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Sponsors
NewsLink
is grateful to the following sponsors for their support:
Association of State
Wetland Managers
International
Affairs, Office
of U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. National Ramsar Committee
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February 2008 |
This bimonthly newsletter includes news from December 2007 & January 2008. |
Note from the Editor
Dear Friends:
It is February 2, 2008 --- Happy World Wetlands Day 2008!!!!
This year's theme: "'Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People" brings home to us a number of messages - most critically the role of potable water to the billions of human beings and all creatures whose health depends on it for survival and its so many other diverse, life-sustaining functions.
Today, in Ecuador where 70% of the country's original mangrove ecosystems are lost, a local ngo is celebrating with the theme of “Without Mangroves There is No Motherland.” In the United States, Environmental Concern Inc., on behalf of the U.S. National Ramsar Committee, is celebrating World Wetland Day by announcing grant awards (click here for the press release.)
And the most exciting news today comes from Congo where the government has established a wetlands reserve considered the world's second largest --- now there is BIG reason for us to celebrate today. Go to WWF's February 2nd article and see if that doesn't put a smile on your face.
All the best,
Heidi
Heidi
Luquer,
Editor
Migratory Bird & Wetlands NewsLink
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News from Sponsors
News from the U.S. National
Ramsar Committee
- Click here to see a PDF press release from Environmental Concern, on behalf of USNRC, that announces the recipients of the grant awards for the “Promotion of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands” project.
- World Wetlands Day events occur February 2nd to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention. Click here to see a list of events taking place in the United States.
- The U.S. Government has formally petitioned the Ramsar Secretariat for the designation of Francis Beidler Forest, which is owned by Audubon South Carolina and The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina. The nomination is under review at the Ramsar Secretariat.
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News from Friends
in alphabetical
order...
Audubon North Carolina Commends Navy for Eliminating Washington County Landing Field Site
22 Jan 2008, North Carolina Audubon Society website - :"Audubon applauds the Navy's decision today to steer clear of the proposed landing field site next to Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. This is a victory for the hundred thousand birds that winter there and for the farmers that live there..." Statement from Chris Canfield, Executive Director.
News from the Barbados: Migratory Shorebird Hunting – an Island Update
As part of BirdLife's Caribbean Important Bird Area (IBA) program, two unique IBAs have been identified in the Barbados: the Shooting Swamps of St Philip and of St Lucy represent a network of often artificially maintained and highly managed wetlands at either end of the island. BirdLife has been working with Wayne Burke in Barbados to explore conservation and management options that could benefit resident waterbirds and importantly the American Golden Plovers that stopover each fall. Recent progress suggests that a better monitored and regulated hunting season in 2008 and thereafter is possible. For more details contact david.wege@birdlife.org.
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Ducks Unlimited
DU commemorates Millionth Acre of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
17 January 2008
Ramsar News
- Yemen joins the Convention on Wetlands
New Ramsar Sites:
- Cameroon designates a new site on World Wetlands Day: Partie camerounaise du fleuve Sangha
- The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has designated Dojran Lake
- Nepal Names 4 High Altitude Ramsar Sites
- Republic of Congo has taken the occasion of World Wetlands Day to designate four
new Wetlands
- The Republic of Korea names two new sites: Du-ung Wetland and Moojechineup
- The Republic of Serbia adds two new Ramsar sites
Wetlands International
- Asian Waterbird Census Information Request from David Li
A review of the data stored in the Asian Waterbird census database from 1987 to 2007 is underway to ensure high quality AWC data analysis of the status and trends of waterbirds and their habitats. If you can identify questionable species or suspect count of a species your input is requested, and greatly appreciated. Click here for an excel file for each country/region.
These files are for consultation and review purpose only; please don't quote the data as they are not final. The deadline is 28 February 2008 for any feedback.
- New Research: Over 10% of Global CO2 Emissions from Peatlands
10 December 2007 - Results from the a global assessment on the links between peatland degradation and climate change show that clearance, drainage and fires in peatlands emit more than 3 billion tones of carbon dioxide every year, equivalent to 10% of global emissions from fossil fuels.
- Kyoto Ignores Millions of CO2 Emissions from Biofuels
Annually, about 180 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted by just the drainage of peatsoils for palm oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia.The Kyoto accounting rules support the use of biofuels like palm oil while ignoring the huge greenhouse gas emissions connected to the production of this biomass.
