Aquatic Warblers on the Move

Introduction

The LIFE AWOM project is the first multi-country LIFE project focusing on the staging and wintering areas of the globally threatened aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola (AW) in Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and Senegal.

Project Overview

Together with the also proposed LIFE4AquaticWarbler project (that focuses on the breeding grounds), the two projects are the biggest coordinated initiative so far for the flyway-scale conservation of the species.

Objectives

The LIFE AWOM project will focus on developing a comprehensive, coherent, and climate-resilient flyway site network for the species, which can serve as an example for the systematic site network planning for other species as well.

Implementation

At 22 Natura 2000 staging sites in Europe and at one wintering site in Senegal, the project will demonstrate habitat management and restoration techniques for the AW but also for other marshland bird species.

Relevance of Techniques

These techniques will be relevant not only in the context of the conservation of the AW but also in the context of:

• Climate change mitigation
• Adaptation
• Green infrastructure development

Impact and Outreach

The project aims to ensure that its impact is scaled up beyond its target areas by:

1. Providing input into the development of national nature restoration plans
2. Contributing to new prioritised action frameworks
3. Assisting in new CAP programming documents

Additionally, the project will work actively on sharing its scientific results with other conservation scientists and technical innovations with other site managers and businesses.