Most populations of migratory waterbirds in the African-Eurasian region are tightly constrained by ecological factors in their breeding, wintering and/or stopover areas. Many sites are needed along the entire migration routes of these birds to maintain their populations. This complex web of sites form a chain in which each link is essential for maintaining viable and healthy populations of migratory waterbirds along the entire network.

The protection of such a network of critical sites therefore requires concerted national and transboundary conservation actions. Therefore, identifying key sites and maintaining their ecological functions and services along the entire migration route provides the basis for successful flyway-scale conservation.

Through WOW, a new electronic portal called the Critical Sites Network (CSN) Tool will be developed, which will improve knowledge of and access to information on the critical sites required by migratory waterbirds across Africa and Eurasia. The CSN tool will help decision-makers and planners at the local, national and international level identify which areas are part of the critical network of sites for specific waterbirds. For example, it will provide comprehensive site and flyway scale information for over 300 migratory waterbird species, including all the 236 species covered by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (UNEP/AEWA).

This will significantly improve access to information needed to better conserve migratory waterbirds across the African-Eurasian region and enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts at the national level and on a flyway scale. To learn more about the Critical Sites Network (CSN) Tool please click the button below.