Waterbirds for the Americas Initiatve

The Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative is a partnership supporting a vision in which the distribution, diversity, and abundance of populations and habitats (breeding, migratory, and nonbreeding) of waterbirds are sustained or restored throughout the lands and waters of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Threats to waterbirds and their habitats have stimulated a significant response by individuals and organizations concerned with their conservation. The Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative (Waterbird Initiative) was launched in 1998 to link these efforts, and is an international, broad-based, voluntary partnership dedicated to waterbird conservation. In Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, it complements the initiatives existing for other bird groups, specifically the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners in Flight, and the national Shorebird Plans, all of which come together in the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. In addition, the Waterbird Initiative addresses conservation of waterbirds in the Caribbean, Central America, and open waters of the Pacific and Atlantic.

The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (the Plan) is one product of the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative. Other anticipated products include a continent-wide monitoring partnership, national waterbird plans, regional waterbird plans, a continental conservation status assessment document, educational materials, training workshops and symposia.