3. Habitat restoration, human livelihood improvement and capacity development for conservation of migratory birds in West Africa

BirdLife International has been working on improving migratory bird habitats and livelihoods in the Sahel, as well as strengthening human networks for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats along the west coast... [ view full abstract ]

BirdLife International has been working on improving migratory bird habitats and livelihoods in the Sahel, as well as strengthening human networks for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats along the west coast of Africa. This has been through projects branded as “Living on the Edge” and “Conservation of Migratory Birds”, respectively.
The Living on the Edge project is aimed at improving the living conditions for local communities in the Sahel and for migratory birds that depend on this region, by working with local people to achieve the restoration of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources. Thirteen project sites have been identified, located throughout the Sahelian zone. All are Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (both wetland and dryland) designated for either congregatory waterbirds or Sahel-biome assembly species, and the focal countries are Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal.
The Conservation of Migratory Birds project is a NGO-government partnership, with BirdLife working through national partner organisations identified in seven countries – Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde. The project is designed to ensure strong relationships are forged with national governments and their agencies, BirdLife’s network of international Partners (particularly in Africa and Europe), Wetlands International, and the International Foundation of Banc d’Arguin (FIBA), as well as supporting Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) like the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).
Both of these on-going projects deliver actions on-the-ground for migratory birds in West Africa, working directly with local communities, with resulting habitat restoration for birds, as well as livelihood improvement and capacity development for the local communities.