Monitoring of East Atlantic Flyway

This multi-country action is addressing the Wadden Sea, shared by the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Actions are needed, which aim to provide solutions addressing the cross-border challenge linked to the East Atlantic Flyway for water-birds encompassing coastal wetlands all along the Atlantic coast, from Northern Europe down to southern Africa, including the Arctic breeding areas.

Context

This project is clearly linked with the EU priorities under the Green Deal, specifically the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Knowledge about the threats, which the water-birds are facing along their migratory route, is important in order to adequately manage and protect them along the full flyway. The first effects of climate change are felt within the East Atlantic Flyway and further research will be necessary to understand how best to mitigate their impact. This strengthens the need for a future ready, resilient monitoring system of the Flyway.

Support delivered

Activities to be funded under this specific action entail an assessment of the state of play including a comparative analysis of innovative techniques to automatise monitoring of the East Atlantic Flyway (remote sensing, artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, use of drones etc.) and new approaches for site management (mapping, development plans and monitoring etc.), the development of an integrated Action Plan and Implementation Roadmap including an assessment of the governance structure as well as a communication and dissemination strategy for awareness raising, education and change management.

Results achieved

The outcome of the project should contain applicable information on 1) how the Flyway monitoring can be improved while applying modern techniques (including a roadmap of actions to be implemented by the various partners in order to make better use of existing tools), 2) how the nature management - food availability, staging and breeding sites, as well as concepts of segregation/integration can be optimised and 3) how to implement a change management through a communication and dissemination strategy. The results of the project will have application at national, EU and international level.