11% of shorebirds using the Pacific Americas Flyway have shown population declines. Factors such as climate change and development projects threatening their habitats are the main causes of this decrease, especially in their wintering areas. Therefore, conserving migratory shorebirds requires coordinated efforts at flyway, hemispheric, national, and local scales, involving diverse actors, cultures, and socio-economic sectors.
The Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Strategy, through its Strategy 7: Increase Partner and Stakeholder Capacity, identified the need to strengthen the capabilities of various stakeholders interested in shorebird conservation. In response to this need, the Executive Office of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) launched in March 2024 the first Introductory Training Program for Shorebird Conservation on the Pacific Americas Flyway.
Left: Large flocks of Sanderlings (Calidris alba) at the mouth of the Maipo River, Chile. Photo: Diego Luna Quevedo. Right: A banded Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). Photo: Shiloh Schulte.
This training program, delivered virtually, had over 200 participants from 11 countries and took place from March 8 to April 12, 2024. Through six modules, the program provided a comprehensive overview of various topics related to shorebird conservation. The modules addressed community engagement, governance, species and population monitoring, human well-being, and environmental impact assessment as important aspects to consider in shorebird conservation.
Twenty experts in shorebird conservation and their habitats from 12 partner organizations within the Network served as lecturers for the program’s modules.
Community Engagement Module by Vianey Ramírez from WHSRN.
For the Executive Office, it was immensely gratifying to find the interest of so many people, of different ages and educational levels, in contributing to the conservation of shorebirds along the Pacific Flyway. The diverse stories of the Introductory Training Program participants motivate us to continue seeking tools to strengthen all interested stakeholders, as better capacities make our shorebird conservation efforts more effective.
This program highlights the importance of uniting efforts and sharing knowledge to address the challenges of shorebird conservation. Collaboration among various sectors and continuous training is essential to ensuring a sustainable future for these migratory species.
For more information about the Training Program, contact Jeisson Zamudio, Pacific South America Coordinator, at jzamudio@manomet.org.
Cover Photo: Lesser Yellowlegs. Photo: Andrea Ferreira.
