Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance Programs

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO A SINGLE-SOURCE. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to award a cooperative agreement to BirdsCaribbean to gather information to produce a more robust estimate of the current level of shorebirds harvest along the coast of Guyana. Previous information indicated that substantial harvest of shorebirds was occurring along the coast of Guyana. In the early 2000s, researchers reported a substantial harvest of shorebirds and other waterbirds along the coast of Guyana and found commercial selling of shorebirds in several villages. In 2017 and 2018, villages were re-surveyed and there was a significant decline in the number of beaches where shorebird harvest was occurring. However, substantial numbers of shorebirds were still being harvested and sold to individuals and in markets. The project will focus on sites and markets that were previously identified. The goal of this project is to contribute to the understanding of the shorebird harvest in the Caribbean and northern South America. The project addresses the key strategy identified in the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative (AFSI) Business Plan of reducing hunting pressure and addresses the key action to Assess Biological and Social Aspects of Harvest identified in the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiatives Plan to Address the Sustainability of Shorebird Harvest in the Western Atlantic Flyway. The AFSI focal species addressed in this project include Semipalmated Sandpiper, Red Knot, Whimbrel, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. The specific objective of the project is to determine the magnitude of harvest and commercial selling of migratory shorebirds along the coast of Guyana. This program aligns with Departmental funding Priority #1, creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt, as it promotes natural resource conservation through sustainable use integrating the best science (harvest data) for the conservation of migratory shorebirds. By engaging network partners and other local stakeholders, this program aligns with Priority #3, restoring trust with our local communities, by improving relationships and expanding lines of communication with international partners who look to consider local communities in developing conservation solutions. Funding for this project is provided under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a-754; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C. 661-667(e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 2901-2911; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 709a, and the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017.