Many of the world”s ports, harbours and waterways are located in, or are close to, sites such as estuaries and deltas that are important to birds. As such, birds often coexist with navigation infrastructure; this can lead to various potential conflicts with the operation of ports and waterways.
The management of birds and wildlife habitat within ports and along waterways is an important international issue, and is among many environmental interests that must be considered. A variety of national and international laws and regulations set out requirements for the protection of many birds and their habitats. These may be specific regulations or elements of wider environmental protection measures. Many port and waterways authorities lack specific guidance for making informed decisions regarding how best to address birds and bird habitat issues.
This Working Group report aims to assist those working in ports and waterways by helping to improve understanding of the legal and environmental context within which bird habitat management should take place. It provides a broad introduction on why certain types of habitat are important, and introduces various potentially useful environmental planning and management techniques. For the reader needing to resolve an existing or anticipated problem, it suggests a step-by-step procedure designed to assist in delivering effective management solutions. Finally, the report presents a series of case studies that demonstrate practical experience, enabling the reader to draw on and learn from international examples.
This publication was prepared with a number of possible readers in mind.
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For the undergraduate or postgraduate student studying ehgineering or another technical navigation related subject, the publication is intended as an introduction to bird habitats and their management.
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For those working in ports or for navigation authorities who have had little or no experience in dealing with environmental issues, and may be encountering questions related to bird habitat management for the first time, the publication is intended as a practical introductory guide which should assist in both understanding and resolving such issues.
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For environmental consultants and others working in larger ports and harbours and navigation authorities who already have wide experience with environmental issues, it is likely that the case study examples and associated points of contact will likely be of greatest interest.
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For all readers, it is hoped that this publication will help to share experiences, offer new ideas, and contribute to overall improvement in the way that bird habitats – whether in the vicinity ports and harbours or along navigable waterways – are considered, monitored, and managed.
