根據一份使用新的線上資訊工具獲得的首份調查，當遷徙性水鳥在非洲、中東、歐洲與中亞之間遷移時，所需的重要濕地有三分之一完全未受到保護。因此，這些水鳥有42%種類的族群數量正在減少，鳥類專家為此提出警告。
此名為「重要鳥點網路工具（Critical Site Network Tool，CSN）」的線上工具，14日於海牙舉辦的國際水鳥保育研討會上發表。這場研討會的舉辦是為了慶祝「非歐亞遷移性水鳥協定（AEWA）」簽訂15周年，此國際野生動物協定目標為保育使用這條非洲-歐亞飛行路徑（African-Eurasian Flyway）的遷徙性水鳥。
AEWA秘書長連特（Bert Lenten）表示：「這個『重要鳥點網路工具』將有前所未有的資訊可及程度，提供的資料包含非歐亞遷移性水鳥協定涵蓋的所有水鳥種類。」藉由重要鳥點網路工具可找到3020個地點294種水鳥的全面資訊。
「它首次匯集關於全球某些物種與水鳥利用地點，最新與最全面的可得資訊。」連特說：「要有效地獲致保育成果，關鍵就是能取得有關遷徙性水鳥仰賴的重要地點以及這些物種生態需求的可靠資訊。」這個重要鳥點網路工具是由非洲-歐亞區域來自100個國家超過200位專家所合作發展出來的。國際濕盟、國際鳥盟與聯合國環境總署保育監測中心共同籌組這次合作，在「飛越溼地計畫」這個框架下進行，該計畫是歐亞非地區執行過最大的國際水鳥與溼地保育計畫。 重要鳥點網路工具的經費部分來自於國際環境補助的組織-全球環境基金（Global Environment Facility），另有部份來自德國政府。
國際鳥盟執行長朗貝迪尼（Marco Lambertini）表示，重要鳥點網路工具確認出遷徙性水鳥的優先保護地點，並突顯出學術知識上的缺口，許多水鳥的停留與非繁殖期分布的地點仍未被充分了解。「只有藉由結合足夠知識、有目標的行動，適當的資金和當地的在地行動能力，我們才能對遷徙性物種有所作為。」朗貝迪尼說道。
遷徙性水鳥，如涉禽、燕鷗與雁鵝，需要一條不斷裂的濕地鏈來完成他們每年一次的生命週期，然而他們正受到水產養殖、農藥與能源開發擴張的威脅。鳥類專家表示，新工具顯示農業、水資源管理與能源部門的政策會如何影響生物多樣性問題。國際濕盟生物多樣性暨生態網路計畫組長海格麥哲（Ward Hagemeijer）說：「重要鳥點網路工具也有極大的潛力，為上述領域的決策制定帶來好處。」
欲使用此工具，請點擊此處。
One-third of the critical wetlands that migratory waterbirds need when traveling between Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia are entirely unprotected, according to the first survey using a new online information tool. As a result, 42 percent of these waterbird species are in decline, bird experts warn.
The online tool was unveiled Monday at an International Waterbird Conservation Symposium taking place in The Hague to mark the 15th anniversary of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement, AEWA. The international wildlife treaty aims to conserve migratory waterbirds which use the African-Eurasian Flyway.
"The Critical Site Network Tool will provide an unprecedented level of access to information for all waterbird species covered by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement," said AWEA Executive Secretary Bert Lenten.
The CSN tool provides comprehensive information on 294 waterbird species from 3,020 sites. Click here to use the new tool.
"It brings together for the first time some of the most current and comprehensive information available internationally on the species and the sites they use," Lenten said. "To target conservation efforts effectively, access to reliable information about the critical sites that migratory waterbirds depend upon, and the ecological requirements of these species, is key."
More than 200 experts from 100 countries in the African-Eurasian region collaborated to develop the CSN Tool.
Wetlands International, BirdLife International and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre organized the collaboration within the framework of the Wings Over Wetlands Project, the largest international waterbird and wetland conservation initiative ever undertaken in the African-Eurasian region.
The tool was partly funded by the Global Environment Facility, an international environment financing organization, and by the German government.
Marco Lambertini, chief executive of BirdLife International, said the CSN tool identifies priority sites for the protection of migratory waterbirds and highlights knowledge gaps, revealing that many stop-over and non-breeding localities are still not well known.
"Only by combining adequate knowledge, targeted action, appropriate funding and local capacity on the ground will we be able to make a difference for migratory species," said Lambertini.
Migratory waterbirds, such as waders, terns and geese, need an unbroken chain of wetlands to complete their annual life cycles, but they are threatened by expanding aquaculture, agriculture and energy developments.
The bird experts say the new tool shows how policies within the agricultural, water management and energy sectors influence biodiversity issues.
"There is tremendous potential for the CSN Tool to benefit decision-making in these areas as well," said Ward Hagemeijer, Head of Biodiversity at Wetlands International.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