News from WHSRN [Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network]
- Stephen Brown Becomes the Director of Shorebird Science for “Shorebird Recovery Project” Dr. Stephen Brown expands his leadership role at the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences by launching the Shorebird Recovery Project (SRP) which includes site-based conservation (WHSRN), science (research), and conservation success measures (monitoring).
- See Pablo Canevari Award under the "Awards" Category.
Migratory Bird & Wetland News
in the news -
from around the globe
most recent
news listed first
Congo Wetlands Reserve to be World's Second Largest
2 February 2008, WWF - WWF has welcomed the World Wetlands Day declaration of the world’s second largest internationally recognized and protected significant wetlands reserve in the Congo...
Algeria Drops Plan to Protect Park: Report
2 February 2008, Reuters (Algiers) - Algeria has started building a motorway through a major Mediterranean wetland despite a previous promise to re-route the $11 billion project around it, a newspaper said on Saturday.
Oldest Horseshoe Crab Fossil Discovered
28 January 2008, LiveScience by Jeanna Bryner - Two nearly complete fossil specimens discovered in Canada reveal a new genus of horseshoe crab, pushing their origins back at least 100 million years earlier than previously thought.
Big Whooping Landing [USA]
28 January 2008, Tampa Tribune, by Josh Poltilove - After flying nearly 1,200 miles, 17 endangered whooping cranes touched down in Marion County this morning. Operation Migration pilots led the first whooping crane chicks to Florida in 2001, conditioning them to follow ultralight surrogates. Pilots and biologists have continued the tradition. For more information click here. |
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Expert: Don’t Blane Wild Birds for H5N1 Spread
Focus on Poultry Trade and Smuggling, Says U.N. Animal Disease Official
23 January 2008, MSBCN (Bankok) - There is no solid evidence that wild birds are to blame for the apparent spread of the H5N1 virus from Asia to parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, an animal disease expert said on Wednesday.
Senate Repairs Nation's Most Popular Wetland Program [USA]
14 January 2008, Ducks Unlimited (Madison, Wisconsin) - The Wetlands Reserve Program, the nation’s leading wetlands restoration program, received much-needed leadership in the Senate recently. Sen. Herb Kohl (Wis.) amended language in the Farm Bill, correcting an administrative issue that undercut WRP’s appeal to farmers and ranchers.
Arrival of Migratory Birds Poor in Southern Coasts [Bangladesh]
7 January 2008, The Daily Star, by Sohrab Hossain (Patuakhali) - Arrival of migratory birds in coastal areas of Patuakhali, Barguna and Bhola have fallen drastically this winter compared to previous years mainly due to the 'ecological imbalance' caused by Sidr, experts and bird watchers here said.
Grants of $20.5 Million Safeguard Coastal Wetlands [USA]
4 January, 2008, ENS - Twenty-nine conservation projects encompassing nearly 10,000 acres of coastal wetlands will be funded with $20.5 million from 2008 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced.
Louisiana’s Wetlands Are Being Lost at The Rate Of One Football Field Every 38 Minutes
4 January 2008, Science Daily & Louisiana State University (LSU) - To fight against this rapid destruction, LSU and Ohio State University formed an ongoing research partnership in 2003 with the goal of rebuilding the vanishing coastal wetland ecosystem that makes up 30 percent of the nation’s total coastal marsh.
Winter Sets in, Guests Yet to Arrive [Bangladesh]
31 December 2007, The Daily Star, by Shahnaz Parveen - Bird enthusiasts are disappointed as migratory birds are yet to arrive in their usual flock in the city lakes and water bodies despite the advent of winter. Experts say too much human interference in the roosting grounds and destruction of water bodies in and around the city are the main reasons for the situation.
Chain Reaction Killing Loons in Great Lakes [Canada & USA]
29 December 2007 - The carcasses of hundreds of dead loons have washed up on the shores of the Great Lakes in recent months, and necropsies on the birds do not explicitly say what is killing one of the country's national symbols.
