Combining the forces of science and conservation to turn around the fortunes of shorebirds

At the start of the 21st century the majority of migratory wader (shorebird) populations are faced with serious threats. This commonly results from the continuous destruction of wetlands, their key habitat. Healthy wetlands are highly biodiverse and extremely vulnerable, and as functioning ecosystems particularly important for us humans for a sustained livelihood (artisanal fisheries, small-scale farming) and our well-being (effective water filtering and cleaning systems). In many parts of the world, wetlands have been seen as wastelands, or even as a source of threat (malaria). Many freshwater wetlands have been drained for agricultural use and mudflats have been reclaimed for settlement and urbanization. Wetlands are continuously squeezed by economic development and increasingly used for recreational activities, and their resources are, in general, notoriously overexploited.