Projects in the Mediterranean > Support programme to waterbird monitoring

This programme, initiated by Tour du Valat, the French National Hunting and Wildlife Agency (ONCFS), Wetlands International, with the support of the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy (MEDDE) and the MAVA Foundation aims to improve the spatial coverage and the overall quality of International Waterbird Census (IWC) and more globally of all waterbird monitoring in the region by:

• creating synergies between existing national and international programmes

• developing tools for exchange between local, national and international actors

• strengthening national networks of observers

• completing inventories of wetlands of national and international importance

IWCs are organised internationally by Wetlands International, and constitute a simple and effective tool for determining the relative importance of wetlands for waterbird conservation. They enable trends in waterbird populations and the conservation status of wetlands to be assessed, and conservation priorities to be identified. Most of the birds concerned by these censuses are migratory species, which explains why regional and international coordination of IWCs is necessary, particularly in terms of developing the capacity of national networks of observers and processing and sharing the data gathered.

For more details, download the first report of the results of the programme (in French).

This Support Programme is at the root of the "Mediterranean Waterbirds" network

©Thomas Galewski