Conservation Of Migratory Species Research Articles

How Polycentric Governance Affects Nature Conservation in Practice: The Case of Two Coastal Protected Areas in Suriname

This article focuses on the interactions between multi-level decision-making centers – local, national, international – in migratory species conservation in Suriname. Such multi-level interactions are crucial for transboundary conservation practices, but they have been researched very little by the scientific community so far, and not on Suriname at all. Moreover, although multi-level decision-making may differ per situation, it always poses governance and management challenges. To understand these, two Suriname case studies are analyzed in-depth: migratory shorebirds in the Bigi Pan Multiple Use Management Area and marine turtles in the Galibi Nature Reserve. A polycentric governance framework is used as an analytical lens, while a qualitative case study methodology is applied. The results of the analysis show that polycentric structures for the conservation of migratory species are currently only moderately in place and heavily dependent on donor finance. Yet, such vertical interactions are crucial for building connections – particularly among international NGOs, national governments and local communities – to achieve effective and legitimate conservation outcomes, irrespective of the presence or absence of donors. This paper, therefore, draws the following three key lessons for polycentric conservation efforts in the global South: (1) structural funding and alternative sources of income to donor money are crucial for transboundary conservation, (2) effective cooperation will require robust institution-building for enduring collective action, particularly at the local level, and (3) decision-making centers at all levels should be truly committed to a social-ecological approach of conservation, since a sole focus on biodiversity will not lead to legitimate results.

Problematic issues of international legal regulation of the use, reproduction and protection of specially protected flora

The article is devoted to the study of some aspects of international legal regulation of the use, reproduction and protection of specially protected flora. Unfortunately, the expansion of the scope of international environmental law does not adequately reflect the state of the environment. The problems of climate change, the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer, deforestation, desertification, conservation of migratory species of animals, fish and birds, transboundary water and air pollution, natural disasters, preservation of biodiversity and the natural heritage of mankind, which directly affect flora, have now become global. Everyone in the world is interested in a high-quality environment, careful use of natural resources and fair distribution of income from natural resources. However, the current international environmental law is not a sufficiently perfect tool to address the problem of regulating the use, reproduction and protection of specially protected plant species. In particular, it is not properly systematised and codified. The author analyses that the problem identified in the article is not solved by the existing international legal acts of a general nature - the Stockholm Declaration on the Environment, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992), and the World Charter for Nature (1982). These documents are not legally binding and are not systemically important for international environmental law. Other international environmental legal acts are not universal. They were adopted at different times, by different actors, and contain many gaps. Often, the documents are declarative, contradictory and not based on the modern international legal doctrine of environmental law development.

Agreements for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific are better fit for addressing habitat loss than hunting.

A full-life cycle approach is a tenet of migratory species conservation, yet the degree to which this is achieved remains largely unassessed. This knowledge gap can be addressed using the concept of social-ecological fit, understood as the match between governance and ecological dimensions. Here, we assess the social-ecological fit for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific, focusing on habitat loss and hunting. We identify the governance architectures for addressing these two threats and then assess the coordinating capacity of each architecture, measure institutional coverage for each species across their range, and determine the degree of institutional connectivity along their migratory network. We find that social-ecological fit is higher for the governance of habitat designation than for hunting management, with implications for governance practice. Analyses of social-ecological fit thus provide critical insights on the potential effectiveness of governance and therefore are a useful first step for migratory species conservation.

Analysis of modern problems of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of environmental management and environmental safety

Aim. The problems of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of nature management and environmental safety are considered. Possible directions for the development of cooperation both at the interstate and interregional levels of border territories are presented. Purpose is to analyse the current state of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of environmental management and environmental safety. Material and Methods. The main results were obtained using a systematic approach through field geographical research, comparative historical and comparative typological analysis, etc. Materials regarding water resources, reservoirs and statistical indicators of the dynamics and structure of water use were used. Results. The main problems in the field of nature management and environmental safety of the two countries were identified. The prospects of interstate cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan at the interstate and regional levels on transboundary environmental problems and sustainable use of land and water resources, protection of wildlife are identified and substantiated. Based on a retrospective analysis of the experience of interaction between the two countries and possible prospects for cooperation, concepts and directions for the development of strategic partnership in field of cross‐border nature management and environmental safety of transboundary water bodies, and the conservation of migratory species of wildlife are proposed. Conclusions. The modern post–virgin space is confidently transforming into an agro‐export one – an analogue of the virgin one at a new technological and climatic stage with an export orientation in the face of new challenges. The further development of this space should be based on the optimisation of agriculture and water use, taking into account the preservation of natural diversity.

Physiological condition infers habitat choice in juvenile sockeye salmon.

