The MOU on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and Their Habitats was concluded under the auspices of CMS and became effective on 26 August 2007. Under the “umbrella“ of the Convention on Migratory Species, the governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay agreed to work together towards better conservation of migratory species of grassland birds of Southern South America and developed the MOU text. Brazil too, although not a Party to CMS, has signed the MOU.
Species covered by the MOU include the Eskimo (or Northern) Curlew (Numenius borealis), the Strange-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora), the Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor), the Chestnut seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea), the Rufous-rumped seedeater (Sporophila hypochroma), the Marsh seedeater (Sporophila palustris), the Entre Rios seedeater (Sporophila zelichi), and the Saffron-cowled Blackbird (Agelaius (Xanthopsar) flavus) and these have all been included on Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species. The Dark-throated Seedeater (Sporophila ruficollis), Dinelli‘s Doradito (Pseudocolopteryx dinellianus) and the Bearded Tachuri (Polystictus pectoralis pectoralis) have been included on Appendix II of CMS.
The grasslands of south-eastern South America, comprising one of the most extensive grassland ecosystems in the Neo-tropics, have suffered negative impacts from the development of the livestock industry, arable agriculture and forestry. The grasslands have a rich avifauna that includes 22 globally threatened and near-threatened species, and many other species have suffered local population extinctions and range reductions. In addition to habitat loss and fragmentation, grassland birds in these ecosystems are threatened by improper use of agrochemicals, unfavourable fire management regimes, pollution and illegal capture and hunting.
During the First Meeting of Signatories in Asunción, Paraguay, 15 December 2010, the Signatories adopted an Action Plan which was added as an Annex to the MOU. The Action Plan focuses on protecting and managing habitats for the migratory grassland birds by identifying new protected areas, providing financial incentives to local cattle ranchers, coordinating monitoring and research of grassland biodiversity among countries, conducting threat assessments, raising awareness and enhancing international cooperation towards developing a legal framework for the preservation of grasslands. In addition, it recommends actions to be taken outside of protected areas to help conserve habitat on private land.
Monitoring and research of grassland biodiversity are now being coordinated among the countries to collect data on distribution, population counts, abundance and the conservation status of birds, frogs, butterflies and other insects. In addition, an international bird ringing programme is being implemented, where small, individually numbered tags are attached to the birds’ legs to track their movements and identify threats along their flyways. Studies are being conducted to determine the impact of chemicals and fertilizers on bird populations. In addition, training courses on best practices and tailored conservation are being considered to target educators, journalists, producers and rural associations.
Title | Status | Status date | CMS Party number | Region |
---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | MOU Signatory | 2007 | 039 | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
Bolivia | MOU Signatory | 2009 | 081 | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
Brazil | MOU Signatory | 2007 | 122 | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
Paraguay | MOU Signatory | 2007 | 056 | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
Uruguay | MOU Signatory | 2007 | 031 | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
Instrument name | Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and their Habitats |
---|---|
Type | Article IV(4) |
Languages | English Spanish |
Depositary | CMS Secretariat |
Signature | Signed by 15 States and 1 Co-operating Organization (for details please scroll to 'other' and 'MoU Signatory') |
In effect | Immediately following signature by three states |
Actually in effect | 26 August 2007 |
Website URL | http://www.cms.int/grassland-birds |
Other | Signed also by Co-operating Organizations: CMS Secretariat on 26 August 2007 |
Scientific name | Common name | Class | Order | Family | Appendix (App. I / App. II) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xanthopsar flavus | Saffron-Cowled Blackbird | Aves | Passeriformes | Icteridae | 1999 / 2005 |
Sporophila zelichi (now listed on CMS Appendices under S. palustris) | Zelich's Seedeater, White-Collared Seedeater, Narosky's Seedeater, Entre Rios Seedeater | Aves | Passeriformes | Thraupidae | - / - |
Polystictus pectoralis pectoralis | Bearded Tachuri | Aves | Passeriformes | Tyrannidae | - / 2002 |
Calidris subruficollis | Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Aves | Charadriiformes | Scolopacidae | 1999 / 1979 |
Sporophila cinnamomea | Chestnut Seedeater | Aves | Passeriformes | Thraupidae | 1999 / 2005 |
Numenius borealis | Eskimo Curlew | Aves | Charadriiformes | Scolopacidae | 1979 / - |
Dolichonyx oryzivorus | Bobolink | Aves | Passeriformes | Ictidae | - / 2011 |
Sporophila palustris | Marsh Seedeater | Aves | Passeriformes | Thraupidae | 2002 / 2005 |
Sporophila hypochroma | Gray-And-Chestnut Seedeater, Rufous-Rumped Seedeater | Aves | Passeriformes | Thraupidae | 1999 / 2005 |
Sporophila ruficollis | Dark-Throated Seedeater | Aves | Passeriformes | Thraupidae | - / 2002 |
Alectrurus tricolor | Cock-Tailed Tyrant | Aves | Passeriformes | Tyrannidae | 2002 / 2005 |
Alectrurus risora | Strange-Tailed Tyrant | Aves | Passeriformes | Tyrannidae | 2000 / 2005 |
Title | Start date | Country | CMS Instrument |
---|---|---|---|
First Meeting of the Signatories | 14.12.2010 | Paraguay | Southern South American Grassland Birds |
MOS2 MOU on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Birds and their Habitats | 24.07.2018 | Brazil | CMS, Southern South American Grassland Birds |
MOS2 MOU on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Birds and their Habitats | 24.07.2018 | Brazil | CMS, Southern South American Grassland Birds |
Reunión Técnica para la elaboración de un Plan de Acción para las aves migratorias de pastizales del sur de Sudamérica | 14.12.2010 | Paraguay | Southern South American Grassland Birds |
Virtual Meeting on Monitoring the Action Plan of the MOU on the Conservation of the Grassland Birds of the South of South America and its Habitats | 01.09.2020 | Brazil | Southern South American Grassland Birds |
Project | Start date | End date | Implementing Agency | Status | Region |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Threatened migratory grassland birds in Argentina: A preliminary approach to habitat use at local and landscape scales | Aves Argentinas / Asociación Ornitológica del Plata | Completed | South & Central America & The Caribbean |
Publication | Publisher | Type | Published Date |
---|---|---|---|
CMS Family Album | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 08 2011 |
CMS Family Guide | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 09 2015 |
CMS Family Guide | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 09 2015 |
Convention on Migratory Species - Brochure | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 2008 |
CMS Family Guide | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 09 2015 |
CMS Family Guide | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 09 2015 |
Living Planet: Connected Planet - Preventing the End of the World´s Wildlife Migrations through Ecological Networks | UNEP, GRID-Arendal. | Leaflets & Brochures |
Document Number | Title | Publish date | CMS Instrument |
---|---|---|---|
2018_Action Plan for the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and their Habitats | 01.10.2018 | CMS, Southern South American Grassland Birds | |
Outdated - 2010 Action Plan for the Conservation of Southern South American Migratory Grassland Bird Species and Their Habitats | 03.09.2018 | Southern South American Grassland Birds | |
Plan de Acción para conservación de especies de aves migratorias de pastizales del sur de Sudamérica y de sus hábitats | 29.12.2020 | Southern South American Grassland Birds |