RED KNOT PROTECTING THE WINTER HABITAT OF THE FAMED SAFEGUARDING THE WORLD S MOST THREATENED SPECIES IN THE ANDES CAMPAIGN FOR A RAREPLANET RARE.

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1 CAMPAIGN FOR A RAREPLANET PROTECTING THE WINTER HABITAT OF THE FAMED RED KNOT SAFEGUARDING THE WORLD S MOST THREATENED SPECIES IN THE ANDES RARE.ORG MANOMET.ORG

2 Red Knot mascot from the San Antonio Bay campaign. THEY HAVE THIS TREMENDOUS COURAGE AND DETERMINATION. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A LITTLE HEART AND LUNGS ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN END OF A PENCIL AND IT PUMPS AWAY FOR OVER 8,000 MILES UNTIL THEY GET TO WHERE THEY RE GOING. -THEODORE CROSS 85 YEAR-OLD BIRD ENTHUSIAST AND PHOTOGRAPHER WHAT WE ARE PROTECTING Of the 87 species of shorebirds in the North America to rest and refuel before Western Hemisphere, many argue that continuing on the next leg of its journey. As none is more impressive than the rufa Red it forages on various beaches and mudflats Knot (Calidris canutus). On a wingspan of in Argentina for sea worms, mollusks, or 20 inches and weighing between 4.5 and insects, the Red Knot increases its weight 7 ounces, this medium-sized sandpiper flies by as much as 50 percent to fuel up for its more than 8,000 miles each spring from as journey northward. far south as Tierra del Fuego to its breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra, and then Maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems reverses the trip each autumn making this throughout the Western Hemisphere is bird one of the longest distance migrants in critical to ensuring the survival of the Red the animal kingdom. Knot and scores of other shorebird species. Along its route, the Red Knot relies on precious staging areas in South and HOW WE ARE CAMPAIGNING FOR PROTECTION Rare, the Manomet Center for Conservation from the creation of new protected areas, Sciences, and multiple local partners are better management of existing reserves, currently running outreach campaigns and reduction in human-related threats to at three sites in Argentina to engage important bird habitats. communities in protecting the Red Knot s winter habitat, as well as to preserve the To the three Pride campaigns for the Red coastal resources on which their own Knot in Argentina, Manomet brings 40 years livelihoods depend. of experience in hemispheric migratory bird conservation, providing the scientific Rare has launched 160+ campaigns for and contextual framework needed for species and habitat protection across conservation at these sites. Local partners the globe all run by local partners, all are implementing the campaigns on the designed to create the right incentives and ground, ensuring messaging is socially and motivations for people to protect nature. culturally relevant and sustaining impact 61 of these campaigns have focused on after the two-year projects are complete. bird conservation, with results ranging

3 WHERE WE ARE FOCUSING CAMPAIGNS Since the 1980s, Red Knots have experienced one of the most rapid population declines ever documented. Aerial surveys in Tierra del Fuego show a decline of the sub-species from over 50,000 in 1985 to fewer than 15,000 today. Threats to the Red Knot come not just from the distance of its migratory journey but also from the impact that people are having on the fragile ecosystems critical to the bird s survival. In North America, along the Delaware Bay, Red Knots suffer from declining populations of horseshoe crabs, their primary food source during a critical time in their migratory trek. In Argentina, loss of habitat from coastal development, increased human recreational activity, and unmanaged solid waste threaten the Red Knot s ability to feed. As part of its Shorebird Recovery Project, the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences has worked on shorebird conservation in Argentina for over a decade. Together, Manomet and Rare joined forces with local partners Fundación Inalafquen, Fundación Biosfera, and Asociación Ambiente Sur to protect three of the bird s most important sites in Argentina. OUR PARTNERS RARE-MANOMET PRIDE CAMPAIGNS will take place at three critical stopover sites for Red Knots in Argentina, including: SAN ANTONIO BAY Local implementing partner: FUNDACIÓN INALAFQUEN RÍO GALLEGOS ESTUARY Local implementing partner: ASOCIACIÓN AMBIENTE SUR COSTA ATLANTICA Local implementing partner: FUNDACION BIOSFERA HOW WE MEASURE SUCCESS Effectively measuring success is a top priority for all partners involved in the Red Knot Pride campaigns. This is why Rare, Manomet and Argentine members of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network met in Argentina during early planning stages of the campaigns to identify metrics based upon a comprehensive library of data that are collected annually by a team led by Patricia Gonzalez of Fundacion Inalafquen. The agreed metrics of success for a conservation result of healthy Red Knots ready for migration include the following: 50% of Red Knots show breeding plumage by early March. Red Knots measure a 3 on their abdomen profiles by the third week of April. Red Knots at San Antonio have an annual survival rate of 80% or above.

