Shorebird Conservation Project

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THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO A SINGLE-SOURCE AND THERE IS NO FULL ANNOUNCEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NOTICE. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to award a grant agreement to the National Audubon Society to conduct a site assessment of shrimp farming and related threats and opportunities for shorebirds and develop a site-based conservation plan for the Bay of Parita, Panamá. This will include development, in cooperation with other partners and producer stakeholders, an effective outreach strategy and communications tools to implement best management practices for shrimp production and shorebirds throughout the region. This assessment will provide a basis for region-wide collaboration with industry and conservation partners to advance shorebird conservation through implementation of best management practices at shrimp farms. The National Audubon Society was selected to receive this award based on unique qualifications associated with a decade of work with Panama Audubon to promote shorebird conservation, primarily in the Bay of Panama and are now working together to expand their successful program into the Bay of Parita. This collaboration among National Audubon, Audubon Panamá, and shrimp producer groups in Panamá, aligns with Secretarial Priority #1: Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt by using the best science to identify best practices for sustainable management of land and water resources. In this case, by developing practices for sustainable artisanal shrimp production and salt production that also benefit migrant, wintering and breeding shorebirds. Adopting best management practices at a regional and even hemispheric scale could provide a population-level benefit for migratory shorebirds. Working with Audubon and their producer network also fosters relationships with conservation organizations that that advocate for a balanced management approach, which also aligns with Secretarial Priority #3: Restoring trust with our local communities. Building partnerships with private landowners and industry groups is a key action of the Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Strategy, of which National Audubon played a key role in its development. Funding for this project is provided under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a-754; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C. 661-667(e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 2901-2911; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 709a, and the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017.

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