Arctic migratory shorebirds connect us all

I am originally from Colombia but now based in Quito, Ecuador. I came to AMBI and Manomet (hosted by the Shorebird Recovery Program) from the BirdLife International Americas Secretariat where I led their flyways program. Working for AMBI has enabled me to apply “on-the-ground” experiences learned from working with local partners to tackle some of the global drivers of threats to migratory birds. Being part of the AMBI team and hosted by Manomet is a very enriching experience. The combined work has allowed me to be very effective in delivering shorebird conservation in the Americas and also to consider other spaces and publics not considered too much before.

Recently the CAFF Management Board and Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials approved the new AMBI workplan for 2019-23. For the Americas, the workplan is focused on five priority species, all shorebirds: Red Knot, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Red Phalarope, and Red-necked Phalarope. For these and other co-occurring species, AMBI seeks to:

1. Evaluate impacts of overabundant geese populations on Arctic breeding habitat and implement appropriate mitigation measures;
2. Identify climate resilient shorebird breeding and wintering habitat;
3. Reduce the impairment of shorebird habitat from human intrusions, disturbances, destruction, and degradation; and
4. Support current conservation strategies for shorebirds along the Atlantic and Pacific Americas flyways and the development of an Americas Mid-continental flyway strategy.

An initial focus for implementation of the new AMBI workplan is the development of an Americas Mid-continental flyway strategy, with a first workshop planned for October in Panama to bring partners together from throughout the hemisphere.

Hosting the coordinator of another organization’s initiative might seem like an odd strategy. However, so much of Manomet’s strength comes from its ability to partner, to share experiences and opportunities, and to make a long-lasting commitment to finding innovative solutions to local problems with global drivers. The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) is another such multi-partner initiative hosted by Manomet. In the words of Rob Clay (Director of the WHSRN Executive Office), “Hosting Isadora and the AMBI Americas coordination has been a natural fit for Manomet’s Shorebird Recovery Program, enabling us to deliver efforts to conserve shorebirds at a scale that otherwise wouldn’t be possible, and helping to connect our work studying shorebirds on their breeding grounds, with our efforts to conserve and better manage wintering habitats for the same species in Patagonia.” Long may these efforts continue to ensure the long-term sustainability of Arctic breeding species, cultures, and lifestyles.