Hi,
An interesting message that came
into African Birding that some of you may be like to read.
Philip
-----Original Message----- From:
Tim Dodman <> To:
African Birding <> Date:
Friday, 31 May 2002 0:09 Subject: [AfricanBirding] WATERBIRD
POPULATION ESTIMATES
30 May 2002
Dear Afrincan
Birding Network,
Request for assistance in compilation of global
waterbird population estimates Some of you will be familiar with the
Waterbird Population Estimates database and publications produced by Wetlands
International since 1994 under contract to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. We
are now in the process of finalising the 3rd edition of Waterbird Population
Estimates, and I am collating all the information for Africa. The final
publication will list updated estimates of numbers and population trends of
around 2000 populations of 840 species of waterbirds worldwide, including
Africa's 545 recognised waterbird populations.The importance of this report is
that it provides the basis for the 1% criterion under the Ramsar Convention,
under which any site which regularly holds more than 1% of a waterbird
population qualifies for inclusion on the Ramsar list of Wetlands of
International Importance. It is thus an important conservation tool.
An
updated consultation draft of the tables and supporting documents (including a
list of specific assistance being requested) is available at http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/wpe3/WPE3note.htm
.
I would like to invite you all to look at these tables and to review
and update them with new information, taking special care to give the source(s)
of that information and any methods used to interpret it. Please send me any
comments or contributions and supporting information (such as reference sources
etc) by 15 June 2002. I will then make sure that we take full account of
your input in production of the final population estimates for Africa. If you
prefer not to access the web version, I can send you an Excel attachment (720Ko)
of the tables, listing all the populations for Africa. Both versions should
print easily. If you use the web version, you can easily pick out (and print
out) individual families of waterbirds.
All contributors will be fully
acknowledged in the book, and those sending in detailed / referenced
contributions will receive a free copy of the final publication, which will be
printed later in the year.
I look forward to hearing from you. Please get
back to me by 15 June, as we must complete the final tables in time for
incorporation into the AEWA* Action Plan, which is being finalised in July. If
you are sending information in the post, please let me know by e-mail, so that I
know it's on its way.
With thanks and best wishes,
Tim
Dodman Wetlands International Hundland Papa Westray Orkney KW17
2BU UK Tel. +44 1857 644 264 Fax. +44 1857 644 250 E-mail: http://www.wetlands.org
Latest:
Consultation draft of the third edition of Waterbird
Population Estimates now on line at http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/wpe3/WPE3note.htm
*
AEWA = African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement
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