During the recent meeting of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group in Sackville, Canada, Manomet had the honor of presenting the Pablo Canevari Award to Dr. Sandra Giner of Venezuela. Dr. Giner attended the meeting invited as a guest speaker to share the latest insights on shorebirds and their habitats in Venezuela. She was unaware that she would be recognized for her outstanding contributions to conservation. The award was conferred by Rob Clay, Manomet’s Vice President of Flyways, in the presence of esteemed colleagues and friends dedicated to safeguarding shorebirds throughout the Americas.
A Venezuelan biologist and professor at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Dr. Giner is recognized as a pioneer in the country’s shorebird research and conservation community. Under her leadership, the National Shorebird Conservation Group of Venezuela successfully advocated for the designation of Salina Solar Los Olivitos as the nation’s first Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site of International Importance—an achievement that underscores her influence and dedication.
Beyond her academic and organizational accomplishments, Dr. Giner has excelled in capacity-building initiatives and training individuals in shorebird conservation practices. In remote areas such as La Guajira, she has fostered the participation of indigenous groups, who participate as volunteers for shorebird surveys along Venezuela’s western coastline. Her commitment extends to supporting conservation projects with her own resources, demonstrating an unwavering devotion to preserving these species and their habitats. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Giner and look forward to her continued leadership and contributions to shorebird conservation.
Left: Participants from the “Conserving Shorebirds and their Habitats Workshop” in the field. Photo: Sandra Giner. Right: Shorebird census at the Ciénaga de Los Olivitos Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Chris Sharpe.
The Award
The Pablo Canevari Award is presented by Manomet every two years to an individual or organization in Latin America and the Caribbean that has demonstrated a significant commitment to shorebird conservation, much like Pablo Canevari, the first Director of the WHSRN Executive Office, did before he passed away suddenly in March 2000. Read more about the award and past winners.
“We are extremely proud that this year’s award went to Sandra Giner, as it serves as an important acknowledgment of her constant efforts over more than a decade to carry out and support shorebird conservation projects in the country, as well as to train new generations of Venezuelans in the study of shorebirds.”
Cover Photo: Monitoring activities at Punta Maragüey. Photo: Sandra Giner.
