The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan

In 2000, partners from state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations across the country pooled their resources and expertise to develop a conservation strategy for migratory shorebirds. The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Partnership (USSCP) provides a scientific framework to determine species, sites, and habitats that most urgently need conservation action. The main goals of the plan are to ensure that adequate quantity and quality of shorebird habitat is maintained at the local level and to maintain or restore shorebird populations at the continental and hemispheric levels.

Shorebird related activities are coordinated through the Migratory Bird Program, which support the USSCP coordinator. In addition to administering and facilitating USSCP activities, the national coordinator assists the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regions with the development and implementation of shorebird monitoring efforts, works with the National Wildlife Refuge System on habitat protection and inventory and monitoring, coordinates with the Service’s international programs on shorebird conservation, and collaborates with Endangered Species program on listed and candidate shorebird species.

Read the plan

Learn more about international shorebird conservation

National FWS Programs They Work With

A large bird with brown feathers, white head, and yellow beak flies against a pale blue sky
The Migratory Bird Program works with partners to protect, restore and conserve bird populations and their habitats for the benefit of future generations by: ensuring long-term ecological sustainability of all migratory bird populations, increasing socioeconomic benefits derived from birds,...

Partner Category

We often partner with non-governmental conservation organizations on conservation projects, whether it's to conserve identified species such as the monarch butterfly or to advise on land acquisition for conservation so that it has the greatest benefit for species.

Other Partners

Here are just a few of our National Partners. You can view the full list of FWS partners, along with the regions and areas of focus our work together entails.

Partnership Services

Through our partnerships we are able to expand our capabilities through the inclusion of services in areas such as:

  • Grant opportunities
  • Sponsorship of grants
  • Cooperative Agreements

To find out more about how our partner provides services view our partner services below.