A report titled Important Areas for Seabirds – guiding marine conservation in the tropical Pacific reveals the most important sites in the tropical Pacific for seabirds conservation. These sites are now identified as marine Important Bird Areas (IBAs).
The report shows how seabirds tell us about the state of the oceans and islands of the region; reflecting human impacts like climate change, fishing, and invasive species.
“Safeguarding these places will protect the livelihoods and cultural heritage of Pacific islands and peoples, and help governments to meet the commitments they have made to biodiversity conservation”, said Don Stewart – BirdLife ex-Director for the Pacific.
For millennia seabirds in the Pacific have provided benefits to people such as food, feathers and nutrients for farming (seabird guano). Seafarers use seabirds for navigating and locating fish schools.
There are 62 seabird species that regularly use the tropical Pacific. Some are abundant and breed in enormous colonies on remote atolls, others are poorly known, rare and highly threatened.
By BirdLife Pacific – 20 dec 2012
To read more : Key sites for seabird conservation identified in the tropical Pacific
Find here the last seabirds conservation action of SOP and partners : https://manu.pf/marquesan-island-cleared-of-rats-to-protect-native-seabirds/?lang=en
Gygis alba_Tahanea – Photo Jean Kape
Chapters in the report:
- Seabirds are sentinels
- How seabirds and BirdLife can help meet biodiversity conservation targets
- BirdLife identifies the most important sites for seabirds
- Seabirds exploit the ocean in different ways
- Seabirds rely on land and sea
- Seabirds face threats on land and sea
- Seabirds conservation has begun but much more is needed
- Marine Protected Areas can help to protect seabirds
- More action in needed to secure seabirds survival for the future