Southern South American Grassland Birds
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, while not a CMS Party, is a signatory to this agreement, emphasizing its commitment to the region’s ecological health.
Background
The grasslands of South Southern America are among the most extensive grassland ecosystems in the Neo-tropics, hosting a rich diversity of plant and animal species. These ecosystems provide critical ecosytem services such as supporting agriculture, livestock farming, and biodiversity, and they play a vital role in carbon storage and water regulation. Additionally, grasslands hold cultural value and contribute significantly to ecotourism.
Despite their importance, these grasslands face growing threats, including habitat loss, unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, pollution, and invasive species. Fragmentation of these ecosystems has particularly impacted migratory bird species, leading to population declines and localized extinctions.
The Southern South American Grassland Birds MOU addresses these urgent conservation needs by uniting regional governments and partners in cooperative efforts to protect migratory grassland birds and their habitats. Signatories are committed to sustainable land-use practices, habitat restoration, and raising awareness about the ecological and cultural significance of these ecosystems.
MOU Text and Annexes
The MOU text outlines the scope of the MOU as well as general conservation measures endeavoured by its Signatories. The following form part of the MOU text:
The Action Plan, included sets the following objectives:
Scope
The MOU focuses on the conservation of 11 priority bird species listed under CMS Appendices I and II. These species include the Strange-Tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora), Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis), Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis), Bearded Tachuri (Polystictus pectoralis pectoralis), Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea), Gray-and-Chestnut Seedeater/Rufous-rumped Seedeater (Sporophila hypochroma), Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris), Dark-throated Seedeater (Sporophila ruficollis), and Saffron-Cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus).
The Strange-Tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora), Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis), Chestnut Seedeater (Sporophila cinnamomea), Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris), and Saffron-Cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus) are at risk of extinction according the 2021 IUCN Red list .
Our Work
The Southern South American Grassland Birds MOU (SSAGB) is coordinated by Signatories through a collaborative mechanism, with support from the CMS Secretariat, ensuring harmonized conservation efforts across range states.
Signatories commit to measures such as:
The SSAGBMOU works with partners in both Signatory and non-Signatory Range States, as well as conservation organizations and local communities, to support activities that maintain the favorable conservation status of migratory grassland birds across Southern South America.
Explore more about the ongoing Core Activities and Projects being implemented to protect the grassland birds and their habitats in the region.
Key milestones meetings and outcomes
From 2010- 2024 three meetings (MOS1-MOS3) and a virtual meeting has been held and key outcomes and documents produced and endorsed by the Signatories to date are:
For more detailed outcomes, please refer to the respective pages for MOS1, MOS2, Virtual Meeting and MOS3.
Titre | Statut | 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 |
Website URL | http://www.cms.int/grassland-birds |
Other | Signed also by Co-operating Organizations: CMS Secretariat on 26 August 2007 |
Nom scientifique | Nom commun | 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 |
Project | Date de début | End date | Implementing Agency | Statut | 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 | Editeur | Type | Date de publication |
---|---|---|---|
CMS Family Album | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 08 2011 |
Living Planet: Connected Planet - Preventing the End of the World´s Wildlife Migrations through Ecological Networks | UNEP, GRID-Arendal. | Leaflets & Brochures | |
Convention on Migratory Species - Brochure | UNEP/CMS Secretariat | Leaflets & Brochures | 2008 |
Numéro du document | Titre | Publish date | Instrument de la CMS |
---|---|---|---|
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 | |
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 |