"Guest Birds" Threat to Cyclone Survivors [Bangladesh]
28 December 2007, Reuters (Dhaka) - Farmers who lost their homes and crops when a devastating cyclone battered Bangladesh's low-lying coasts about six weeks ago face a new problem from migratory birds that swarm into the country by the thousands every winter. They are welcome guests..."but this year the birds are destroying our seedbeds by eating the soft and tender saplings before we can replant them in the croplands," Shahabuddin said.
Cape Floods Devastate Wetlands [South Africa]
22 December 2007, SABCnews, - The recent floods in the southern Cape have once again highlighted the importance of good functioning wetlands in controlling floodwaters.
Birding Festival Expects Big Migration [USA]
22 December 2007, FloridaToday.com, by Maria Sonnenberg (Titusville, Florida) - The festival, draws its strength from the nature of the Space Coast, one of the top birding locations in North America. This year Joe Duff, CEO of Operation Migration will offer a program that describes teaching whopping cranes how to migrate by following ultralight aircraft -- called the "wildlife equivalent of putting man on the moon." The cranes follow the pilots from Wisconsin to Dunellin, Florida.
Scientists Optimistic as Whooping Cranes Sighted in Record Numbers [Canada/USA]
17 December 2007, The Canadian Press (Yellowknife, Canada) - One of the most majestic and endangered birds on the continent appears to be making a slow flight to recovery. The cranes were on the verge of extinction in 1941 - a mere 15 birds could be accounted for. But last week Tom Stehn, whooping crane co-ordinator for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, confirmed that 262 had arrived at the Aransas reserve on Texas's Gulf of Mexico coast and four more were in transit.
Oil Slick Threatens Winter Home of Migratory Birds [South Korea]
17 December, Yonhap News (Seoul) - The spread of a devastating oil slick from South Korea's largest oil spill threatens to affect the sanctuary of migratory birds and a natural reserve on the scenic west coast according to the Coast Guard.
Along Mississippi Flyway, Change is in the Air [USA]
16 December 2007, New York Times, by William Yardley - Scientists and hunters are noticing a shift in migratory bird patterns as winters warm and wetlands fail to freeze.
Fund Targets Emissions Cuts in Peatlands Conservation
13 December 2007, Reuters, by Catherine Hornby (Amsterdam) - A Dutch company, BioX Group, and the environment body, Wetlands International, launched a fund at a U.N climate meeting in Bali that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by investing in restoration of peatlands.
Urgent Action Needed to Protect and Restore Peatlands [Indonesia]
11 December 2007, Xinhua News agency (Bali, Indonesia) - Protection and restoration of peatlands are among the most cost-effective options for climate change mitigation, according to a report. [Wetlands International report.]
One in Three Birds Faces Extinction [USA]
10 December 2007, Telegraphy.co.uk, by Louis Bergeron - Almost 1-in-3 land bird species are likely to become extinct if the consequences of climate change become as bad as some scientists fear. Scientists at California's Stanford University analysed possible extinction rates using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
Dead Birds Washing Ashore In S. Korea
10 December 2007, CBS News - A tanker accident spills 2.7 million gallons of crude, desolating the South Korean coast. Activist warns effects of nation's largest-ever oil spill could linger for years.
Six Lakh Avian Guests in Occupied Kashmir
9 December 2007, Kashmir News Service, Srinagar - The migratory birds coming mostly from Russia, Siberia and Central Asian Republics are landing these days in the famous wetlands of Kashmir Valley, including Hokersar, Wular Lake, Haigam, Mirgund and Shalbug.
Degraded Peatswamps: The Cost-effective Way of Tackling Climate Change
7 December 2007 - In Indonesia 2000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted annually from degraded peatswamp areas, one of the world’s largest carbon stores.
China Vows to Promote Mainstreaming of Wetland Biodiversity Conservation
2 December 2007, Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua - China will speed up the wetland biodiversity conservation mainstreaming process and implement the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to enhance wetland protection and management, a senior official of the State Forestry Administration(SFA) said on Sunday.
Over Half a Million Migratory Birds Visit Kashmir's Hokersar Wetland
2 December 2007, Malaysia Sun - While the chill in the air is rejoicing tourists in Kashmir, the presence of over half a million migratory birds from Central Asian countries to the Valley has doubled everyone's joy.
Korea to Develop Bird-watching Tour Packages
1 December 2007, Korea.net - Migratory birds ("cheolsae" in Korean) flocking to river estuaries during the winter provide spectacular scenes, especially when they suddenly take flight en masse, then soar gracefully over the beautiful winter landscape at dusk or swim gracefully on the water in search of food.
