BirdLife International.
Preventing Extinctions. “BirdLife Species Guardians: Information Factsheet”.
Retrieved from:
BirdLife International. “Welcome
to the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme”. Retrieved from:
BirdLife International. “Critically
Endangered Birds a Global Audit: A State of the World’s Birds Reports”. Retrieved
from:
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| Baby Dwarf Olive Ibis - Endangered Species |
In conservation most cases
pose a depressing topic. So I have decided to enlighten the topic with a
conservation success story!
I have recently stumbled upon
a conservation program that has been effective at protecting varies bird
species including but not limited to the Dwarf Olive Ibis, Djibouti Francolin,
Belding’s Yellowthroat and Restinga Antwren.
BirdLife
International’s recently launched Preventing Extinctions Programme aims to identify and
appoint Species
Guardians
for Critically Endangered species. Species Guardians involve individuals or organizations that are responsible for
coordinating and promoting conservation actions for a specific species that has
been listed as critically endangered or threatened. They are also responsible
for monitoring the status of the species, as well as track the implementation
and effects of the actions taken while reporting back to BirdLife each year.
Species Guardians are equipped, through BirdLife, with technical support, training, and
funds required for the conservation actions. BirdLife also supports the Species Guardians through liaisons, decision-makers and governments,
raising awareness through the world’s media.
Species Guardians’ activities include to:
- Implement priority actions for the species, in particular those identified and listed in BirdLife’s species factsheets, or in a Species Action Plan
- Develop a working Species Action Plan, outlining the priority actions and projects required
- Facilitate the implementation of priority actions by other individuals or organizations
- Carry out or support fundraising through the BirdLife network organization
- Monitor trends in the species’ status through tracking observations, intensity of threats etc.
- Monitor the implementation and effect of actions by all parties involved in conserving the species; and identify new priorities for action.
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| Endangered Species Chart from IUNC |
The most amazing
aspect of this system is that species in countries outside of the BirdLife
network organization can receive conservation efforts. In many cases
associations and companies take it upon themselves to become Species Guardians.
For instance the Associação dos Biólogos Santomenses is the Species Guardian for three
endemic species (Dwarf Olive Ibis,
Sao Tomé Fiscal and Sao Tomé Grosbeak) to Sao Tomé, a country outside the
BirdLife network.
Through BirdLife International many birds have been saved from the
endangered species list due to efforts of average Joes.
Words: 350
Very interesting! How did you come across this organization?? Where is it located? North American wide or? It certainly does sound like a success story! Thanks for informing us about it!
ReplyDeleteI was cruising along the WWF website and found out about it there. There is a ton of more specific cases of species successes, based on these Species Guardians, from the www.birdlife.org website!
DeleteBirdLife International is a global partnership founded in 1922, their current headquarters is in Cambridge US. Their main focus is the conserve birds, their habitat and global diversity. It is currently the worlds largest partnership of conservation organizations (over 100 partner organizations). Anywhere in the world someone can be a Species Guardian. They set you up with an endangered species based on your location!
Great topic! I love hearing about people/organizations that go above and beyond to protect animals!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to get people and organizations involved and engaged in conservation projects. I think sometimes it is easier for groups like this to be more successful than government projects. I think that government projects are great, but individuals aren't as involved in the process as projects like the Preventing Extinction Programme.
ReplyDeleteNow THAT seems like an integrated no-boundaries approach! I agree with Kathy that it is important to involve individuals in projects, not just an amorphous government body. Do you know of any requirements to be a Species Guardian?
ReplyDeleteI really like the BirdLife approach to conservation. I think it's a great way to get people of the community and different assocations more actively involved with conservation activities. I feel it's a really good way to spread the word about conservation and help people feel like they are part of a major specific initiative where goals will be achieved. I'm with Jillian in that I am curious to know how an organization or association would go about becoming a species guardian and what type of criterion must be met. I'm also wondering if the associations that are affiliated with this guardian program are paid a certain amount to be involved with BirdLife conservation projects (this way their volunteers or members that are helping to conserve would receive some type of financial compensation for their efforts) or if it's more that the associations donate/volunteer their time but are given money to help with the costs of travel/supplies, etc. It would be great to have more of these types of programs for helping to protect other species, not just birds. I know Pathera (http://www.panthera.org/)is a similiar type of program that is applied to members of the cat family around the world (Tigers, Cheetahs, Leopards, etc). Great Blog. ~Cassandra
ReplyDeleteI really liked your blog!! One thing this class is doing is opening my eyes to so many things that I didn't even know was there. I think the inclusion of individuals and the community is a wonderful idea expecially when wanting people to take note and some initiative in their community and world they live in. I think that they should implement this in other areas .. maybe AminalLife ... do you know if there are programs like this for animals too??
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that it isn't big name companies working to help the species, but just regular people doing what they feel is right and trying to save species. It's great to see so many people helping out and doing their part to ensure the survival of a species. -Erik Vliegenthart
ReplyDelete