New WHSRN Site Designated – the First in Uruguay!

The 16,500-hectare (40,800-acre) Laguna de Rocha forms part of the “Jose Ignacio, Garzón, and Rocha Lagoons National Park” and the “Bañados del Este Biosphere Reserve.” It was recently incorporated into Uruguay’s National Protected Area System as a "Protected Landscape." Located on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay, the Laguna is an important wintering site for 24 species of shorebirds, including many at-risk species. In particular, it supports 6.6% of the world’s Buff-breasted Sandpipers (Tryngites subruficollis). As a result, the lagoon has been designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site of Regional Importance—the first WHSRN site in Uruguay!

There are now 82 WHSRN sites in 13 countries, conserving more than 29 million acres (12 million hectares) of shorebird habitat.

See more of Laguna de Rocha in a short video clip (in Spanish) from the field!

Two activities took place recently to formalize and celebrate the designation: one in the Municipality of Rocha and another in the city of Montevideo. Charles Duncan, Director of the WHSRN Executive Office, and Diego Luna Quevedo, Southern Cone Program Coordinator for Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, had the honor of participating in both.

First, on 13 March 2010, an event was held in the Cultural Center in the town of La Paloma (Municipality of Rocha). More than 80 people attended, including national and local authorities, nongovernmental organizations, ranchers and fishermen from the area, various experts, researchers, local leaders, and neighbors. During the event, participants learned about the fundamentals and significance of the WHSRN designation. Following that, there was an open discussion about the factors that challenge the effective conservation of the area. The event concluded with WHSRN site partners receiving official certificates of designation. The day’s activity culminated with a visit to Laguna de Rocha, where a flock of over 200 Buff-breasted Sandpipers dazzled the group with their acrobatic flights.

A second event was held on 15 March at the Convention Center in Montevideo that brought together diverse organizations and partners in conservation. Among many special guests was Mr. Alain Latulippe, the Canadian Ambassador to Uruguay. These two countries share many migratory shorebird species, including the Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

Site dedication activities were organized by an alliance of local and national partners including Aves Uruguay (who had led the site nomination process), Protected Areas System of Uruguay (SNAP), National Directorate of Environment (DINAMA), Municipality of Rocha, the Rocha Coastal Lagoons Friends’ Foundation, PROBIDES, and the General Directorate of Renewable Natural Resources (RENARE-Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries).

We welcome Uruguay to the Network and especially our dedicated partners at Laguna de Rocha!

For more information, contact Diego Luna Quevedo (diego.luna@manomet.org), Southern Cone Program Coordinator, Shorebird Recovery Project, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.