Saudi Hunters on Migratory Bird 'Killing Spree'
30 November 2007, International Animal Rescue - A large number of small migratory birds, and pigeons in particular, are being illegally shot dead by amateur hunters in Saudi Arabia, the country's government has revealed. While the shooting of migratory birds is illegal, even during the country's hunting season, large numbers of birds are being shot as they cross Saudi Arabia on their migratory routes from Asia to Africa, the Khaleej Times reported.
Resources on the Web
Bird Conservation Education Network [USA]
A National Education Strategy (USA) seeks to increase public understanding of the economic, social, and cultural importance of birds in our everyday lives. The draft strategy identifies five priority bird conservation issues: habitat loss, modern industrial life, insufficient public awareness, insufficient funding, and particular inter-American concerns and implications. To see the draft and/or make comments click here. Questions can be sent to benstrategy@birdeducation.edu
Marine Debris Website [Global]
This website may be particularly helpful to coastal resource managers as a resource for how marine debris impacts seabirds and waterbirds especially. J. Michael Nolan also recommends the Australian Seabird Rescue Inc. Click here. Courtesty of Lisa Sorenson. |
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Shorebird Research Group of the Americas Launches New Website
The Shorebird Research Group of the Americas (SRGA) represents a consortium of researchers and others who areinterested in the biology and conservation of shorebirds in the Americas. This website seeks to encourage communications and collaboration and act as a clearing house for emerging ideas and issues related to shorebirds.
Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund Report
The 2005 - 2007 Annual Report is available at the WWF Hong Kong homepage in PDF format. Click here.
A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics --- Now available in Spanish!
By John Kricher
Birders' Exchange, a program of the American Birding Association is distributing copies of the book at no cost to individuals and organizations throughout the Neotropics by way of volunteer couriers in the U.S. who are traveling to Latin America. (Birder's Exchange is unable to send books outside of the U.S.) To obtain a copy (or act as a courier) please contact Birders' Exchange Coordinator, Elissa LaVoie at elavoie@aba.org.
The Encyclopaedia of the Convention on Migratory Species Now Online - Click here.
The Guide comprises over 100 fact sheets explaining the history and structure of the convention,its MoUs, and some of the many species the Convention seeks to conserve. The CMS Secretariat is presently seeking funding for French and Spanish translations.
Awards
Listed by deadline...
Call for nominations: North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) Awards
Deadline: 15 February 2008
NAWMP seeks nominations each year for its two awards: 1) The International Canvasback Award for exceptional individuals, corporations, or organizations that have made substantial contributions to the implementation and continuation of the Plan throughout North America. 2) The National Great Blue Heron Award for activities that have resulted in substantial benefits to waterfowl and other wetland-associated migratory bird populations of North America. |
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Pablo Canevari Award
Deadline: 15 March 2008
Every two years, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences presents an award of US$2,000 to an individual or group from Latin America that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to shorebird conservation much the way Pablo Canevari did until his sudden death 2000. The Award recognizes and supports exemplary work in the field of shorebird conservation.
The
AEWA Waterbird Conservation Award
Deadline: 14 March 2008
This triennial award will be presented in Antananarivo, Madagascar
at the 4th Session of the Meeting of the Parties. The AEWA
Award 2008 will go to either institutions and individuals
who have made a significant contribution towards the long-term
conservation and sustainability of waterbirds, especially
pioneer initiatives. Each winner will receive a cash prize
of US$5,000.
UNEP/CMS
Thesis Award
Deadline:
30 April 2008
The Secretariat of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species
seeks to promote scientific research and conservation of migratory
species through this award. The thesis should provide new
data and insights into the biology and ecology of migratory
species or external factors disrupting their migration patterns.
Research results must be applicable to conservation measures
to the benefit of migratory species. The award of 10,000 EURO
is offered at the 9th Meeting of the Conference of Parties
to CMS (COP9) in Rome in December 2008.
