WHSRN’s mission is to conserve shorebirds and their habitats across the Americas through action at a network of key sites. “Across the Americas” is an indispensable detail for migratory shorebirds, as this mission can’t be achieved unless the network includes sites across the range of their full annual cycle. This year, we’re celebrating a major milestone in WHSRN’s history that brought the Network one step closer to reaching this mission. This year is the 30th anniversary of the three WHSRN Sites in Suriname, the very first WHSRN Sites outside of North America.
Bigi Pan, Coppename Monding Nature Reserve, and Wia Wia Nature Reserve were all designated as WHSRN Sites of Hemispheric Importance in 1989. They were designated primarily for their importance to Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), but also for supporting hundreds of thousands of other migratory shorebirds during the non-breeding season, such as Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), and both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca and T. flavipes). Partners such as Manomet/WHSRN, New Jersey Audubon, Vrienden Natuurbehoud Suriname, and Suriname Conservation Foundation have made strides in recent years to maintain research and monitoring programs, reduce illegal shorebird hunting, and engage the local community and resource users in the conservation of shorebird habitat.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Suriname WHSRN Sites, Anton de Kom University in Paramaribo, Suriname is offering a two-week shorebird conservation course for Environmental Sciences students. The course is being organized by the WHSRN Executive Office, Manomet, Anton de Kom University, and Marijem Djosetro, Advisor for the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Land and Forest Management and PhD Candidate at Wageningen University (Netherlands). The primary goal of the course is to work with local students and organizations to continue growing interest and support for shorebird conservation in Suriname, but any interested WHSRN partners, students, or shorebird conservationists are welcome to listen in and learn by webinar!
Click here to learn more about the two-week shorebird conservation course at Anton de Kom University.
The course begins on Tuesday, December 3rd with an exciting line-up of speakers to celebrate this 30th anniversary milestone, including Hesdy Esajas, the Director of Suriname’s Ministry of Spatial Planning, Land and Forest Management, and George Finney – WHSRN Hemispheric Councilor emeritus and former Regional Director for Atlantic Canada with Canadian Wildlife Service — who was instrumental in developing the sister-site relationship between Suriname and the Bay of Fundy, a critical site for Semipalmated Sandpipers on their southbound migration.
The course will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday for two weeks – continuing after the celebration with presentations on topics such as habitat management, coastal ecology, identification and monitoring, community engagement, and conservation governance. The course will be taught predominantly in English.
Please join the WHSRN Executive Office in congratulating Bigi Pan, Coppename Monding, and Wia Wia on this very special 30th anniversary!
For more information, please contact Arne Lesterhuis with the WHSRN Executive Office.
Cover Photo: Coast at Bigi Pan at high tide. Photo: David Mizrahi.
