Laguna de Rocha

Special Information

Two activities took place in March 2010 to formalize and celebrate the designation of Laguna de Rocha as a WHSRN Site: 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, 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 Laguna de Rocha’s designation. The day’s activity culminated with a visit to the Laguna de Rocha site, 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).