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Aquatic Warblers on the Move

Aquatic Warblers on the Move

AWOM

Europe and Africa working together to safeguard wetlands

The Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), Europe’s rarest migratory songbird: in the last 100 years, its population suffered a catastrophic 95% decline. Every year, this long-distance migratory passerine bird flies more than 12.000 km from Eastern Europe to West Africa and back. During this journey, this tiny 10–14 gramme bird rests and feeds in low sedge marshes along the Atlantic coast. These specific wetlands were once common but are now fast disappearing due to drainage, river regulation and unsustainable farming practices.

Gathering 14 organisations from Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Senegal, “Aquatic Warblers on the Move” is the first multi-country LIFE project aiming to restore the Aquatic Warbler staging and wintering areas.

Through this five-year project, we will restore wetlands at 20 sites not only to create more habitat for this globally threatened species, but also to mitigate the impact of and adapt to climate change, and provide nature-based solutions to water retention, flood protection and wastewater management.

The scientific research conducted by the AWOM project will also establish the foundations for creating a climate-resilient flyway site network for the Aquatic Warbler. Alongside our sister project, “LIFE4AquaticWarbler“, which focuses on the breeding countries, we can protect the species throughout its entire flyway and boost its recovery.

By 2029, we aim to…

Demonstrate habitat restoration and management techniques at 19 Natura 2000 sites supporting staging of Aquatic Warblers in Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal.

Restore a staging and wintering area in the Senegal River Delta and create a community-based conservation area there.

Develop a blueprint for a climate-resilient flyway site network to guide further conservation efforts based on a better understanding of habitat requirements and connectivity between sites.

Promote the designation of new protected areas in Europe and Africa and integrate the habitat management requirements of the species into the national implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law and Common Agricultural Policy.