WHSRNews Alert

Argentine Mayors Sign Historic Shorebird Conservation Agreement

These four WHSRN Sites in Argentina are extremely important to migratory shorebirds, especially the Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa).

Argentina is the “winter” home (boreal winter / austral summer!) of numerous species of migratory shorebirds, including the imperiled rufa subspecies of Red Knot (Calidris canutus). Four places in particular have been designated as WHSRN Sites for their international (I) or hemispheric (H) level of importance to shorebirds. These include (see map, north to south): “Laguna Mar Chiquita y Rio Dulce Provincial Reserve” (H), “Bahia de San Antonio” (I), “Rio Gallegos Estuary” (I), and “Tierra del Fuego Atlantic Coast Reserve” (H).

On 11 March 2010, an unprecedented agreement was signed among the mayors of all seven municipalities surrounding these four WHSRN sites, formalizing their joint commitment to shorebird conservation within their jurisdictions. The mayors established “sister city” relations among themselves as the key mechanism for cooperation on conservation. This historic event, held in the port city of San Antonio Oeste, is described by Charles Duncan, Executive Director of WHSRN, as “the realization of a dream of many years.”

Red Knot (Calidris canutus)

Making this dream a reality has been a goal of the Argentine National WHSRN Council, comprising representatives from all four sites. The mayoral meeting and signing event was a great success, thanks in large part to excellent logistical coordination by local partner Fundación Inalafquen. A special thanks to Mirta Carbajal and Zonia Sawicki, in particular.

A news article about the mayoral meeting and signing event that was in the provincial newspaper, Diario Rio Negro, is available here in English (PDF, 178 KB) and Spanish (web).

This event coincided with a site visit to San Antonio Oeste co-hosted with Rare, a WHSRN partner that is carrying out social-marketing “Pride campaigns” to reduce threats to Red Knots and their habitats in three Argentine communities, including San Antonio Oeste. Charles Duncan attended on behalf of WHSRN and the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.

Liz Assef (left), Rare’s local Pride campaign manager, and Fabién Rojizo, campaign mascot, introduced the visiting mayors to the Bahia de San Antonio WHSRN Site.

Wendy Paulson (center), Chair of Rare’s Board of Trustees, and Charles Duncan (to her right), director of WHSRN’s Executive Office, signed the historic mayoral shorebird conservation agreement as honored witnesses.