Survey of arctic bird migration and staging areas at the White Sea, in the autumns of 1999 and 2004

Finnish Environment Institute organized two ornithological expeditions to the White Sea, between 21st September and 10th October 1999, and between 21st September and 10th October 2004. The main aim of these expeditions was to map the most important staging areas for the migrating arctic birds at the White Sea. Several internationally important staging areas were found at the White Sea. Transect line counts at sea showed that the densities of birds outside these areas were smaller. During the expeditions a lot of data collected about the migration, daily rhythm, directions and routes of the migration, intensity, timing and the age and sex of the birds. Clear differences between species were noticed in the dynamics, directions of routes and intensity. Some of the species migrate on a wide front and others follow the coastal lines. The expedition was carried out by vessel. Compared to aerial surveys, which are also used for mapping of staging areas, vessel is cheaper. Vessel surveys allow more time for observing for instance birds which are sensitive or few in numbers. On the other hand a vessel is slow and shallow areas, which are important staging areas for waterfowl, are inaccessible. Aerial surveys make it possible to cover large areas and to find the most important staging areas for arctic waterfowl

Nordic Wetland Conservation

Nordic wetlands are vital for many species of plants and animals, especially birds, but are also of great importance as sources of water for people. Wetlands also are the source of a wide range of natural products, and are increasingly sites for ecotourism.  Presenting a complete view of the status of wetland conservation in the Nordic region, this report helps increase awareness about the species and landscape richness of Nordic wetlands. This report also sets out clearly their fragility, and the numerous threats 'they face. This reference document is thus an important tool for decision makers, and all people involved in the conservation and management of these outstanding global ecosystems - important in their own right, and also as mitigation against the threats from climate change. The report concludes with recommendations based on experience gained and evaluations undertaken by scientific institutions in the Nordic countries and their partners over the past 30 years. These recommendations are principally aimed at the national bodies responsible for this work in  the Nordic countries, but also the Nordic Council of Ministers and the international Ramsar Convention Bureau in Switzerland. The preparation of this report serves as an excellent example of fruitful transboundary  collaboration between government instrumentalities dealing with environmental issues from the Nordic countries. This report also illustrates well the three "pillars" of the Ramsar Convention: working towards the wise use of wetlands, establishing a global ecological network through the development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance and encouraging international cooperation in the delivery of wetland conservation and wise use. The work has been carried out by a project group composed of experienced staff who are responsible for the matters in question at the national management institutions. The secretariat and managerial functions have been at the Directorate for Nature Management (DN) in Norway. A scientific reference group set up in Norway to support the work has been composed of Alv Ottar Folkestad, Ulstein Borough Council, lngar Öyen, Norwegian Ornithological Society, Torris Ekker, County Governor's Office in Sör-Tröndelag, Svein Karlsen, County Governor's Office in Nord- Tröndelag, and Lars Löfaldi, DN. In addition, Asbjörn Moen, Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Trondheim, and Peter Johan Schei, DN, have provided valuable input. Tom Christensen, Forestry and Nature Division at the Ministry of Environment and Energy has contributed information from Denmark, Gisli Mar Gislason, Department of Biology, University of Iceland, Hlynur Oskarsson, Agricultural College of Iceland, Johann Oli Hilmarsson, Einar Torleifsson and Olafur Einarsson, Icelandic Society for the Protection of Birds, and Gudridur Torvardardottir, Nature Conservation Agency, have all contributed valuable input to various parts of the section on Iceland. The final version of the Finnish contribution is the work of Esko Jakkola and Seppo Vuolanto, Finnish Ministry of the Environment. The final version of the Greenland contribution is the work og Inge Thaulow, Directorate for Nature and the Environment in Greenland. The report and its recommendations have been discussed and approved by the Nordic Working Group for Nature and Outdoor Recreation at its meeting on 8-9th August 2001. The report is also being published in separate Scandinavian (Norwegian, Swedish and Danish) and English editions.This report has been partly funded by the Ramsar Bureau in Switzerland (see separate Preface).</p

Nordic Wetland Conservation

Nordic wetlands are vital for many species of plants and animals, especially birds, but are also of great importance as sources of water for people. Wetlands also are the source of a wide range of natural products, and are increasingly sites for ecotourism.  Presenting a complete view of the status of wetland conservation in the Nordic region, this report helps increase awareness about the species and landscape richness of Nordic wetlands. This report also sets out clearly their fragility, and the numerous threats 'they face. This reference document is thus an important tool for decision makers, and all people involved in the conservation and management of these outstanding global ecosystems - important in their own right, and also as mitigation against the threats from climate change. The report concludes with recommendations based on experience gained and evaluations undertaken by scientific institutions in the Nordic countries and their partners over the past 30 years. These recommendations are principally aimed at the national bodies responsible for this work in  the Nordic countries, but also the Nordic Council of Ministers and the international Ramsar Convention Bureau in Switzerland. The preparation of this report serves as an excellent example of fruitful transboundary  collaboration between government instrumentalities dealing with environmental issues from the Nordic countries. This report also illustrates well the three "pillars" of the Ramsar Convention: working towards the wise use of wetlands, establishing a global ecological network through the development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance and encouraging international cooperation in the delivery of wetland conservation and wise use. The work has been carried out by a project group composed of experienced staff who are responsible for the matters in question at the national management institutions. The secretariat and managerial functions have been at the Directorate for Nature Management (DN) in Norway. A scientific reference group set up in Norway to support the work has been composed of Alv Ottar Folkestad, Ulstein Borough Council, lngar Öyen, Norwegian Ornithological Society, Torris Ekker, County Governor's Office in Sör-Tröndelag, Svein Karlsen, County Governor's Office in Nord- Tröndelag, and Lars Löfaldi, DN. In addition, Asbjörn Moen, Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Trondheim, and Peter Johan Schei, DN, have provided valuable input. Tom Christensen, Forestry and Nature Division at the Ministry of Environment and Energy has contributed information from Denmark, Gisli Mar Gislason, Department of Biology, University of Iceland, Hlynur Oskarsson, Agricultural College of Iceland, Johann Oli Hilmarsson, Einar Torleifsson and Olafur Einarsson, Icelandic Society for the Protection of Birds, and Gudridur Torvardardottir, Nature Conservation Agency, have all contributed valuable input to various parts of the section on Iceland. The final version of the Finnish contribution is the work of Esko Jakkola and Seppo Vuolanto, Finnish Ministry of the Environment. The final version of the Greenland contribution is the work og Inge Thaulow, Directorate for Nature and the Environment in Greenland. The report and its recommendations have been discussed and approved by the Nordic Working Group for Nature and Outdoor Recreation at its meeting on 8-9th August 2001. The report is also being published in separate Scandinavian (Norwegian, Swedish and Danish) and English editions.This report has been partly funded by the Ramsar Bureau in Switzerland (see separate Preface).</p