Asunción, Paraguay/Bonn,
15 December 2010 - The rich grasslands in
South America, home to one of the world's
most valuable ecosystems is fast disappearing
and migratory grassland birds, which play
an important role by dispersing seeds and
controlling insects, are also rapidly declining
in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay
and Uruguay.
In order to reverse this
trend, the Convention on Migratory Species
of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP/CMS), in collaboration with BirdLife
International and Asociación Guyra
Paraguay, convened a one-day meeting in
Asunción, Paraguay, where Government
representatives, scientists and conservationists
adopted an action plan for urgent conservation
measures to ensure the survival of these
birds and their habitats.
CMS Executive Secretary
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema said: "The CMS
action plan does not only address threats
to migratory grassland birds in South America.
By preserving their habitat, we safeguard
many other endangered species. At the same
time we help mitigating climate change because
it aims to conserve the grasslands that
produce oxygen and act as carbon sinks."
Grassland birds are
the gardeners of this formerly rich ecosystem.
However, their habitats in Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay have been destroyed
in recent years due to agricultural and
aquacultural activities as well as the timber
industry.
Agriculture, in particular
the cultivation of soya, has put these important
ecosystems at risk as pollution from pesticides
and other agrochemicals are carried by drainage
and run-off directly into marshes and wetlands.
In addition the natural
grasslands are being converted into pastures
for cattle and meat export to the world's
markets and pastures are frequently burnt
to accelerate the food supply for grazing
cattle.
The afforestation of
pampas with Eucalyptus and pine trees also
contributes to widespread habitat loss.
This monoculture of non-endemic trees drains
valuable wetlands, crucial for species conservation,
to satisfy the global demand for paper.
The grassland bird species
covered under the CMS agreement are highly-prized
as caged song birds which have been illegally
captured and kept in cages in private households
all over the world.
A major priority of
the CMS action plan is protecting and managing
the habitats for these migratory grassland
birds. New protected areas will be identified
to create a viable network of ecosystems
and the conservation of the birds needs
to be included in their management plans.
Financial incentives
will also be made available to local cattle
ranchers who must take into account the
ecological needs of the overall species
in the grasslands, with particular regard
to the critical habitat for the endangered
ones.
Monitoring and research
of grassland biodiversity will now be coordinated
among the countries to collect data on distribution,
population counts, abundance and the conservation
status of the birds, frogs, butterflies
and other insects. This will help to close
knowledge gaps on migration routes of the
birds and conservation needs of their habitats.
In addition, an international bird ringing
programme is implemented, where small, individually
numbered tags are attached to the birds'
legs to track their movements and identify
threats along their flyways.
Threat assessment is
another component of the CMS action plan.
Studies will be conducted in the next five
years to determine the impact of chemicals
and fertilizers on bird populations. The
volume and geographical scale of illegal
trade in bird species needs to be assessed
to consider countermeasures.
Awareness raising and
capacity building are necessary to involve
local communities to ensure long-term results.
Training courses on best practices and tailored
conservation will target educators, journalists,
producers and rural associations. Campaigns
will promote appreciation of endangered
bird species and their habitats and discourage
the illegal trade in the species.
International cooperation
between the countries needs to be enhanced
towards developing a legal framework for
the preservation of grasslands in unprotected
areas. In order to reduce direct threats
to grasslands, countries will develop policy
guidelines for fire management.
Migratory grassland
birds are even more vulnerable to habitat
loss than sedentary species. As a consequence,
they are dependent on conservation action
at breeding, wintering and migration stopover
sites.
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper
breeds in summer along arctic coasts from
central Alaska, USA to Canada and covers
a distance of 20,000 kilometers to its wintering
sites in South America to feed and recharge
its batteries.
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird
has declined due to man-made threats including
stock-raising, cultivation, pesticides,
burning, pine and Eucalyptus plantations,
drainage and settlement. Population estimates
today range from 2,500-10,000 mature individuals.
The adoption of the
action plan marks the beginning of a series
of critical conservation activities to the
benefit of the species. Five countries will
increase their collaboration to restore
population numbers and critical habitats
in South America to save these living exotic
jewels.
Notes to Editors:
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species is an intergovernmental treaty concluded
under the United Nations Environment and
focusing on the conservation of migratory
species and their habitats. CMS concluded
the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation
of Southern South American Migratory Grassland
Bird Species and their Habitats in 2007.
Conservation Status:
CMS App I
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
(Tryngites subruficollis), Chestnut Seedeater
(Sporophila cinnamomea), Cock-tailed Tyrant
(Alectrurus tricolor),Eskimo Curlew (Numenius
borealis), Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris),
Rufous-rumped Seedeater (Sporophila hypochroma),
Strange-tailed Tyrant Alecturus risora,
Saffron-cowled Blackbird (Agelaius flavus),
Zelich's Seedeater (Sporophila zelichi)
CMS App II
Bearded Tachuri (Polystictus
pectoralis pectoralis), Dark-throated Seedeater
(Sporophila ruficollis)
CMS App I/II:
Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
Chestnut Seedeater, Eskimo Curlew, Rufous-rumped
Seedeater, Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Zelich's
Seedeater
CITES App. I
Eskimo Curlew, Saffron-cowled Blackbird
