North American Waterbird Conservation Plan

The Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative was launched in 1998 to link conservation efforts of waterbirds and their habitats, and is an international, broad-based, voluntary partnership.

Photo of an egret - Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Photo by David Hall

The initiative's vision is that the distribution, diversity, and abundance of populations and habitats of waterbirds are sustained or restored through the lands and waters of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (NAWCP) is the product of this initiative. NAWCP provides a continental-scale framework for the conservation and management of 210 species of waterbirds, including seabirds, coastal waterbirds, wading birds, and marshbirds that use aquatic habitats in 29 nations, and the associated pelagic waters.

In the Northeastern U.S., the NAWCP is organized into a regional working group known as the Mid-Atlantic/New England/Maritimes regional waterbird-working group. As co-chair of this new effort to step down the goals of the continental NAWCP to smaller scales, we strongly support and provide leadership throughout decision making and implementation to identify and prioritize species, habitat goals, and implementation projects.

To learn more about Waterbird Conservation Plan, please visit their Web site.