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Conservation San Antonio Bay became a protected provincial natural area in 1993, the same year it was recognized as a site of International importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN). Birdlife International designated it an Important Bird Area (IBA) in 2004. It is also a potential Ramsar Site. San Antonio Bay gained added recognition and importance in 2005 when the Red Knot Calidris canutus rufa was listed as threatened with extinction (Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals – also known as the Bonn Convention). As a signatory, Argentina strives to protect these animals; this includes conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration, and generally controlling factors that might endanger them. Land Use The city of San Antonio Oeste has nearly 20,000 inhabitants. Public land ownership includes the city shoreline, beaches, and San Antonio Este Port, the commercial gateway for regional fruits, apple juices, onions, garlic and soda ash. Pollution—Potential pollution from garbage, port activities, and from a soda ash factory that began operating in 2005—is of are a concern. The pristine beaches in San Antonio Bay that attract so many shorebirds also attract people. Las Grutas Beach draws 200,000 tourists every summer – a number that has increased 20% per year over the past decade. New access points, buildings, and tourist amusement facilities are being constructed along the beach. Lack of advance planning for this rapid expansion has resulted in uncontrolled tourist disturbance of critical roosting and feeding areas for migratory shorebirds. Habitat Protection  The impact of human disturbance was successfully controlled at roosting and feeding sites at Los Alamos near Las Grutas by "environmental rangers" from Consejo de Ecología y Medio Ambiente and Municipalidad de San Antonio Oeste. They were charged with protecting shorebird roosting sites during the high summer tourist season and fall migratory shorebird season, but they also act as interpreters, disseminating information about migratory birds. However, Banco Reparo and Península Villarino and other key areas for shorebirds do not have any protection yet. Outreach Luckily most shorebirds arrive at San Antonio Bay as the tourist season is ending. Locals now see bird watching as an opportunity to extend the tourism season. A new Interpretation Center on shorebird migration is being developed under the Multi-National Conservation of Red Knots project, funded partially by a grant to WHSRN from the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (USA). Trained guides will lead bird watching trips and environmental education programs aimed at tourists, educational institutions, law enforcement, and local fishermen. Shorebird Species List
Management Priorities 2006 - the provincial government and local institutions (Municipalidad de San Antonio Oeste, Fundación Inalafquen, Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera Alte. Storni, Prefectura Naval Argentina and Fundación Patagonia Natural) are working on a management plan for the natural protected area at San Antonio Bay. Area limits are currently being established. Meanwhile, the first urban management plan for the area (2005) advises restricted use of land close to key shorebird areas, which include extensive dune parks. But improved protection by environmental rangers is still needed. Red Knot Research - Fundación Inalafquen is coordinating Red Knot research with other local and international institutions including the Royal Ontario Museum, Netherlands Institute of Sea Research, Canadian Wildlife Service, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, and Birdlife International. |
Site Facts
Country, State, Province/Region: Argentina, Province of Río Negro Relative Location: Northern Patagonia, from the Baliza San Matías (to the east) to El Sótano, including about 45 km of beaches. Latitude/Longitude: 40º 45’ S, 64º 55’ W Category: International Site Basis for Designation: More than 100,000 shorebirds per year, including 40,000 Red Knots (Calidris canutus,) (around 25% of the biogeographic population). In recent years, fewer knots have been observed in the area, reflecting the dramatic declines that have been recorded for the species: it is estimated that at least 50% of the rufa population uses the area, underlining its importance for the future conservation of the species. Size: 16,900 ha. (41,761 acres) Joined: 1993 Site Owner/Steward: Province of Río Negro Site Partners: Fundación Inalafquen, Consejo Provincial de Ecología de la Provincia de Río Negro Contact: Oscar Echeverría CODEMA President Province of Río Negro oecheverria@codema.rionegro.gov.ar Mabel Leonardo President of Concejo Deliberante de San Antonio Oeste celus05@hotmail.com Patricia González Fundación Inalafquen ccanutus@yahoo.com.ar |
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