Mongabay · Climate & nature

Migratory Birds Need Borderless Conservation, Says BirdLife Africa Manager

Alex Ngari, migratory birds and flyways programme manager for BirdLife Africa, emphasizes the need for international cooperation in protecting migratory birds, highlighting knowledge gaps and habitat loss as major threats.

Migratory birds are a shared global heritage, requiring a borderless conservation approach, according to Alex Ngari. Gaps in scientific knowledge about their pathways hinder conservation efforts and predictions regarding climate change impacts.

Millions of birds travel between Europe/Asia and Africa annually, but precise routes and encountered risks are often unknown. For example, the curlew sandpiper's wintering locations are diverse.

Traditional bird monitoring via ringing is being supplemented by electronic tags, but this technology remains expensive, especially for smaller birds.

Ngari highlights the critical role of wetlands, many of which are disappearing due to human encroachment, climate change, and unsustainable water use. Approximately 22% of African wetlands have vanished since the 1970s.

Key threatened sites include Lake Chad, the Tana River Delta in Kenya, the Nyabarongo Wetlands in Rwanda, and the Bijagós Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau, all facing degradation from human activities, climate change, and resource competition.

Knowledge gaps impede understanding of full migratory cycles, leading to 'blind spots' in conservation strategies. This also causes misaligned conservation priorities and difficulties in predicting climate change effects on bird populations.

Challenges in cooperation include inadequate enforcement of conservation laws, a funding imbalance between continents (e.g., Europe's Birds Directive versus Africa), and the need to balance conservation with local community livelihoods. BirdLife advocates for global funding and collaborative efforts.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.