3rd Meeting of the Signatories (MOS3) of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Birds and Their Habitats
December 2–3, 2024
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Birds, effective since August 26, 2007, is a multilateral agreement under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Signed by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, it promotes regional collaboration to protect migratory grassland birds and their habitats, emphasizing a shared commitment to biodiversity conservation.
In 2018, Rob Clay, Director of the Executive Office of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN), signed the MoU, making WHSRN an official cooperating partner. Since then, the WHSRN Executive Office (housed by Manomet Conservation Sciences) and its partners have contributed to implementation of the MoU by engaging and training ranchers to manage grasslands to benefit species such as the Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis), and protecting critical habitats through WHSRN Sites.
This week, during 2-3 December, the 3rd Meeting of the Signatories (MOS3) was held in Florianópolis, Brazil. Attendees included representatives from the signatory countries as well as observers involved in regional grassland bird conservation. Brazil, having led the MoU’s coordination for the past five years, shared progress and challenges while facilitating updates to the Action Plan for the next five years.
Southern South America’s temperate and tropical grasslands, among the world’s richest grazing regions, are vital for biodiversity. However, modern agriculture has replaced much of these habitats, leaving intact only 40% of the original natural or semi-natural grasslands. These remaining areas are critical for migratory species, including several shorebirds, highlighting the importance of regional conservation efforts.
Left: Manomet’s delegation includes Rob Clay (Vice President of Flyways and Director of the WHSRN Executive Office), Juliana Bosi (Managing Director of Flyways), and Joaquin Aldabe (Ranching and Shorebird Specialist). Photo: Courtesy.
Right: Juliana Bosi de Almeida reporting the outcomes from the Public Policy Working Group. Photo: Alice Reisfeld.
The Role of WHSRN within the MoU
WHSRN site partners in Argentina, Bolivia, and Uruguay are driving efforts to establish ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable grazing practices. During the 3rd Meeting of the Signatories, Tjalle Boorsma from Asociación Armonía (Bolivia) highlighted sustainable ranching initiatives at the WHSRN Site Reserva Barba Azul. This site protects critical habitat for the endemic Blue-throated Macaw and significant shorebird populations, including Buff-breasted Sandpipers, which rely on the river-edge shortgrass during southbound migration in September. Armonía’s Barba Azul model ranch demonstrates how conservation can coexist with improved productivity and economic gains, promoting large-scale conservation through tangible results.
Joaquin Aldabe, Ranching and Shorebird Conservation Specialist with Manomet Conservation Sciences, shared progress from the “Migratory Birds and Ranching” initiative in Uruguay. This effort, led by Fundación Lagunas Costeras, the University of the Republic’s Eastern Region Center (CURE), and Manomet, integrates habitat conservation for grassland shorebirds with sustainable cattle grazing practices. Focused on the coastal lagoons, the program spans over 247,100 acres of potential habitat within a broader 2.5-million-acre landscape. Through partnerships with livestock ranchers, the program has formalized 56 agreements covering 17,297 acres near five coastal lagoons. These collaborations benefit both migratory bird conservation and the ranching community, fostering a sustainable future for the region’s grasslands.
Left: Rob Clay is presenting on expanding the MoU species and geography. Right: Plenary on the first day of the MOS3 meeting. Photos:Juliana Bosi de Almeida.
Manomet’s delegation included Rob Clay (Vice President of Flyways and Director of the WHSRN Executive Office), Juliana Bosi (Managing Director of Flyways), and Joaquin Aldabe (Ranching and Shorebird Specialist). Rob Clay also holds honorary roles within the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) as one of two COP-Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. In this capacity, he serves as Chair of CMS’s Flyways Working Group, contributing to global flyway conservation efforts. Commenting on the meeting, Juliana noted the important gains made through the conservation and ranching sectors working together to develop “win – win” scenarios of ecologically, economically, and culturally sustainable ranching within a governmental framework for international collaboration.
Cover Photo: Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Photo: David Irving / Macaulay Library
