Threats: Involvement in Communities

Draft Tool Matrix

Capacity Building
Critically Endangered Animals
Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative
Emerging Issues
Wetlands
Funding 2008

VI. Threats
b. Involvement in Communities

ABC works with local communities to implement conservation measures.
From: American Bird Conservancy, www.abcbirds.org.
Contact: David Pashley, dpashley@abcbirds.org.

BI involves local communities through the creation of Site Support Groups at Important Bird Areas (contact Angelica Estrada, the Americas IBA Program Manager, ehma@birdlife.org.ec, or David Thomas david.thomas@birdlife.org.uk).
From: Birdlife International, www.birdlife.org.
Contact: Rob Clay, rob@guyra.org.py.

FC works with local communities to generate conservation attitudes and identify solutions to environmental problems and sustainable use, through initiatives such as responsible whale watching training courses.
From: Fundación Cethus, http://cethus.tripod.com/.
Contact: Cecilia Gasparrou, cgasparrou@house.com.ar.

LSLBO Important Bird Area program is aimed at local communities and was established in 2000.
From: Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory, http://www.lslbo.org/.
Contact: IBA Conservation Educator, Education@lslbo.org, T: (780) 849-7117.

An integral part of land use planning in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service is to get involvement of local communities. Mexican PIF partners have additional experience.
From: Partners in Flight, www.partnersinflight.org.
Contact: Terry Rich, Terry_rich@fws.gov.

Proyecto Paraguay Silvestre is an initiative for the protection of wild areas of Paraguay that involves local communities.
From: Paraguay - Proyecto Paraguay Silvestre, http://www.paraguaysilvestre.org.py.
Contact: Cristina Morales, cmorales_py@yahoo.com.

PRBO workshops on standardized monitoring techniques and field research techniques include presentations on how a bird banding station can be used to help build a conservation ethic and increase support for conservation of birds and their habitats.
From: Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science, http://www.prbo.org/cms/.
Contact: Steven Latta, slatta@prbo.org.

Resolution VIII.36 is on participatory environmental management (PEM) as a tool for management and wise use of wetlands.
Resolution VIII.19 provides guiding principles for taking into account the cultural values of wetlands for the effective management of sites.
Resolution VII.8 gives guidelines for establishing and strengthening local communities’ and indigenous people’s participation in the management of wetlands.
From: Ramsar Convention, www.ramsar.org.
Contact: Margarita Astrálaga, astralaga@ramsar.org.

“Promoting Protection Through Pride” equips grassroots conservationists with training and assistance needed to increase public support by using a charismatic flagship species as a symbol of local pride.
Rare programs in enterprise development and ecotourism provide capacity building and training skills.
A nature-guide training program teaches interpretation and natural history skills in English to local guides at important global ecotourism sites.
Public Use Planning methodology provides a valuable framework for protected area management staff.
Ecotourism Promoters training course provides business development and management skills for individuals who live in and around protected areas.
From: Rare Center, Rare www.rareconservation.org.
Contact: Kim Winters, kwinters@rareconservation.org, T: (703) 522-5070.

Technical advice and support to a PhD study that focuses on threats to shorebird habitats. The PhD student relays these threats to communities during the Mostardos Migratory Bird Festival held each year.
From: United States Fish and Wildlife Service- Alaska, http://alaska.fws.gov/.
Contact: Richard Lanctot, richard_lanctot@fws.gov.

USFS works with communities in conservation of national forests and national grasslands, through development of large-scale management plans, local project plans, and administration of the National Environmental Policy Act.
Forest Service State and Private Forestry work with local communities in conservation assistance and incentive programs.
USFS manages the Forest Products Laboratory in Wisconsin, to develop community-based forest products, and leads the initiative and Congressional study of community-based forest management.
From: United States Forest Service, www.fs.fed.us.
Contact: Randy Phillips, County Payments Committee, T: 202-208-6574.

Shorebird Site Dedication Ceremonies include “tips” to groups organizing these public events, which bring international recognition to a local site (see: http://www.manomet.org/WHSRN/dedication%20tips.htm.)
International Shorebird Survey is a volunteer based program for collecting data that provides the basis for determining how to implement shorebird management techniques (see: http://www.manomet.org/WHSRN/iss.htm.)
“Birding Festivals. You may say it is only bird… but we’re here to tell you its money in the bank for your local economy” is an 8-page pamphlet (a joint project with the American Birding Association) that encourages communities to consider hosting a birding festival. It details the combined benefits of building environmental awareness while invigorating the local economy.
From: Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, http://www.manomet.org/WHSRN/.
Contact: Heidi Luquer, Luquer@vermontel.net.

Neotropical Waterbird Census works in South American countries using site based waterbird census at wetland sites, conducted by volunteers and country coordinators.
From: Wetlands International, www.wetlands.org.
Contact: Melanie Steinkamp, Melanie_Steinkamp@fws.gov.

WildAid works to fight illegal wildlife trade through community outreach, undertaking enterprise development and education programs at all levels of the community. WildAid has had particular success working with women’s groups.
From: WildAid, www.wildaid.org.
Contact: Rebecca Respess, Respess@wildaid.org, T: 202 772-1083.

Last updated: April 5, 2009