4 SAN ANTONIO BAY RÍO NEGRO, ARGENTINA CAMPAIGN FOR RED KNOT HABITAT PRESERVATION CAMPAIGN MANAGER: LIZ ASSEF LOCAL PARTNER: FUNDACIÓN INALAFQUEN The San Antonio Bay Natural Protected Area in Río Negro, Argentina, is the single most important stopover site in South America for Red Knots, providing an abundance of mollusks and marine invertebrates to fuel the birds before their northbound migration. Next to the Bay is the popular beach-town of Las Grutas which swells with tourists in the Argentine summer months. Disturbance of the shorebirds from beachgoers, especially those on 4x4 vehicles, can be severe. The Argentina-based Fundación Inalafquen is running a Pride campaign in the 65,500 hectare site that comprises San Antonio Bay to increase the knowledge of the existence and importance of the Red Knots, and to empower local communities to promote responsible 4x4 vehicular use on alternative trails. While the bay is a Natural Protected Area, and destructive activity on the beach is forbidden by law, there is no law enforcement, but much destruction and disturbance. Pride campaign manager and Fundación Inalafquen staffer Lilia Assef has been working with the municipal government and other local groups to design and build a strategy for developing an alternate 4x4 trail away from the beach. This will allow for tourists and residents to continue enjoying the use of 4x4s, yet safeguard important areas for Red Knots and other shorebirds. For technical assistance and additional leadership, Liz has engaged a local 4x4 rental company that is providing support for the construction of the trail, as well as promoting its use among its clients. Local schools are participating in the creation and distribution of marketing materials, and the municipal government has also been enlisted to support the campaign. Conservation results are being measured by Fundación Inalafquen and other regional conservation partners armed with more than a decade of Red Knot research experience and baseline data that provide concrete indicators of Red Knot population health. RARE S BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL FOR CONSERVATION/ SAN ANTONIO BAY EVERY PRIDE CAMPAIGN PRODUCES A THEORY OF CHANGE -- A ROAD-MAP FOR BUILDING LOCAL PARTNER CAPACITY, DEVELOPING BROAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND ACHIEVING LONG-TERM CONSERVATION RESULTS SHARING KNOWLEDGE Local communities understand the status of San Antonio Bay as a natural protected area and its significance as a stopover site for endangered Red Knots. CHANGING ATTITUDES 4x4 users agree that driving on the beach damages Red Knot nests and damages the local ecosystem. INSPIRING CONSERVATION Conservationists, tourists and locals begin to dialogue around the challenges facing the Bay and how they can solve them.

