26-Apr-2008

Almaty, 8-10 April 2008 - The first Regional Training Board Meeting for Central Asia, the Southern Caucasus and Russia was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan with the aim of establishing the 4th Sub-regional Training Board. The meeting was organized within the framework of  the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) Project and was hosted by ACBK (The Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan)

25-Apr-2008

Nairobi, 17-21 February 2008 – the Critical Sites Network (CSN) and exchange programme strand of the Wings over Wetlands project has started working on the ground in the Horn of Africa. Mr. Abdi A. Jama, the interim National Coordinator for the Africa Waterfowl Census in Somaliland visited Mr. Houssein Rayaleh, the National Coordinator for Djibouti in an exchange visit aiming to gain on the ground training on organizing and conducting waterbird counts. Subsequently, surveys to fill gaps in the knowledge on wetlands and waterbirds covering parts of the Red Sea shoreline in northern Somaliland were carried out.

21-Apr-2008

Wakkerstroom, 21 April 2008 - Recent reports from Birdlife South Africa (BLSA) indicate that the conservation of the Wakkerstoom Wetlands (one of the WOW Demonstration sites) may be jeopardised by looming threats of mining exploration in the area. BLSA and several local NGOs and community groups are working together to ensure that conservation and community concerns are duly taken into account by relevant national authorities. For more information please visit the BLSA website.

21-Apr-2008

Linnamäe, Oru vald, Estonia, 18 April 2008 - The Estonian State Nature Conservation Centre has registered an awareness raising activity for World Migratory Bird Day on the WMBD campaing website. The State Nature Conservation Centre will celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD 2008) with an illustrated lecture for younger school children. The aim of the event is to increase the understanding about bird migration as an unique phenomenon and to show how migration between important wetland areas along their flyways is a large part of their life cycle. The presentation will explain when, where and why our birds migrate and why it is necessary to protect them globally. The educational activity is being organised by Marko Valker, a nature education specialist working at the Estonian State Nature Conservation Centre and who is also one of the focal points for the WOW demonstration site at Haapsalu-Noarootsi Bays in Estonia.  

10-Apr-2008

Wakkerstroom, 09 April 2008 - The WOW Demonstration Site at Wakkerstroom Wetland in South Africa has registered an activity for World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2008 on the WMBD website. The planned event will involve the public opening of a visitor centre and bird watching excursions. On 10 May 2008 the BirdLife South Africa team in Wakkerstroom will be joined by members of the Indwe Environment Club, the Wakkerstroom Primary School and Uthaka Secondary School Eco-Clubs and will give a presentation on migratory birds inhabiting the Wakkerstroom area and stress the importance of the local wetland system and help introduce the flyway approach to the participants. After the launch participants will get the opportunity to visit the local open water system where a bird watching activity will be organized. For more information please visit: www.worldmigratorybirdday.org