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Aquatic Warblers on the Move

Reference: LIFE23-NAT-NL-LIFE-AWOM/101148382 | Acronym: LIFE23-NAT-NL-LIFE AWOM

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) — Europe’s rarest passerine bird — is classified as vulnerable at a global level and listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List. It is protected by the EU Birds Directive and 2 international conventions, but the current world population is shrinking — current estimates are that fewer than 11 000 singing males remain, in fewer than 50 breeding sites. 

 

5 LIFE projects focusing on the aquatic warbler breeding grounds have been implemented, and 3 focusing on staging sites. However, but many aquatic warbler stopover and wintering sites are still vulnerable, facing threats such as habitat loss and degradation which result from drainage, conversion to arable land, forest and other plantations, pollution, modern farming practices, the impact of invasive species and coastal erosion.

 

The LIFE AWOM project builds on numerous previous conservation projects — including LIFE Carricerín and LIFE Paludicola and intends to address the needs identified by the LIFE PALUDICOLA project. It aligns with national and international species action plans and contributes to the conservation objectives of Natura 2000 sites designated for this species. The project also complements the LIFE4AquaticWarbler project, which focuses on breeding grounds, ensuring coordinated conservation efforts along the European-African flyway.



OBJECTIVES

The overall LIFE AWOM objective is to support the recovery of the EU and global population of aquatic warblers by tackling habitat loss and degradation and contributing to the policy framework concerning the aquatic warbler.  


 

Its specific objectives are to:

 

  • identify a coherent, comprehensive network of flyway sites using the best available scientific data
  • restore and manage foraging habitats on 18 Natura 2000 sites in Spain, Portugal, France and Belgium, and on a 300-hectare (ha) wintering area in Senegal
  • improve methods for assessing the size and quality of habitats and the importance of resting and wintering areas
  • test and demonstrate habitat conservation methods to benefit the aquatic warbler and other wetland bird species
  • provide up-to-date information on each site to authorities in Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal so they can update their standard data forms (SDFs)
  • scale up habitat restoration through national nature restoration plans, prioritised action frameworks (PAFs), programming documents under the Common Agricultural Policy in Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, and contribute to the International Species Action Plan (ISAP) with a focus on staging and wintering areas


RESULTS

The project’s expected results and impacts include:

 

  • 819 ha of stopover habitat restored in 18 Natura 2000 sites in Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal
  • 300 ha wintering site restored in Senegal
  • 600 ha of wintering and stopover sites in Senegal protected as a community-based conservation area
  • data collected to promote the inclusion of aquatic warbler in at least 11 relevant SDFs and in situ protection in Africa, and to identify areas for protection and management
  • revision of the International Species Action Plan (ISAP) 
  • preparation of aquatic warbler national Species Action Plans (SAPs) 
  • at least 1 000 ha of aquatic warbler habitats included in the Belgian, French, Spanish and Portuguese national nature restoration plans

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA


Reference: LIFE23-NAT-NL-LIFE-AWOM/101148382
Acronym: LIFE23-NAT-NL-LIFE AWOM
Start Date: 01/01/2025
End Date: 31/12/2029
Total Eligible Budget: 10,101,782 €
EU Contribution: 7,576,321 €

CONTACT DETAILS


Coordinating Beneficiary: WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL - EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION
Legal Status: PRIVATE
Address: HORAPARK 9, 6717 LZ, Ede,
Contact Person: Valeria Numbela
Email: Send Email
Website: Visit Website


ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ADDRESSED

THEMES

  • Grasslands
  • Freshwater
  • Sensitive and protected areas management
  • High Nature Value farmland
  • Green infrastructure
  • Environmental training - Capacity building
  • Improved legislative compliance and enforcement
  • Knowledge development
  • Public and Stakeholders participation
  • Birds
  • Invasive species
  • Carbon sequestration
  • Natural resources and ecosystems
  • Ecological coherence

KEYWORDS

  • climate change adaptation
  • climate change mitigation
  • connectivity
  • endangered species
  • flood protection
  • Agriculture
  • freshwater habitats
  • grazing
  • grassland
  • grassland birds
  • green infrastructure
  • habitat management
  • habitat restoration
  • invasive alien species (IAS)
  • land purchase
  • management plan
  • migratory species
  • citizen science
  • mowing
  • restoration
  • carbon sequestration
  • resting area
  • ringing (wildlife)
  • wetland
  • wintering area
  • biodiversity

TARGET EU LEGISLATION

  • Directive 2009/147 - Conservation of wild birds - Birds Directive (codified version of Directive 79/409/EEC as amended) (30.11.2009)
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration (Nature Restoration Law)
  • COM(2020) 380 EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives (20.05.2020.) 

SPECIES

Name Version
Acrocephalus paludicola - Birds v.2024

NATURA 2000 SITES

Code Name Type Version
Ijzervallei BE2500831 SPA v.2021
Estuaire et marais de la Basse Seine FR2310044 SPA v.2021
Estuaire de la Loire FR5210103 SPA v.2021
Basses Vallées du Cotentin et Baie des Veys FR2510046 SPA v.2021
Doñana ES0000024 SPA and SCI/SAC v.2021
Aiguamolls de l'Alt Empordà ES0000019 SPA and SCI/SAC v.2021
Marjal de Peníscola ES5222002 SCI/SAC v.2021
Prat de Cabanes i Torreblanca (ZEPA) ES0000467 SPA v.2021
Desembocadura del riu Millars ES0000211 SPA and SCI/SAC v.2021
Marjal de Nules ES5222005 SCI/SAC v.2021
Marjal dels Moros (ZEPA) ES0000470 SPA v.2021
l'Albufera (ZEPA) ES0000471 SPA v.2021
Marjal de Pego-Oliva (ZEPA) ES0000487 SPA v.2021
Humedales de La Mancha ES4250010 SPA and SCI/SAC v.2021
La Nava-Campos Norte ES4140036 SPA v.2021
La Nava-Campos Sur ES0000216 SPA v.2021
Lagoa de Santo André PTZPE0013 SPA v.2021
Lagoa Pequena PTZPE0049 SPA v.2021
Ria de Aveiro PTZPE0004 SPA v.2021

PARTNERSHIPS

Name Status Type
 NATUURPUNT BEHEER,VERENIGING VOOR NATUURBEHEER EN LANDSCHAPSZORG IN VLAANDEREN VZW ACTIVE Participant
 ASSOCIACIO INSTITUT CATALA D'ORNITOLOGIA ACTIVE Participant
 FUNDACION GLOBAL NATURE ACTIVE Participant
 FUNDACION MIGRES ACTIVE Participant
 AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS ACTIVE Participant
 BRETAGNE VIVANTE - SOCIETE POUR L'ETUDE ET LA PROTECTION DE LA NATURE EN BRETAGNE ACTIVE Participant
 FONDATION TOUR DU VALAT ACTIVE Participant
 ASSOCIATION CONNAISSANCE ET RECHERCHE ORNITHOLOGIQUE LOIRE ET ATLANTIQUE ACTIVE Participant
 MAISON DE L ESTUAIRE ACTIVE Participant
 GROUPE ORNITHOLOGIQUE NORMAND ACTIVE Participant
 WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL - EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION ACTIVE Coordinator
 SOCIEDADE PORTUGUESA PARA O ESTUDO DAS AVES ACTIVE Participant
 UNIVERSIDADE DE AVEIRO ACTIVE Participant