Strengthening shorebird conservation in Argentina

The three main flyways in the Western Hemisphere — Atlantic, Midcontinent, and Pacific — converge at the southernmost point in South America: Argentina. This is the last stop during fall migration for many shorebirds like the threatened rufa Red Knot (Caldris cantus rufa) and Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica), and is also home to several endemic species found nowhere else on earth, like the Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis). A total 62 shorebird species, including 26 species that breed here, rely on Argentina’s varied habitat types as part of their annual cycles, from the high Andean wetlands to the Patagonian grasslands. Protecting these habitats is a top priority for Manomet and our partners to help both shorebird populations and local communities thrive by implementing good management practices across Argentina’s landscapes.

In observance of World Shorebirds Day, Aves Argentinas, Fundación Humedales-Wetlands International, and Manomet/WHSRN signed a cooperative agreement to formalize the implementation of “Plan Nacional de Conservación de Aves Playeras de Argentina,” or, “the National Plan for the Conservation of Shorebirds of Argentina.” This plan includes strategies on coordinating fundraising efforts, implementing and finding opportunities for collaboration between organizations, and working with decision-makers to carry out these ambitious efforts.

Approved by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina through Resolution No. 409/2020, the plan defines five strategic objectives: 1) Apply and expand shorebird research to better inform management decisions; 2) Protect important sites for shorebirds; 3) Promote the implementation of best management practices in production and recreational activities; 4) Strengthen management and good governance at key shorebird sites; and 5) Generate stewardship for shorebirds and their habitats.