Overview
The Waders (Shorebirds) Working Group focuses on improving monitoring and conservation of migratory shorebirds along the Central Asian Flyway (CAF)– one of the least studied flyways globally for shorebird migration.
Why Waders Matter
The CAF supports hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds, including globally threatened species such as the Sociable Lapwing, Great Knot, and Black-tailed Godwit. These species rely on a network of breeding, stopover, and wintering wetlands that are rapidly disappearing or degrading.
Key Challenges in the CAF
- Severe loss and degradation of wetlands
- Inconsistent and non-standardized monitoring across countries
- Data gaps at breeding and staging sites
- Hunting and disturbance at non-breeding sites
- Climate-driven changes to wetland hydrology
Working Group Priorities
- Establish a standardized, flyway-wide shorebird monitoring framework
- Strengthen capacity for surveys at breeding, stopover, and wintering sites
- Identify key sites and emerging threats across the flyway
- Promote data sharing and regional collaboration
- Support implementation of CMS CAF Action Plan and Ramsar commitments
Looking Ahead
The Working Group seeks to build a robust, coordinated monitoring network that supports evidence-based conservation of shorebirds across the CAF.
Contact
For information about this working group, please contact Ms Katherine Hall (Co-chair, CACN) at katherine.hall(at)uef.fi.