The amount of time that juvenile salmon remain in an estuary varies among and within populations, with some individuals passing through their estuary in hours while others remain in the estuary for several months. Underlying differences in individual physiological condition, such as body size, stored energy and osmoregulatory function, could drive individual variation in the selection of estuary habitat. Here we investigated the role of variation in physiological condition on the selection of estuarine and ocean habitat by sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) smolts intercepted at the initiation of their 650-km downstream migration from Chilko Lake, Fraser River, British Columbia (BC). Behavioural salinity preference experiments were conducted on unfed smolts held in fresh water at three time intervals during their downstream migration period, representing the stage of migration at lake-exit, and the expected timing for estuary-entry and ocean-entry (0, 1 and 3 weeks after lake-exit, respectively). In general, salinity preference behaviour varied across the three time periods consistent with expected transition from river to estuary to ocean. Further, individual physiological condition did influence habitat choice. Smolt condition factor (K) and energy density were positively correlated with salinity preference behaviour in the estuary and ocean outmigration stages, but not at lake-exit. Our results suggest that smolt physiological condition upon reaching the estuary could influence migratory behaviour and habitat selection. This provides evidence on the temporally dependent interplay of physiology, behaviour and migration in wild juvenile Pacific salmon, with juvenile rearing conditions influencing smolt energetic status, which in turn influences habitat choice during downstream migration. The implication for the conservation of migratory species is that the relative importance of stopover habitats may vary as a function of initial condition.

Using community science to map western monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in spring.

Migratory animals follow seasonal cycles comprising linked phases often with different habitat requirements and demographic processes. Conservation of migratory species therefore must consider the full seasonal cycle to identify points limiting population viability. For western monarch butterflies, which have experienced significant declines, early spring is considered a critical period in the annual population cycle. However, records of western monarchs in early spring, when overall abundance is lowest, have historically been extremely limited. We used a community science initiative, the Western Monarch Mystery Challenge, to collect data on monarch distribution throughout the western United States between February 14th and April 22nd over 3 years. Using data from the Western Monarch Mystery Challenge and iNaturalist, we identified potential breeding habitat for western monarchs in early spring that spanned a large geographic area and several ecoregions. We observed monarchs in early spring that likely eclosed in the current year, suggesting that population expansion from overwintering sites reflects both movement and population growth. The number of records of western monarchs from early spring was higher during the Mystery Challenge (33.0/year) than earlier years (5.1/year). This study demonstrates the potential for and limitations of community science to increase our understanding of species at points in the life cycle when they are rare.

State‐dependent estuary stopover boosts juvenile salmon growth: Implications for marine survival

AbstractStopover habitats allow migratory animals to bolster energy stores prior to the resumption of migration, which can increase an individual's likelihood of survival. Carryover effects from prior habitats may mediate stopover behavior: evidence suggests that low‐condition migrants exhibit longer stopovers and attain more growth during stopover than high‐condition individuals. For Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), estuaries may be important stopover habitats during juvenile emigration from natal freshwaters to the ocean. Favorable foraging conditions in high‐productivity estuaries could boost growth, and body size at marine entry is generally positively correlated with survival to adulthood. However, the contribution of the estuarine life stage to individual fitness across the salmon life cycle remains poorly understood. Here, we show that body size at freshwater exit mediates estuary stopover behavior by juvenile coho salmon (O. kisutch) and that estuary growth can increase the probability of marine survival. We performed a multiyear mark–recapture study of juvenile coho salmon in the Koeye River and its estuary, located on the Central Coast of British Columbia. We found that stopover duration decreased with increasing body size: small juveniles spent more than three times longer in the estuary than their larger conspecifics. Mean annual estuary growth rates ranged from 0.58 to 0.95 mm/day, and the smallest juveniles grew by nearly 30% in fork length during estuary stopover. Consequently, each out‐migrating juvenile cohort entered the ocean larger and less variable in body size than it was at freshwater exit. Analysis of returning spawners from two juvenile cohorts (2017, 2018) indicated that larger individuals had higher ocean survival rates. Using a simplistic analytical extrapolation, we demonstrate that estuary stopover could increase marine survival: For median‐sized juveniles, growth achieved in the estuary was associated with 39.8% (34.0%–46.2%) higher survival for the 2017 cohort and 39.1% (31.6%–47.0%) higher survival for the 2018 cohort. These results, from a watershed unaltered by intensive logging or development, suggest that growth achieved during estuary stopover can mitigate freshwater carryover effects and buffer size‐selective survival in a changing ocean. More broadly, these findings highlight the importance of state‐dependent use of stopover habitats in the study of migration ecology and conservation of migratory species.

