Guinea Bissau - Wadden Sea Collaboration
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Important Bird Areas in Guinea-Bissau
Dodman, T. , Barlow, C., Sá, J.& Robertson,
P., 2004. Zonas Importantes para as Aves na Guiné-Bissau.
Important Bird Areas in Guinea-Bissau. Wetlands International,
Dakar / Gabinete de Planificacao Costeira / ODZH, Bissau, 130
pp. |
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New:
Official Launch of the four
project publications in Bissau on 17 October 2005 |
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Left to right: Tim Dodman (Wetlands
International, WI), Joãozinho Sá (WI-Bissau),
Issa Sylla (WI), Nelson Diás (IUCN), Daniel Gomes (Minister),
Helena Embalo (Minister), Alfredo da Silva (IBAP), Abdoulaye
Ndiaye (WI-Dakar).
Download report from the official launch (PDF) |
Publications
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Important Birds Areas in Guinea Bissau |
Waterbird Monitoring in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau
(in English and Portuguese). |
As
Aves Aquaticas na Guiné-Bissau e a Conservacao das Zonas Húmidas
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Magracao des Aves Aquaticas na Guiné-Bissau |
Introduction
The three-year
work program signed at the Stade Conference in 1997 based on the
Memorandum of Intent had to be postponed because of the outbreak of the
civil war in Guinea Bissau in June 1998. In 2000, the situation was such
that it was assessed that the work in the country could be resumed by the
cooperation.
In April 2000,
a contract was signed with Wetlands International to act as a
more local African consultant from their regional office in Dakar,
Senegal, to implement the work program on research, monitoring and surveys
on waterbirds and important bird areas in Guinea-Bissau.
The project started in July 2000, after receipt of
funds by the Wetlands International West Africa Program Office in Dakar,
Senegal.
Project Objectives and Results
A major emphasis was on capacity
building; as the environmental sector in Guinea-Bissau has very few
trained personnel who are able to manage and monitor the country’s very
rich natural ecosystems. Three major training courses were organized,
whilst much practical knowledge transfer also took place in the field
and in Dakar through an exchange visit. A training manual in wetland and
waterbird monitoring has been prepared being prepared in conjunction
with monitoring plans for the Bijagos Archipelago.
Another main emphasis of the
project has been on wetland and waterbird surveys, especially in the
extensive Bijagos Archipelago. Some 1 million waterbirds migrate to this
zone every year, mainly from the Western Palearctic. This provides the
background to this project, which is born from a twinning between the
Bijagos and the Wadden Sea of Europe - another critical wetland for many
of the same migratory waterbirds. A complete survey of the Bijagos
Archipelago was carried out in January-February 2001, whose results
clearly demonstrate the international importance of this site. Data has
been processed and compared to previous surveys; it is presented in a
monitoring report of the Bijagos.
Further surveys were also
carried out across the country to build a wider knowledge of Important
Bird Areas (IBAs) in Guinea-Bissau. Altogether, ten IBAs were
identified, which are described in detail in the publication Important
Bird Areas in Guinea-Bissau. This report, which includes management
proposals for each site and which draws on much new data generated
during the project, was completed in 2003, but is not yet available from
the printers. The information generated during the project also
contributed significantly to the design and preparation of a follow-up
project proposal for implementation in Guinea-Bissau from 2003-2005, for
which funds from the BBI (Beleidsprogramma Biodiversiteit Internationaal)
fund of The Netherlands have been secured.
A local network-based NGO has
also been established in Guinea-Bissau, the Organisation for the
Protection and Wise Use of Wetlands (ODZH). This NGO comprises members
from governmental and other agencies, and is set to play a major role in
wetland conservation in Guinea-Bissau in the future. Awareness events
were organised on World Wetlands Day 2001 and 2003.
Finally, a small coordinating
office has been established in the building of the Coastal Planning
Office (GPC), furnished with basic facilities and staffed by two
full-time secondments from the GPC, Joãozinho Sá and Joseph Fernandes.
Up to 31 December 2003, a total of 103,664 Euro has been spent, and
108,780 Euro received. All remaining planned costs related to printing
and distribution of the final publications.
Summary of Project Achievements
a.
The project has produced a new national NGO,
ODZH, which is legally adopted and fully operational, with a
constitution and board (general assembly) The remit of the NGO is on
wetland wise use, with four focal areas, one of which is to promote
ornithological knowledge of Guinea-Bissau.
b.
The project realised a successful complete
count of the Bijagos Archipelago in January/February 2001.
c.
The project has concluded a full review of
waterbird monitoring in the Bijagos Archipelago, which includes
recommendations for future monitoring.
d.
The project has executed a comprehensive
range of IBA surveys in Guinea-Bissau, and identified 10 IBAs.
e.
The project has concluded a national
directory of the IBAs of Guinea-Bissau, which includes management
recommendations for the country and for each site, and an up-to-date
bird list for the country.
f.
The project has concluded three major
training courses.
g.
The project has published an illustrated
educational booklet on wetlands and waterbirds in Portuguese.
h.
The project has published an illustrated
educational booklet on bird migration in relation to
Guinea-Bissau.
i.
The project has produced a bilingual
technical poster on the programme.
j.
The project has resulted in a lasting
staffed coordination office for wetlands within the Coastal Planning
Office.
k.
The project has led to the development and
implementation of new projects, thus yielding a successful measure of
sustainability.
