Conservation Action

What We Do & Why We Do It

We work with governments, conservation organisations, researchers, local communities, and international partners across Africa and Eurasia to translate scientific evidence into coordinated conservation action. By supporting the protection and effective management of internationally important sites, informing policy, and strengthening regional partnerships, we help conserve migratory birds throughout their annual lifecycle across the African-Eurasian Flyway.

How We Do It

Migratory birds cross international borders and depend on a network of habitats throughout their annual lifecycle. Conserving these species requires coordinated action between countries, organisations, and communities across the African-Eurasian Flyway. By translating scientific evidence into conservation action and contributing knowledge from the southern end of the flyway, we help protect critical sites, address threats throughout the annual cycle, and ensure that conservation efforts are coordinated where they will have the greatest impact:

Translate scientific evidence into practical conservation actions that benefit migratory birds across the flyway.

Support the protection and effective management of internationally important sites identified through research and monitoring.

Coordinate and contribute to regional flyway conservation initiatives and partnerships.

Inform conservation planning, policy development, and international agreements using the latest scientific evidence.

Build the capacity of governments, NGOs, researchers, and local communities to conserve migratory birds and their habitats.

Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing to ensure conservation efforts are coordinated across countries and throughout the birds’ annual migration cycle.

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Further Project Information

African-Eurasian Flyway

The African-Eurasian Flyway is a massive migration corridor that stretches from the Arctic tundra in the north to the wetlands of southern Africa. Traversing through Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, it is an “avian superhighway” used by over two billion migratory birds annually across more than 500 species that rely on wetlands, grasslands, and coastal habitats along the way to feed, rest, and breed. These same habitats also sustain local communities, providing clean water, grazing areas, and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

© BirdLife International

However, key sites along the flyway are under threat from habitat loss, illegal hunting, and climate change. Losing these places would have serious consequences for the birds that rely on them to rest, refuel, and breed.

BirdLife South Africa coordinates its flyway-wide conservation efforts within BirdLife International’s Flyway Programme.
East-Atlantic Flyway Initiative

The East Atlantic Flyway covers a vast area, spanning from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, and encompassing the coasts of Europe and west Africa. As with many habitats throughout the world, it is also a region that faces many threats, including habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and hunting.

Delineation of the East Atlantic Flyway

To counter these threats, and promote cooperative conservation efforts across regions, both national and international, the East Atlantic Flyway Initiative (EAFI) was launched in 2015. EAFI is a partnership between governments, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders aimed at conserving migratory birds along the EAF. Additionally, it’s supported by a range of organisations, including BirdLife International, Wetlands International, and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The initiative has identified several key priorities for action, including habitat conservation, research and monitoring, and public education and awareness.

One of the goals of the EAFI is to promote the creation of a network of protected areas along the flyway, to provide safe havens for migratory birds and their habitats. Without stopover sites to safely rest and feed, migratory birds might never reach their final destination, nor have the opportunity of making it back home. The EAFI also aims to promote sustainable development practices that are compatible with the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. By working collaboratively and using innovative conservation strategies, the EAFI aims to ensure the long-term survival and well-being of migratory birds along the EAF, benefiting both the birds themselves and the people who depend on them for ecosystem services and cultural heritage.

BirdLife South Africa’s work within the East Atlantic Flyway is funded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.