Research, education and transfer: a partnership for the preservation of migratory beach birds and their habitats in the Estuary of the River Gallegos (South Patagonia, Argentina)
[Resumo] As aves praieiras migratorias son moi sensibles aos cambios de hábitat por mor da súa dependencia a un limitado número de sitios durante as súas longas migracións, onde se concentran en grandes cantidades nun momento dado. Requiren, daquela, de estratexias de manexo do hábitat caso da protección das áreas críticas e, especialmente, dunha concienciación por parte das comunidades e dos dirixentes políticos en particular. Neste contexto preséntanse as estratexias e as accións de conservación emprendidas durante os últimos dez anos no esteiro do río Gallegos, ambiente dun gran valor para estas especies, mais que está a sufrir fortemente o impacto da acelerada urbanización da costa. A meta perseguida foi modificar a tendencia no uso da costa e mellorar a relación do ser humano co seu contorno. Traballouse mediante unha articulación coas administracións gobernamentais, os sectores educativos, particulares e ONG locais e internacionais. Entre os resultados cómpre salientar a creación de dúas áreas protexidas (provincial e urbana), a promulgación da Lei provincial de conservación das zonas húmidas e das aves praieiras, o recoñecemento como sitio de importancia internacional pola Rede Hemisférica de Reservas para Aves Praieiras e, finalmente, a declaración como un sitio AICA/IBA.[Abstract] Migrant shorebirds are very sensitive to habitat changes, due to their dependence on a limited number of sites during their long migrations, where they concentrate in large numbers at a given moment. Thus, they require habitat management strategies, like the protection of critical areas and, especially, raising the awareness of the communities and in particular of the political decision-makers. In this context, the strategies and conservation actions taken during last ten years in the Gallegos river estuary are presented. This environment is of great value for these species, but it was being heavily impacted by the accelerated urbanization of the coast. The aim pursued was to modify the trend in the use of the coast and to improve the relationship between man and his environment. The work was carried out by means of an articulation with the governmental administrations, education sectors, individuals, and local and international NGOs. Among the results, the creation of two protected areas (provincial and urban), the enacting of a provincial Law of Conservation of Wetlands and Shorebirds, the recognition as Site of International Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, and its declaration as AICA/IBA Site stand out
