……objective science for conservation…….

The Pacific WildLife Foundation is a non-profit coastal and marine research and education society  that inspires an appreciation for objective scientific research and conservation of the ocean. We conduct original research, develop novel education programs, and inspire an appreciation for conservation of the ocean. 

Western Sandpiper Conservation

The Western Sandpiper is still abundant but threats come in the source of habitat loss on very important stopover points.

Hemisphere Reserve of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network

The Fraser River Estuary near Vancouver, British Columbia was officially declared a Hemisphere Reserve of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) in December 2004. The reserve includes the intertidal portions of Sturgeon Banks, Roberts Banks, the South Arm Marshes, and all of Boundary, Mud and Semiahmoo bays. 

The Fraser River Estuary Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve encompasses beaches and marshes that support over 50 species of shorebirds.

The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network’s mission is to conserve shorebird species and their habitats across the Americas through a network of key sites. Over 55 sites across the hemisphere are now included in the WHSRN network. The Fraser River Estuary exceeds the minimum Hemisphere Reserve criteria of at least 500,000 shorebirds annually or 30% of the species flyway population based on peak counts. Only 16 other Hemispheric Sites have been included in the Network.

Although WHSRN has no legal clout, by joining the network, the owners have recognized the international significance for shorebirds of their lands. The WHSRN program assists by:

·         Ensuring that the Network’s conservation actions are the effective and appropriate application of the best available information;

·         Implementing shorebird conservation action at Network sites throughout the Americas;

·         Creating and maintaining informed, involved, empowered and interconnected human communities at Network sites.

WHSRN is an international, collaborative project headquartered at the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences in Manomet, Massachusetts. It has partners that include over 250 organizations and agencies in seven countries. WHSRN works very closely with the Canadian Wildlife Service in Canada.