Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) © Hans Overduin
Article submitted by Marc van Roomen, Coordinator of the AEWA International Working Group for the Black-tailed Godwit, Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology
Bonn, 1 December 2018 - Both in its breeding and wintering regions, the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa limosa) is an iconic flagship species for habitats with low intensity agricultural activities. The coexistence in their breeding regions with dairy farming and in the stop-over and wintering areas with rice cultivation used to be beneficial but has been out of balance for some time. This nominate subspecies features on the IUCN World Red List as Near Threatened and in Europe on the European Red List as Endangered. Its current presence in agriculture habitats can as best be described as “cannot live with or without you”.
Main drivers of the declines are the intensification of dairy farming in North-West Europe, leading to low groundwater levels, frequent and synchronized mowing and monotonous and dense swards resulting in cascading effects of nest loss, shortage of food and increased predation. In addition conversion of grasslands to arable land, land abandonment in eastern Europe, afforestation, climate change and an increase of generalist predators have their effects as well. At the stop-over and wintering areas, natural fresh water wetlands disappear and rice cultivation is being carried out more intensively, also unnecessary mortality factors such as (illegal) hunting play a role as well.
The problems are manifold and largely known. These have led to management solutions to save the species but we have not reached the point of recovery yet. It is not only about saving the Godwit itself but also about the choices we have to make for our future landscape! The AEWA Action Plan for the Black-tailed Godwit has defined many measures that need to be taken. Many local and national conservation and management activities are underway often in close cooperation between farmers, conservationists and others involved. Upscaling of these activities and continuous involvement remains necessary to stop the decline.
For a highly migratory species as the Black-tailed Godwit (not only the limosa nominate but also the islandica sub-species) international cooperation between countries is needed to create a real flyway approach taking account of the whole annual cycle. In 2008, an International Single Species Action Plan was commissioned by AEWA and an International Working Group for the Black-tailed Godwit was established. Since then, several workshops and meetings have been organized to exchange best practices, harmonize conservation actions and develop regional working plans for further implementation of the action plan.
Important activities and actions since the last Meeting of the Parties to AEWA were:
The AEWA Black-tailed Godwit action plan comes formally to the end of its first ten-year term in 2018. The 7th Meeting of Parties of AEWA will decide on the extension of the plan in Durban, South Africa in December 2018
The International AEWA Working Group for the Black-tailed Godwit is coordinated by Marc van Roomen (Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology) and financed by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Vogelbescherming Nederland.
Further Information
AEWA International Species Action and Management Plans are one of most vital and practical tools under the Agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of those migratory waterbirds which have been prioritized for coordinated international action. Following extensive and inclusive consultations these Plans are adopted by the Meeting of the Parties and represent the quintessence of AEWA: cooperation across borders for a common defined goal. AEWA International Species Working and Expert groups are subsequently convened by the Secretariat to coordinate and facilitate Action and Management Plan implementation.
The dedicated implementation of International Species Plans often has far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate benefits for the main target species. This includes but is not limited to the restoration and sustainable management of critical sites and wider landscapes, increasing capacity-building and awareness-raising, diminishing illegal killing and ensuring that any use of migratory waterbirds is sustainable as well as providing alternative livelihoods. For more information on how you can support the implementation of AEWA International Species Plans, please contact the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat (Ms. Nina Mikander) or visit the CMS Family Migratory Species Champion Programme website.
Last updated on 05 December 2018