The proposed project will improve and increase the availability of critical habitats for 15 very high urgency and high urgency neotropical migratory birds species in parita BAY in panama impacting a…

This federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation program (CFDA 15.635) will provide $747,459 to the Centro Regional Ramsar organization in Panama. The grant funds will be used to improve and increase critical habitats for 15 high-priority neotropical migratory bird species across 47,492.67 hectares in Parita Bay, Panama. Key project activities include restoring water flows to wetlands, converting private agricultural lands to a protected reserve, implementing sustainable agricultural practices, monitoring bird populations, conducting environmental education and outreach, and building capacity among conservation partners. The project aims to support the objectives of the Pacific Americas Shorebirds Conservation Strategy through this comprehensive approach to habitat conservation and community engagement. The grant period runs from November 8, 2023 to November 8, 2025.

The proposed project will improve and increase the availability of critical habitats for 15 very high urgency and high urgency neotropical migratory birds species in parita BAY in panama impacting a total area of 47,492.67 HA as part of the implementation of the pacific americas shorebirds conservation strategy through restoration of water flows supplying important wetlands for bird feeding and resting the creation of a private reserve, and implementation of best agricultural practices in private farms. The project will also monitor bird diversity and abundance in parita BAY, develop a broad environmental education and outreach campaign and build capacity among project partners, leading agricultural producers and bird conservation practitioners through exchange and training. Total USD149,491.97 grant funds USD597,967.00 match funds. Project activities include:habitat protection and RESTORATION1.1.restore the water flow of the sarigua estuary to guarantee water availability in the cenegn DEL mangle, sarigua national park and surrounding wetlands that provide critical habitat for shorebirds in the lower santa mara river watershed during winter migration.1.2.increase alternative foraging and resting habitat for very high urgency and high urgency neotropical migratory birds, ensuring the conservation of additional forest and wetland areas through the voluntary conversion of private agricultural farms to a private reserve.1.3.implement best practices in sustainable agricultural management for the benefit of neotropical migratory birds.MONITORING2.1. Monitor the density and other population parameters of 15 prioritized species at three different sites in parita BAY using the migratory shorebird project protocol.2.2. Monitor population parameters of 15 prioritized NMB at three different sites in parita BAY using the proalas protocol.2.3. Monitor abundance and diversity of passerine neotropical migratory birds at sarigua national park through the mosi protocol.environmental education and OUTREACH1.1. Identify information needs on bird conservation and sustainable agricultural management among resource users, private business, local communities, agricultural schools, and the public in general.1.2.devise a communication strategy to disseminate critical information on migratory bird conservation in parita BAY and the pacific migratory flyway using local knowledge.1.3.develop a broad public education and public awareness campaign to disseminate key information on project achievements and future challenges emphasizing the participation of women, young people, farmworkers and the private sector.capacity-BUILDING3.1. Organize a technical exchange with a successful model for agricultural production and bird conservation developed by an internationally recognized academic institution.3.2. Train 30 leading agricultural producers in parita BAY on sustainable management practices that favor bird habitat conservation.3.3. Train 30 leading bird conservation practitioners from the pacific migratory flyway on bird monitoring and conservation techniques using as a case study lessons learned from the parita BAY conservation program.