5 HIGHLIGHTS OF LIZ S EFFORTS INCLUDE: Completed the zoning and permitting Secured TV coverage of the campaign process for the trail, and started launch, which featured art on the beach construction of alternative trail circuit, exhibit. with the approval and cooperation of the Coordinated and implemented numerous regional and municipal governments, as well as the local 4x4 rental company. outreach activities including a local Red Created marketing materials including side environmental art exhibitions, focus mascot costume, posters, t-shirts, flags, and groups with young 4x4 riders, school signage that are distributed at campaign field trips to the local environmental events. interpretation center, and local shorebird Knot theater production, several beach- festivals have all successfully engaged the local community. REMOVING BARRIERS CHANGING BEHAVIOR REDUCING THREATS CONSERVATION RESULTS Local partners designate and build alternative trail circuits for use by 4x4s. 4x4 users abide by law and partners promote trail use. Unnecessary flights caused by human and 4x4 disturbance significantly reduced. The health of the Rufa Red Knot population increases and San Antonio Bay remains significant stopover site.

6 RÍO GALLEGOS ESTUARY SANTA CRUZ, ARGENTINA CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT Covering 80,000 hectares in the glacial estuary of Argentina s Chico River, the Río Gallegos estuary is home to both threatened and endangered bird species including the Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps), the Hooded Grebe (Podiceps gallardoi), Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica), and the Red Knot. The Hooded Grebe is currently classified as near-threatened and is a perfect example of a freshwater bird species drastically declining as a result of pollution and other human threats. Río Gallegos faces increasing environmental pressure from population growth and unregulated development. This rampant development leads to significant amounts of unmanaged solid waste. Asociación Ambiente Sur, led by campaign manager Germán Montero, is using Pride to change behaviors around solid waste management in Rio Gallegos as well establishing official disposal sites, disposal schedules, and waste sorting techniques. WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL PARTNERS CAMPAIGN MANAGER: GERMÁN MONTERO LOCAL PARTNER: ASOCIACIÓN AMBIENTE SUR Some people arrive at an appreciation of nature di rectly, through curiosity and enjoyment of wild places, animals and plants. This was my case. But when I moved from Buenos Aires to Río Gallegos, and worked with people there, I discovered that some people ar rive at this appreciation through other doors. They are motivated to appreciate nature by other concerns that I had not previously considered. It was then that I discovered that we needed to plan and measure how good we are at opening these other doors for people. From this we can learn to be more effective. -- Martina McNamara, Executive Director, Ambiente Sur RARE S BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL FOR CONSERVATION/ RIO GALLEGOS SHARING KNOWLEDGE Local communities understand the status of the Río Gallegos Estuary as a natural protected area and its significance as a stopover site for the endangered Red Knot. CHANGING ATTITUDES Community members believe the threat that trash poses to the biodiversity of the estuary and Red Knot habitat. INSPIRING CONSERVATION Community members and tourists talk about trash and how to manage solid waste.

7 HIGHLIGHTS OF GERMÁN S EFFORTS INCLUDE: Established a partnership with the local Conducted training workshops for 75 grocery store chain (La Anonima), which teachers and local citizens on solid waste donated cloth grocery bags with the management and the importance of the campaign s logo and is also playing the Río Gallegos estuary for migratory birds. campaign song in all of its supermarkets. Implemented trainings for municipal Prepared a float in the spring parade of officials, as well as a series of 35 visits to Río Gallegos, which was attended by over schools reaching 1,500 youth, distributing 25,000 people. The float won second place! 1,300 cloth shopping bags, a coloring book Created radio spots and banners to reach an estimated 10,000 religious pilgrims. on the nature of the Río Gallegos estuary, and CDs with the campaign s music. THE PROCESS OF BUILDING COMMUNITY PRIDE Developing Pride campaign marketing campaign imaging right, as new social materials requires campaign managers to marketers. The evolution of the logo for collect and analyze data about their target the Río Gallegos campaign can be seen audience s preferences and behaviors, above. develop messages that stick, and get their REMOVING BARRIERS CHANGING BEHAVIOR REDUCING THREATS CONSERVATION RESULTS Community leaders approve the local integrated solid waste management plan. Homeowners separate their garbage and recycling, keep their yards free of trash, and form community clean-up patrols to ensure that no one is illegally dumping waste into the estuary. By June of 2010, the community will decrease the amount of trash in the estuary by 5%. The health of the Red Knot population increases and the Río Gallegos estuary remains a significant stopover site.

