CAFF Workshop on Conservation of Migratory Arctic Birds, Songli, Norway, 10-11 September 2000

Abstract

The theme of the Workshop was ‘Conservation of Migratory Arctic Birds’. The goal of the workshop was to facilitate improved co-ordination and collaboration among Arctic countries sharing migratory bird species and/or populations with those countries outside the Arctic that are responsible for Arctic breeding birds during the non-breeding season. More specifically, the aim of the Workshop was to review the 15 recommendations contained in CAFF Technical Report No. 4 (Global Overview of the Conservation of Migratory Arctic Breeding Birds Outside the Arctic) and to prioritise mechanisms, processes and management actions to improve the protection of migratory birds both within and outside the Arctic. The Workshop examined the gaps in the protection of migratory Arctic birds outside the Arctic, and attempted to identify ways in which existing international treaties, agreements, programmes and other initiatives might be used to further the protection of migratory Arctic birds. The possibility of developing one or more new international instruments in particular regions or for particular groups of species was also considered. The Workshop discussed some of the priorities for research on migratory Arctic birds both within and outside the Arctic, and made a number of proposals for specific actions to be taken by the CAFF member countries to improve conservation of migratory Arctic birds throughout their ranges.