Jobs & Opportunities
Volunteers Wanted for El Salvador Shorebird Counts
SalvaNATURA and National Audubon Society are implementing shorebird conservation actions at El Salvador’s largest coastal IBA, known as Jaltepeque-Jiquilisco. Shorebird enthusiasts are sought to join the April census and help with shorebird identification. For more information click here. Contact Coordinator, Esmeralda Martínez: emartinez@salvanatura.org
WWF-UK Programme Manager – WWF Thames Programme
Deadline: 13 February 2008
The successful candidate will manage a programme that seeks to ensure better management of the country's most famous river in the face of climate change. For more details click here.
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International Calendar
for 2008
& beyond...
2008
February
2 February - World Wetlands Day !!!
13 - 16 February
4th International Partners in Flight Conference: Tundra to Tropics
McAllen, Texas. McAllen Convention Center. Contact Terry rich
for more information: terry_rich@fws.gov.
13 February
Bird
Conservation Alliance Regional Meeting
McAllen, Texas, USA
NEW
19 - 22 February
"Living Lakes Eastern Europe Network"
Tartu, Estonia. Hosted by the Global Nature Fund, the Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation (CTC), the Lake Võrtsjärv Foundation (LVF), the Estonian
University of Life Sciences, Centre for Limnology and the South-Estonian Tourism Foundation and sponsored by the German Federal Foundation for the Environment (DBU), the European Union and the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre.
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March
3 - 6 March
6th Mangrove
Forest Ecology, Management and Restoration
Training Course
Hollywood, Florida. For further informatio contact Robin Lewis
at: LESRRL3@AOL.COM
5-8 March
XII Argentinean Meeting on
Ornithology
San Martin de los Andes, province of Neuquen,Argentina. Contact:
info@rao.org.ar
March 6-7, 2008
Tenth International Wildlife Law Conference
University of Granada Faculty of Law
Granada, Spain
April
7 -
11 April
4th Global Conference
on Oceans, Coasts and Islands: Advancing
ecosystem management by 2010 and integrated coastal and ocean
management
Hanoi, Vietnam
New
7 - 25 April
International Training of Trainers on Wetland Management
Moldova
A course focusing on the facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes and curriculum development(ICWM-TOT) . This course is organised by Wageningen International and ECOTIRAS (Moldova) in cooperation with the WetCap Partnership, the Ramsar Secretariat, and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
17 - 20 April
The Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field
Ornithologists Annual Meetings
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA, at the University of Southern
Mississippi.
May
10 May
International Migratory Bird Day
The conservation theme this year is Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats and People.
12 - 16 May
10th International
Conference on Salt Lake Research
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Hosted by The International Society
of Salt Lake Research (ISSLR). Co-sponsors include FRIENDS
of Great Salt Lake, Utah State University, The University
of Utah, and U.S. Geological Survey.
June
9 – 15 June
13th
International Peat Congress After Wise Use: The
Future of Peatlands
Tullamore, Ireland.
14 June
- 14 September 2008
Expo Zaragoza 2008: Water and Sustainable Development
Zaragoza, Spain. For more informat about this three-month
public event, featuring a specially-constructed “Water
Tower.”
16 - 19 June
61st
Annual CWRA National Conference, Managing the
Health of Canada's Lakes and Rivers
Gimli, Manitoba.
New
22 - 25 June 2008
Asian Wetland Symposium 2008: Wetlands -The Heart of Asia
A symposium to reflect on the importance of wetlands to the daily life
of people in Asia and to look into the progress and challenges in wetlands management and
conservation.
July
Updated
13 -
17 July
22nd Annual Meeting of the Society
for Conservation Biology
Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. Hosted by the University of Tennessee
at Chattanooga’s Department of Biological and Environmental
Sciences. To be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
New
22 - 25 July
3rd Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI) Conference
Asuncion, Paraguay. For more information contact Marina Sansostri Ratchford Chief, Branch of Latin America & the Caribbean Division of International Conservation: marina_ratchford@fws.gov
August
4 - 9 August
The
American Ornithologists' Union, Cooper
Ornithological Society, and Society
of Canadian Ornithologists
Portland, Oregon, USA.
October
October 28 - November
4
10th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention
Changwon, Republic of Korea.
November
New
5 - 8 November
32nd Annual Meeting of the Waterbird Society
South Padre Island, Texas.
2009
March 2009
March (tentative)
The
Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists annual meetings.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
2010
August 2010
22 - 28 August
The 25th International
Ornithological Congress
Campos do Jordão, Brazil.
The End
2 February 2008
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