2. COMPONENT: INCREASING KNOWLEDGE ON WATERBIRDS AND WETLANDS

• Regional workshop on the Critical Sites Network (CSN) tool, Mehdia, Morocco,
  3-5 December 2009

Aim:
The workshop was targeted at representatives of all project countries working in the field of site designation/ conservation and having the relevant technical know-how. Participants were invited to review data of the CSN tool for the WetCap region and to identify information gaps and key sites for future surveys and monitoring in the project countries.

Background:
One of the most innovative activities under the WOW project is the creation of the Critical Site Network Tool (CSN). This new tool combines currently dispersed data found in the International Waterbird Census, Important Bird Areas Database, the Ramsar Sites Information Service and the World Database on Protected Areas in a central information portal on waterbird species, their migratory routes, key wetland areas and ecological sites.

The CSN tool will help all stakeholders involved in the transboundary conservation of waterbirds to target their efforts in fulfilling their obligations under relevant international treaties including AEWA and the Ramsar Convention. Thus the tool will, for example, help identify potential Ramsar sites, provide information for environmental impact assessments, help identify gaps of knowledge on wetlands and waterbirds and assist in the development of International Single Species Action Plans.

Further information:

Article on CSN tool workshop

Workshop Agenda

List of Participants

Picture Gallery Other Resources (maps used at the CSN tool workshop)

 

• Surveys and Monitoring

• Four gap-filling surveys in each country
The above-mentioned regional workshop will be followed up by four surveys in each country, which will be based on the results and recommendations of the regional workshop. The surveys will be carried out by local authorities and organizations and in close coordination with the AEWA Secretariat, the regional coordinator and sub-contracted organizations.

• Monitoring the status of four identified key sites per country, possibly integrated in an existing monitoring framework.