Working on flyways
A flyway is a geographically defined unit for the purpose of monitoring and managing migratory bird populations, and around which countries can work together to determine the best approaches for their conservation. There are at least 7,000 sites globally that are critical to the survival of migratory waterbirds, providing nesting, feeding and resting habitat. These ‘critical sites’ support at least 1% of a waterbird population. They also support freshwater and coastal species. The annual International Waterbird Census (IWC), which monitors and assesses waterbirds in all flyways, took place across 13,000 sites in 150 countries. As international coordinator, we use the IWC data to provide vital information to guide conservation from site to flyway.
Flyways
West Pacific
Pacific Americas
Mississippi Amercas
Atlantic Americas
ARGENTINA We developed the flyway and site level baseline maps for 19 intercontinental migratory shorebird species to prioritise conservation efforts in the major transboundary Paraná- Paraguay wetland system.
MALI The Inner Niger Delta is of interna- tional importance for biodiversity along the East Atlantic & Black Sea / Mediterranean Flyways. We are working to ensure that freshwater from upstream meets the current and future availability for all.
YELLOW SEA The intertidal wetlands of the Yellow Sea are a major bottleneck for waterbirds migrating along the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. We supported the government in declaring the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf as the first coastal UNESCO World Heritage Site in China.
BARR AL HIKMAN The Barr Al Hikman peninsula, Al Wusta, Oman is the most critically important area for waterbirds in the West Asian – East African flyway. Comprised of intertidal mudflats, reefs and salt flats, it sustains over half a million ‘wintering’ waterbirds and many more during the migration periods . We support the government to manage the area.
East Atlantic
BlackSea / Mediterranean
West Asian - East African
Central Asian
East Asian-Australasian
80
81
Wetlands Annual Review 2019
Wetlands Annual Review 2019
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online