Photos by USFWS (egret, teal), Daniel Blanco (screamers), Lundberg Rice (rice). RICE, WATER, and BIRDS
Versión de español Fact Sheet (PDF) english or spanish Selected Publications and Projects Symposia and Workshops Working Group Related Links	Rice is the world's most important staple crop. It provides the main source of calories for over half the world's human population; global production is over 500 million tons per year and constitutes almost 30% of the world's grain supply; and over 145 million hectares of rice are planted annually. Rice also is a crop that has become extremely important to bird conservation in many parts of the world. Since rice is typically grown in flooded conditions, rice fields have the potential to function as surrogate ecosystems for wetland-dependent bird species if managed appropriately. This is especially valuable as wetland drainage and degradation continue to be major contributors to biodiversity losses. Capitalizing on the value of rice fields managed with bird conservation in mind provides a valuable complement to the more fundamental conservation goal of protecting natural habitats. Recently, a Rice and Waterbirds Working Group formed around this approach and is addressing needs in three areas: research, identification and promotion of best management practices, and outreach.	Subscribe to Rice-Birds: & Click on box below: BANGLADESH: Roughly 70% of total food calories consumed by Bangladesh's population is provided by rice. Photo by Jennifer Wheeler.
Research Needs For some parts of the world, basic information on the relationship between birds and rice cultivation -- which species use rice fields, in what abundances, what fields are used for, when use occurs, etc. -- is available. Generally, this information is the most developed for waterfowl species (Anseriformes) and wading birds (Ciconiiformes), but the state of knowledge is growing for other groups of birds including shorebirds (e.g., sandpipers, plovers), cranes and passerines (e.g., bobolinks, grackles). In other areas, this information is lacking. Beyond the basics of use, critical questions about actual value (quality) of habitat and the ways in which habitat quality can be increased remain unanswered. For example, does use of rice fields actually affect the size of bird populations? And, would the loss of rice agriculture in certain regions result in population declines? The agronomic, economic and social dimensions of the rice/waterbird interaction also need exploration. For example, what are the agronomic impacts of increasing the number of birds in fields (e.g., through pest control)? What are the economic and hydrological impacts of continuing to irrigate for rice in a drought-prone area? How do rice farmers value the waterbirds that occur in their fields? CUBA - Studies show that the 'Yaguasa' (West Indian Whistling-Duck) and other aquatic birds are aiding - not damaging - the rice paddies. "They act as natural agents of biological control because they are an efficient counterweight to pests and, contrary to popular beliefs, they do not eat rice that has gone to seed,'' affirmed Martín Acosta, of the University of Havana's School of Biology. Photo by Lisa Sorenson. LOUISIANA - The NRCS Field Office works to enroll acres of riceland in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain to provide habitat for at least 120,000 southbound shorebirds annually, such as this Semipalmated Sandpiper. Photo by Tim Bowman. Best Management Needs Management practices greatly affect the value of rice fields to wildlife. For instance, the practice of flooding temperate rice fields in winter to speed decomposition of waste rice straw provides artificial wetland habitat for 100,000s of birds. Other elements of management, including the availability and design of irrigation ditches (which provide cover for wildlife), use of pesticides, rice harvest technology (which affects the availability of waste grain), the choice of rice variety grown and the associated timing of harvest, flooding and release of water, also make a difference for birds. Importantly, the management practices that are best for one area of the world may differ from those for another. To maximize the conservation value of rice fields, management recommendations must take into account regional-specific economic realities and growing conditions, availability and competition for water resources for other conservation purposes, and the habitat needs for the local avifauna. Outreach Needs The rice industry continues to grow and develop technologically, with global production tripling over the last thirty years. In contrast, in some regions, rice cultivation is an agronomic system imperiled by economic, social, or climatic changes. To help guide industry development in a way beneficial to birds, and to assist farmers in situations where birds would benefit, conservationists must work closely with farmers and industry partners. Understanding and promoting the benefits of bird use of rice fields (e.g., pest control, potential income from hunting leases in off-season fields, potential government assistance programs for provision of wildlife habitat) is one means of doing this. In addition, conservationists could assist farmers in marketing "bird-compatible" rice farming. The campaigns for shade-grown coffee or organic products might provide a model for this effort. Recently, in Europe, organic-grown rice has been marketed in this way through a cooperative venture between growers in the Ebro Delta of Spain and the Sociedad Española de Ornitología (SEO). The ultimate goal is not only a growing certification program for "bird-compatible" rice but a consumer product that is sold with a visible logo and accompanying message that bird conservation and viable agriculture can go hand-in-hand. EUROPE: RSPB rice is a joint venture between the RSPB and Suma Wholefoods, giving direct help to protecting vital habitats for wild birds in Spain.
Last Updated on March 27, 2008. Please forward any comments/suggestions to Jennifer Wheeler. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is supporting the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas Home Page as part of its contribution to the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (NAWCP). It is being served by the USFWS Division of Migratory Birds. Information provided in this site does not necessarily have the endorsement of the USFWS.