Pronatura Noroeste wins the “Gary T. Myers” award for its outstanding work in bird conservation in Northwest Mexico since 1991.
Birds have engendered admiration and amazement in human beings since ancient times. They travel thousands of kilometers during their migrations and play an important part in the history of all cultures of the world.
One of the first naturalists in ancient Greece who observed and discussed the phenomenon of bird migration was Aristotle. More than 2,500 years have passed since then, and humans continue to observe birds to understand their behavior and the relationship between them, healthy ecosystems, and us. Today, thanks to technological advancements and networking, we share information to protect bird routes, ecosystems, and sites around the world.
A relevant forum that contributes to this in America is the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) Committee, comprised by government agencies, private organizations, academic institutions, and bird initiatives, which help partners across the continent achieve their shared bird conservation goals.
In 2007, NABCI and the Association of the Joint Venture Management Board (AJVMB) created “Conservation Awards” to recognize people or groups “who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments and/or leadership in furtherance of the principles of NABCI bird conservation”. The name of these awards changed in 2010 to “Gary T. Myers” due to Myers’s long career as a prominent conservationist, with the aim of recognizing others who – like him – take a comprehensive approach to bird conservation.
This vision of collaborative work motivated Jeni Duberstein, Sonoran Joint Venture Coordinator, to nominate Pronatura Noroeste for the 2020 “Gary T. Myers” award for their important role in bird and habitat conservation in Northwest Mexico; work they have conducted since 1991.
Pronatura Noroeste’s science-based approach combined with innovative fieldwork has created solid partnerships to protect priority bird habitat, promote the recovery of endangered species, and provide multi-level education about the importance of their conservation. Their work has led to the designation of the La Asamblea-San Francisquito Coastal Corridor as a Ramsar site and the designation of the Bahía de los Ángeles Biosphere Reserve in Baja California; marine protected area designations and private land conservation contracts totaling more than 300,000 hectares of critical habitat for bird conservation in Northwest Mexico.
Pronatura Noroeste supports coordinated local, regional, and international monitoring, bands multiple species of shorebirds in wintering habitats, works with teachers and environmental promoters in schools and communities, trains primary school teachers to include lessons focused on birds in curricula, and organizes multiple festivals that include training in birdwatching and arts experiences.
Their projects span the 15 most important wetlands for shorebird and aquatic bird migration along the Coast of the Mexican Pacific and they work for the conservation of rivers, lagoons, marshes, forests, and jungles that serve as areas of rest, feeding, and reproduction for millions of birds in the northwest of the country.
One ally who has been central to this research is Dr. Roberto Carmona, together with his team at the Bird Laboratory at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS). He has collaborated with the association for more than 20 years and currently is the Scientific Director of the Pronatura Noroeste Bird Conservation Program.
In recognition of the trajectory and collaborative work of donors, researchers, program directors, field technicians, students, and communities interested in ecosystem conservation, Pronatura Noroeste receives the 2020 “Gary T. Myers” award.
For the association, this award represents the recognition of its efforts made with love and passion for 29 years to benefit the conservation of priority flora, fauna, and ecosystems in Northwest Mexico to promote the development of society in harmony with nature.
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