotropical regions of the Flyway. 
  • Species trend analyses were used as part of updating shorebird status for the IUCN Red List, Canada’s Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, and California’s State Wildlife Action Plan. 
  • 4 publications highlighting the negative impacts of human disturbance and drought on shorebird populations

ON-THE-GROUND CONSERVATION

  • Results on human disturbance impacts assessments  have allowed local governments and area managers to design strategies to reduce associated impacts.
  • Population trends and habitat changes documented as part of MSP are being used to evaluate  Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site area design and zoning agreements.

Conservation Planning

  • 9 sites have been included as part of the WHSRN) based on MSP data and at least two countries (Colombia and Chile) have used these data to evaluate the status of Important Bird Areas (IBA) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA).
  • Shorebirds, the results we have obtained, and evaluations of conservation actions have contributed to policies and laws in different countries. Additionally, the project has invested in producing useful tools to inform public policies. Success cases with public policies have been related to regulating recreational activities that cause bird disturbance.

COMMUNITY

  • Local communities have benefited from livelihood conservation processes through this project, for example, with investment in coastal area recovery or habitat restoration, conservation agreements, or training and capacity strengthening.
  • Medium and small shrimp farming and salt production companies and facilities have benefited from production site adaptation or biodiversity-friendly spaces, design of more shorebird-friendly management practices, or training and experience exchanges between producers.
  • Some tourism and recreation destinations coincide with important shorebird sites. Some of these sites have support in experience design, as well as in developing shorebird-friendly offerings. This interest has promoted ecotourism and bird watching in sites that had not been considered, in addition to having local operator leadership.

Supporting women in science

In most Latin American countries, those who coordinate and carry out MSP activities are women. In the past four years, several women attended a seminar on how to integrate gender perspective in nature conservation processes.

Read more about the impact of our conservation efforts in our Annual Reports.

PUBLICATIONS