Potential links and synergies between the EU Birds Reporting and waterbird status

assessments produced by Wetlands International and the associated waterbird

specialist groups

Szabolcs NagyWetlands International

&David Stroud

International Wader Study Group

Outline

• Waterbird status assessment processes coordinated by Wetlands International

• The role of specialist groups: the case of waders and the Wader Study Group

Waterbird Population Estimates

1994, 1997, 2002, 2006

• Forms the basis of the application of the Ramsar site Criterion 6, i.e. 1% thresholds

• Link to SPA selection under Art. 4.2• Ramsar indicators of effectiveness• IUCN Red List• 3 year cycle linked to Ramsar COPs

AEWA Conservation Status Report

• One of the obligatory report under Art. 7.4 of the AEWA Action Plan

• Forms the basis of listing populations on Table 1 of the AEWA Action Plan

• In turn, this determines the conservation measures required by the AEWA Action Plan

• AEWA Indicators of effectiveness• 3 year cycle linked to AEWA MOPs

Process linkages

Waterbird Population Estimates

AEWA Conservation

Status Report

Americas flyway

East Asia – Australasian

Flyway

International Waterbird Census

WI/IUCN SSC Waterbird Specialist Groups

Other sourcese.g. Birds in

Europe, PECBM, etc.

Multi-species assessment of waders:the role of WI Specialist Groups

1986

1989

2004

2006

2009

Process: co-ordination and

data-sharing

New dataNew data

New data

International Wader Studies 15: process

Workshops in 1996 & 1998bringing together technical expertise

Compilation of national midwinter (IWC) counts and estimates of migratory wader populations for all countries

Compilation of national totals of breeding waders (Europe only)

Flyway-scale outputs

Size-trend categories: flyway conservation priorities

East Atlantic Flyway

Black Sea / Mediterranean

Flyway

West Asian/East African Flyway

African migrants and residents

Small declining populations

Small populations, trend unknown

Small populations, not in decline

Large declining populations

Deteriorating status, formerly stable, now declining

Deteriorating status, formerly increasing, now stable

Recent launch of new WSG assessment –

26 September 2011

“Is WSG up to the challenge?”

?

??

???

Perspectives from the Specialist Groups

Specialist Group networks have much expertise to contribute

Can extend geographic scope of assessments to flyway / biogeographic population scale

BUT A) Even limited resources can greatly facilitate effectiveness of

co-ordinate B) It takes time to co-ordinate volunteers

C)

Meaningful flyway assessments depend on contemporary assessments of African mega-sites

- time to forward plan surveys is essential

Forward planning

..... so clear forward timetables from data ‘users’ are critical

Multiple international processes produce or use bird status data and information

Can these processes agree a common forward reporting timetable to 2030 to the benefit of all?