8 COSTA ATLANTICA TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ARGENTINA CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT CAMPAIGN MANAGER: GRACIELA ALSINA LOCAL PARTNER: FUNDACION BIOSFERA Located near the town of Rio Grande in the province of Tierra del Fuego, the Costa Atlantica Provincial Reserve stretches the 220 km of coastline. Named by Ferdinand Magellan, Tierra del Fuego, or Land of Fire, was what Magellan saw from his approaching ships, the horizon dotted with fires from indigenous group dwellings. The reserve includes important coastal habitat for migratory shorebirds, and is also an important site for Antarctic penguins. In addition to welcoming the Red Knot, Tierra del Fuego is a primary refuge for three important endemic birds that rely on coastal grasslands and meadows for breeding and feeding habitat: the Twobanded Plover (Charadrius falklandicus), RED KNOT POPULATION CRASH TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ARGENTINA DATA: MANOMET SHOREBIRD RECOVERY PROJECT / G. MORRISON & K. ROSS the Rufous-chested Dotterel (Charadrius modestus), and the near-threatened Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis). Today, the health of this critical Red Knot wintering site is threatened by unmanaged solid waste. Fundación Biosfera is using Pride to address unsustainable solid waste disposal in the nearby city of Río Grande. Fundacion Biosfera campaign manager Graciela Alsina has made great strides in reaching out to local citizens about the importance of the Red Knot and is successfully promoting garbage disposal in the community. 2000: 51, : 30, : 17,780 = POPULATION IN THOUSANDS = POPULATION LOST IN THOUSANDS RARE S BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL FOR CONSERVATION/ COSTA ATLANTICA SHARING KNOWLEDGE Local communities know about the status of the Costa Atlantica Provincial Reserve as a natural protected area and its significance as a stopover site for the endangered Red Knot. CHANGING ATTITUDES Community members believe that trash poses a threat to the biodiversity of the reserve and Red Knot habitat. INSPIRING CONSERVATION Residents dialogue about the garbage issues within the Reserve and what they can do about it.

9 HIGHLIGHTS OF GRACIELA S EFFORTS INCLUDE: Developed a radio serial drama with youth of the town of Río Grande which started airing in December. After a break for the austral vacations, she is now back on air and recording the rest of the soap opera. Graciela also has appeared on a local TV program nearly every week with updates on the campaign. Secured support of a local business to purchase and distribute trash bins and billboards in the campaign s priority neighborhoods. She has served as a catalyst to unite different municipal government agencies and coordinate their work to bring better waste management to the priority neighborhoods near the coastline that are responsible for most of the solid waste reaching the Costa Atlántica reserve and the Red Knot s wintering area. Organized a series of public art activities, including street theater at stop lights in town, a photo voice project with 150 women, and a series of activities for local youth, including a Red Knot festival and bonfire on the beach that helped distribute campaign materials and messages. Graciela has established strong relationships with local youth (who leave many bottles on the beach!) to engage them in conservation activities and form youth clubs for the environment. Launched a campaign Facebook page offering updates and commentary on Red Knots, campaign events and tips for protecting Red Knot habitat. The Facebook page currently has 450 members. Assisting the monitoring of Red Knots, including recently supporting Dr. Phil House on his banding trip to Rio Grande and the group that saw B-95 (see story on next page). REMOVING BARRIERS CHANGING BEHAVIOR REDUCING THREATS CONSERVATION RESULTS Trash bins are provided in target neighborhoods and on the beach. Residents of key neighborhoods and youth use trash bins. By June of 2010, the community decreases the amount of trash in the reserve by 5%. The health of the Red Knot population increases and the Costa Atlantica Provincial Reserve remains a significant stopover site.

