Nová iniciativa má pomoci americkým stěhovavým druhům

20.8.2004
SAN JOSÉ [WWF]
Autor: Cinthya Flores, tel: +506 234 8434

Birds, sea turtles, terrestrial and marine mammals, fish, and insects are among the species that will benefit from a new initiative to protect migratory species agreed to today by the governments of the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Santa Lucia.

“More than 20 years have passed in the wait for suitable international conditions for a hemispheric program of this kind. Its time has come,” says Herbert Rafaelle, president of the initiative's interim steering committee.

Marine turtles travel from Mexico and Costa Rica to the waters of Chile, humpback whales travel from the northern and southern Pacific travel to Central American waters annually, and some bats fly thousands of kilometers over the course of the seasons.

“Their conservation is a difficult challenge, because it implies cooperation among all the nations the animals pass through during their migrations,” says Carlos Drews, WWF Regional Coordinator of Marine Turtle Conservation, who represents the organizations that work with non-avian species in the initiative. "Many migratory species are in imminent danger of extinction, despite the benefits they generate for society and ecosystems."

The initiative integrates representatives from governments and non-governmental organizations of the western hemisphere, as well as international treaties. It aims to mitigate the threats suffered by migratory species over their vast ranges, by capitalizing on existing local and regional efforts — including increasing political support and promoting the combined involvement of the numerous conservation programmes that work with migratory species. Objectives include protection of the species' diverse habitats, control of over-exploitation and illegal extraction, as well as the mitigation of incidental catch in fisheries.

“It’s a promising initiative, because it unites the conservation agendas of governments and civil organizations in a coordinated and harmonious way,” says Drews.

The agreement follows a meeting between regional representatives of the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Santa Lucía governments held in Sarapiquí, Costa Rica, from 10–13 August. The meeting was hosted by WWF, the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment and Energy, and the Secretariat of the Inter-American Convention for the Conservation and Protection of Sea Turtles. Representatives from the Convention on Migratory Species, the Ramsar Wetlands Convention, BirdLife International, the American Bird Conservancy, and the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network also attended.

The document resulting from this meeting will be presented to the environmental ministers of the American nations for ratification before the end of the year. The initiative will then be open to any entity that wishes to become involved.

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