World Migratory Bird Day 2011
Land use changes from a bird’s-eye view
14-15 May 2011
Flying thousands of kilometres each year, migratory birds have a unique perspective of the Earth. Unfortunately, this unrivalled view also enables them to notice the dramatic changes which are currently threatening many of our planet’s ecosystems. Each year more and more of the sites migratory birds depend on during their journeys
disappear. As these ecosystems change, there is no guarantee that the habitats migratory birds need along their migration path, will be there the next time they return.
The majority of these changes are caused by human use of land and have a direct impact on migratory bird populations, which are particularly sensitive to any interference to the sites they use throughout their migratory cycle. Many aspects of human land use are extremely damaging to the birds’ habitats. For example, urbanization and intensive agriculture can fragment and replace complex networks of habitats needed by the birds. Deforestation and mineral extraction can damage entire regions used along the birds’ annual migration paths. In addition, land reclamation and biofuel production remove or degrade crucial wetlands and other habitats for many migratory bird species.
While human survival depends on these transformations of natural areas, a sustainable use of land is vital to reduce the impacts on our natural resources, such as water, soil, nutrients, plants and animals – including migratory birds.
This year’s theme for World Migratory Bird Day is “Land use changes from a bird’s-eye view”. We want to raise awareness on the dramatic effects human land use has on migratory birds and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
Join others around the world and take part in World Migratory Bird Day on May 14-15, 2011 by organizing birdwatching events, educational programmes, lectures, art exhibitions and other public events; however you decide to participate, your contribution will help make this campaign a success!
World Migratory Bird Day is a global, annual awareness campaign to promote the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats worldwide. It is organized by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) – two international wildlife treaties administered by
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
