WHSRN Executive Office
WHSRN is coordinated by an Executive Office that provides core staff and services to the Network’s sites and partners, and to governing Councils and supporting committees.
For most of its history, the WHSRN Executive Office has been housed within Manomet, Inc., where it continues to this day as part of Manomet’s Flyways Program. However, through the years Executive Office functions have also been housed in National Audubon Society, Wetlands for the Americas (a precursor to Wetlands International), and Wildlife Habitat Canada.
Setting Priorities
The WHSRN Executive Office helps ensure that site designation and conservation action are informed by the best available information, including traditional and local ecological knowledge, and undertaken as part of collaborative efforts at local, national and international scales.
- Monitor the status of species and populations
- Facilitate the nomination of new WHSRN sites
- Support the development of national, regional, or site-specific conservation and management plans.
Capacity Building
With seven team members and close partnership with other colleagues within Manomet’s Shorebird Recovery Program, the WHSRN Executive Office has a variety of skills and expertise to help build the capacity of site partners.
- Site Assessment
- Good Governance
- Community Engagement
- Ecosystem Services
- Habitat Management via Manomet’s Habitat for Shorebirds Project
- Conservation Advocacy
- Species Monitoring
- Fundraising / Resourcing Action
Focal Sites
Currently, Executive Office staff are working on-the-ground with local partners at four focal sites, using the lessons learned at these sites to create tools that can be applied to all sites.
- Eastern Wetlands of Chiloé Island
- Delaware Bay
- Gulf of Fonseca
- Lagoa do Peixe
Building Partnerships
Partnerships are key to an effective network and achieving common conservation and sustainable development goals. The WHSRN Executive Office helps local partners to:
- Increase and maintain engagement with non-traditional stakeholders (such as businesses).
- Work with key global and regional initiatives to ensure effective collaboration on common issues.
Communications
The WHSRN Executive Office helps keep Site and Network Partners connected on activities, capacity building, joint fundraising, and planning. To facilitate sharing and collaboration amongst partners the WHSRN Executive Office maintains:
- Bilingual monthly newsletter
- Social media
- Outreach resources
- Site exchanges and site linking initiatives
Cover Photo: American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). Photo: Maina Handmaker.
Page photos top to bottom: Brad Winn, Diego Luna Quevedo, Diego Luna Quevedo, Maina Handmaker, Monica Iglecia.