10 THE BIRD WHO FLEW TO THE MOON The photo above of B-95 was taken by Dutch photographer Jan van de Kam in May, 2009 in New Jersey. B-95, named for the individually marked flag on his right leg, is at least 16 years old. First banded Rio Grande in 1995, he has been caught a total of four times and has been seen at least 8 other times as far away as Quebec, Canada, and Delaware Bay, New Jersey. He has flown the distance from the Earth to the Moon and is on his way back. He has survived through years that saw the population of his species drop from ~70,000 to fewer than 18,000. B-95 was seen most recently in December 2009 in Río Grande, Argentina, by the same dedicated team who banded him so many years before. In photos, B-95 looks the same; the researchers all look older. MAKING COMMUNITY-LED EFFORTS TO PROTECT RED KNOT HABITAT POSSIBLE Rare and Manomet would like to thank numerous supporters for their commitments to Rare Pride in Argentina. These supporters include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Morrison family, the Gruber family, the Marshall Reynolds Foundation, and several other individual and institutional supporters.

11 RARE S TRACK RECORD IN BIRD CONSERVATION More than a third of all Rare Pride campaigns launched to date have focused on protecting birds and their habitats. Birds are important symbols of the health of entire ecosystems. And their mascot likenesses often make charismatic messengers for larger environmental issues to people of all ages. Results of Pride campaigns featuring avian species have ranged from the creation of new protected areas to better management of existing reserves to a reduction in human-related threats to birds forest habitats. And because Rare and its partners build a deep conservation ethic among important bird communities, the conservation impact lasts for years beyond each campaign. In the Caribbean for example, a 2006 study found that of the eight Amazona parrot species featured in Pride campaigns throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, six (75%) are now thought to be increasing in population size. By contrast, among 13 similar Amazona parrot species that were not Pride campaign flagship species, only one (8%) is currently thought to be increasing in population size, while 11 (85%) are thought to be decreasing (P. Vaughan, 2006). REFINING STRATEGIES TO ACCELERATE LOCAL CONSERVATION SUCCESS While Rare aims to replicate its successful Pride campaign model in a significant percentage of biodiversity hotspots in the next 3-5 years (up to 10%), our goal has expanded to include not only site-based impact, but also national and regional impact through clusters of campaigns sharing common goals. This means, in addition to training and mentoring each local partner during a two-year campaign for change, Rare has begun grouping local leaders who share common threats, offering them more tailored solutions and related training, and providing both online and in-person mechanisms for regional collaboration, learning, and national advocacy throughout their collective two-year projects and beyond. This approach will ensure that Rare and its partners ultimately scale more innovative, well-vetted, and urgently needed solutions, as well as create impact where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. For example, Rare has just launched a 12-site campaign in the Andes to save endemic species identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as being the last populations existing at only one site. All twelve campaigns will focus on a common solution to habitat destruction payments for ecosystem services (PES), i.e. providing financial compensation to local communities for watershed protection. On the other side of the world, Rare and its local partners are launching a 12-site campaign to improve establishment and management of No-Take Zones regulated fishing areas that empower local communities to protect dwindling marine resources both for their own livelihoods and for global conservation. For more on Rare s new multi-site approach and its development of innovative local solutions to conservation s toughest global challenges, please visit

12 OUR ARGENTINE PARTNERS HAVE DEDICATED THEIR RESOURCES, PASSION AND DECADES OF KNOWLEDGE AROUND RED-KNOT CONSERVATION TO THESE CAMPAIGNS. APPLYING THE RARE PRIDE METHODOLOGY, EACH PARTNER HAS CREATED AND COMMUNICATED A CLEAR AND COMPELLING SENSE OF URGENCY AROUND PROTECTING CRITICAL LOCAL RED KNOT SITES, ADVANCING ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE RED KNOT S LONG- TERM SURVIVAL. -CHARLES DUNCAN MANOMET CENTER FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCES 1310 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 110 Arlington, VA T: +1 (703) F: +1 (703) Bogotá no. 2077, Col. Providencia, Guadalajara, Jalisco CP México T: +52 (33) F: +52 (33)