Mexican National Shorebird Conservation Strategy

Mexico's National Strategy for Shorebird Conservation/Courtesy of DUMAC

Strategy for the Conservation and Management of Shorebirds and their Habitats in Mexico (PDF, 11.5 MB)

In 2009, the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the Technical Subcommittee for Shorebird Conservation in Mexico published and presented the Strategy for the Conservation and Management of Shorebirds and their Habitats in Mexico.

This 72-page publication is the third national shorebird conservation plan in North America, joining those published for the United States and Canada. This strategy promotes the development of national programs and projects in Mexico for the conservation and management of shorebirds and the wetland habitats they need. It also serves as a guide for identifying specific, prioritized actions and sites or areas for conservation.

More than 60 people and 40 institutions—representing academic, community, governmental, private, and nongovernmental organizations—participated in the process of developing this national strategy and were coordinated by Ducks Unlimited of Mexico (DUMAC) in collaboration with SEMARNAT’s Direction of Wildlife (DGVS). These various sectors are also participating in carrying out its seven strategic components:

·  Research and Monitoring
·  Education, Outreach, and Communication
·  Institutional Strengthening
·  Training / Capacity-building
·  Conservation and Management
·  Mechanisms for Follow-up and Evaluation
·  Financing

The publication includes a list of 33 priority wetlands for shorebirds in Mexico, noting their additional designations such as Important Bird Areas, Natural Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, and WHSRN Sites. This list is based on work conducted by the Canadian Wildlife Service as well as national and other international researchers.

The Technical Subcommittee for Shorebird Conservation in Mexico was instrumental in serving as a consultant for SEMARNAT in developing this national strategy. Shorebird studies and data generated by many researchers in the country, primarily from the Northwest region, contributed to the scientific basis of the strategy.

The entire process of integration, consultation, and publication for this strategy was possible not only by the participation of all the institutions listed in the document, but also with support from the U.S. Forest Service, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and SEMARNAT.

For more information, contact biologist Aurea Estrada (aestrada@dumac.org), Ducks Unlimited de México, A.C., Central Mexico Regional Office, (011)(55)(2)651-7417.