Summary/Resumen
Summary of Outcomes of the 2008 Annual Meeting
Resumen de Resultados de la Reunión Anual de 2008 (en preparacion)
Day 1: WHSRN Meeting
Contact Charles Duncan, Oficina Ejecutiva de WHSRN, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. 1-207-871-9295
Day 2: Joint Meeting
Discussions on collaboration between the Waterbird Conservation Council and WHSRN’s Hemispheric Council and other entities concerned with bird and habitat conservation in aquatic ecosystems. Included exploration of programs or activities of common interest to both councils, including the Rare Program's efforts to build local constituencies for conservation and three partnership projects.
Readings
A Draft Proposal for an Alliance for the Conservation of Water Birds in the Americas.
Presentations
RARE: Making Conservation Second Nature - Paloma Chávez
Linking Communities: Marismas Nacionales, Great Salt Lake and Chaplin/Old Wives Lakes - Don Paul
Migration Science and Mystery: A Distance Learning Experience - Rosabel Miró and Xico Vega http://migration.pwnet.org/
Rice and Waterbirds: conservation in working landscapes - Kathy Parsons on behalf of Rice and Waterbirds Working Group
Resolution and Action Items
The Council continues to believe in an integrated, Americas-wide approach; that is, looking beyond taxonomic divisions, considering not only the needs of all aquatic birds, but those of ecosystems and human communities when planning conservation actions. Meeting again jointly with the WHSRN Hemispheric Council is one mechanism to enhance collaboration between these two Councils; the Rice and Waterbirds Working Group and site assessment tools were identified as others. The two Councils have committed to communicate closely when undertaking strategic planning. Council also deliberated on the recommendations of an ad hoc Task Force regarding the formation of a "Hemispheric Alliance." Although the Council felt it lacked the maturity to spearhead such an effort, it will continue to strengthen ties to other entities concerned with bird and habitat conservation in aquatic ecosystems through shared membership or forums. Interactions with government entities are recognized as especially important, with international conventions (Ramsar convention, Convention on Migratory Species) serving as avenues for this engagement.
Day 3: Joint Field Trip in the Marismas Nacionales
Singayta, La Tovara, and Mexcaltitan
Days 4 and 5: Waterbird Conservation Council
I. Council Member Round Table
Each Council member spent 5 minutes describing their individual activities on behalf of waterbirds, as a way for the group to to identify key opportunities and activities, raise awareness, and develop collaborations.
Additionally, three topics were explored in more detail:
II. Council Structure and Governance
Now 5 years of age, the Council took the opportunity to examine its structure and operations. Examined effectiveness in its role of fostering waterbird conservation, and the accomplishments of working groups and member individuals and organizations on Council. Discussion goal was a reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, structure and governance for Council.
Reading
An Examination of Waterbird Conservation Council Structure and Operations
Presentation
Waterbird Conservation Council & Evolutionary Change -
Jim Kushlan
Resolution and Action Items
Council considered other models than the self-directed, voluntary partnership model currently used. The discussion revealed that the membership was comfortable with its current direction and progress. Executive Committee was charged in coming year with documenting the current business model and expectations of members and the group.
III. Strategies for Seabird Conservation
Session was a follow-up on the priority set on seabird conservation at the 2007 annual meeting. Council assessed progress on various projects, outstanding needs, and considered new strategies/projects to continue progress. Discussion goal was a coherent series of initiatives for seabird conservation.
Presentations
Presentation on Council seabird-related activities - Jennifer Wheeler
Atlantic Seabird Conservation - Scott Johnston
Resolution and Action Items
Council will continue to address as a priority seabird and marine habitat conservation. In the last year, members acting as representatives of Council or in affiliation with their own organizations, worked to raise awareness about seabird needs and increase investment in their conservation. Members will continue to emphasize seabird conservation, supporting advocacy work in the Caribbean, coordination in the wider Atlantic, predator removal on Mexican islands and assessment of key colonies in Central and South America, among other activities. In addition to increasing awareness, Council will focus on sharing exportable conservation tools, including technical advice, educational/incentive-based methods, and regulatory approaches.
IV. Council Work Plans & Other Priority Items
Brief reports from the working committees active in the past year
Membership: Council brought on four new members (Fernando Castillo, Anthony Levesque, Osvel Hinojosa-Huerta, and Lynn Gape) and saw the departure of three (Kent Wohl, Beth Flint, Melanie Steinkamp) in 2007. Don Paul will be retiring from Council in 2008.
Communications:
The brochure Fostering Waterbird Conservation provides a 5-year update on the implementation of the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan and other activities of the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative.
The website www.waterbirdconservation.org underwent significant revision and improvement.
The list serve (automated e-mail list) has seen more use recently. Users can subscribe from the webpage.
Regional conservation:
Heard reports from representatives of geographic regions of the Americas. For much of North America, regional plans are in place to guide and facilitate waterbird conservation activities; however, regional-scale planning is spotty for much of Latin Americaa and the Caribbean. Organizations such as the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, and alliances forming in the grasslands and Andean regions of South America, provide a framework for planning, but there needs to be real and significant investment in order to ensure functional networks.
Technical Services:
(To be added)
Summary of Discussion and Priorities
Council felt that one of its greatest strengths and contributions was to serve as a nexus for waterbird conservation activities, acting to compile and synthesize the needs associated with waterbird conservation across the Americas, and then to share that information as a stimulus for action along with information on approaches to address those needs. As an example, the Council has facilitated the development of regional-scale conservation plans and national syntheses of waterbird resources (i.e., those stepped down from North American Waterbird Conservation Plan or recently generated for countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean) and will use these to assess needs and develop overarching strategies for monitoring and training. Council members, especially from Latin America and the Caribbean, are tasked with ensuring that products or services are developed in collaboration with audiences and are relevant and useful.
V. Waterbird Conservation Approaches Exemplified by Marismas Nacionales
Council received information on the conservation programs and approaches of the local hosts and recognized their successes.
Presentations
Linking Communities, Wetlands and MigratoryBirds -
Jim Woolf
Proyecto Vinculando Comunidades Aves Migratorias y Humedales - Carlos Villar
Festival Internacional de Aves Migratorias - Rosaura Gascón
A number of Council members stayed on to support the Annual International Festival for Migratory Birds, which took place January 19 to 26 in and around San Blas and involved lectures, music and field trips.
Acknowledgements
Local hosts for the meeting included the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) in Nayarit, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, and the Alianza Regional para Conservación de las Aves de Marismas Nacionales. Financial support for meeting costs and travel grants was received from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, WHSRN/Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, and J. Kushlan.
Arturo May provided simultaneous interpretation.
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