RETRACTED: Revisiting Indonesia's governance and conservation of cetaceans

Over the past few decades, Indonesia's marine conservation governance has been criticized. This article analyzes the overlaps and gaps in domestic law and policy regimes for cetaceans or marine mammal management and examines issues of institutional arrangements and legal frameworks related to cetacean conservation in Indonesia. The legal framework's progress on cetacean governance shows three distinct phases: 1975-1985 (species-focused governance approach), 1990-2009 (area-based approach), and 2010-present (broader marine governance approach). This study reveals that the main shortcoming of the legal framework is unclear mandates and overlapping jurisdictions. This study suggests several urgent policies that should be accommodated in the current legal regime to strengthen cetacean conservation. In addition, this research also recommends creating a collaboration mechanism between institutions and encouraging Indonesia to join as a full member of the International Whaling Commission and the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Convention to strengthen cetacean governance and conservation.

Incorporating multidimensional behavior into a risk management tool for a critically endangered and migratory species.

Conservation of migratory species exhibiting wide-ranging and multidimensional behaviors is challenged by management efforts that only utilize horizontal movements or produce static spatial-temporal products. For the deep-diving, critically endangered eastern Pacific leatherback turtle, tools that predict where turtles have high risks of fisheries interactions are urgently needed to prevent further population decline. We incorporated horizontal-vertical movement model results with spatial-temporal kernel density estimates and threat data (gear-specific fishing) to develop monthly maps of spatial risk. Specifically, we applied multistate hidden Markov models to a biotelemetry data set (n=28 leatherback tracks, 2004-2007). Tracks with dive information were used to characterize turtle behavior as belonging to 1 of 3 states (transiting, residential with mixed diving, and residential with deep diving). Recent fishing effort data from Global Fishing Watch were integrated with predicted behaviors and monthly space-use estimates to create maps of relative risk of turtle-fisheries interactions. Drifting (pelagic) longline fishing gear had the highest average monthly fishing effort in the study region, and risk indices showed this gear to also have the greatest potential for high-risk interactions with turtles in a residential, deep-diving behavioral state. Monthly relative risk surfaces for all gears and behaviors were added to South Pacific TurtleWatch (SPTW) (https://www.upwell.org/sptw), a dynamic management tool for this leatherback population. These modifications will refine SPTW's capability to provide important predictions of potential high-risk bycatch areas for turtles undertaking specific behaviors. Our results demonstrate how multidimensional movement data, spatial-temporal density estimates, and threat data can be used to create a unique conservation tool. These methods serve as a framework for incorporating behavior into similar tools for other aquatic, aerial, and terrestrial taxa with multidimensional movement behaviors.

Spatial-temporal shifting patterns and in situ conservation of spotted seal (Phoca largha) populations in the Yellow Sea ecoregion.

Understanding the habitat shifting pattern is a prerequisite for implementing in situ conservation of migratory species. Spotted seals (Phoca largha) inhabiting the Yellow Sea ecoregion (YSE) comprise a small population with independent genes and represent a charismatic flagship species in this region. However, this population has declined by 80% since the 1940s, and increased support from the countries around the YSE is urgently needed to address the potential local extinction risk. A time-series niche model and life-history weighted systematic conservation planning were designed on the basis of a satellite beacon tracking survey (2010-2020) of the YSE population. The results showed clustering and spreading shifting patterns during the breeding and migratory seasons, respectively. The closed-loop migration route formed in the YSE indicated that this population might be geographically isolated from populations in other breeding areas around the world. The conservation priority area (CPA), with an area of 19632 km2 (3.58% of the total YSE area), was the most effective response to the potential in situ risk. However, nearly 80% of the CPA was exposed outside the existing marine protected areas (MPAs). Future establishment of MPAs in China should strategically consider the conservation gap identified herein, and it is recommended for Korea's closed fishing season to be spatially set in the western Korean Peninsula from May to August. This study also exemplified that the lack of temporal information would lead to the dislocation of niche modeling for migratory species represented by spotted seals. Attention should be paid to protecting small and migratory populations in marine biodiversity conservation planning.

Developing bird friendly transmission power lines in Kenya

Background: Kenya's rich wildlife is an important natural resource and is vital to the country's economy. However, rapid infrastructure development in key wildlife areas has threatened the survival of numerous species including raptors. Policy: The growing distribution of electricity grids in Kenya poses a significant risk to raptors and populations of other large birds. This research aimed to review the policy gaps in Kenya’s National Energy Policy (2018) examining the strategies for developing bird friendly transmission power lines in Kenya, with a goal to reduce the negative impact on raptor populations and improve their conservation. The findings indicate a high overlap between the ecological niche of raptors with medium and high voltage transmission power lines, with indication of high-risk hotspots for electrocution and collisions. Recommendations: This policy brief therefore proposes the adoption of bird friendly power lines in new transmission infrastructure projects and retrofitting existing power lines with bird friendly devices. This can be achieved through strengthening the legal and regulatory frameworks in the National Energy Policy. This will help prioritize avian conservation in power lines infrastructural development projects including the development of specific policies and guidelines for the placement, orientation, and marking of power lines to reduce the risk of electrocution and collisions of raptor species. Conclusions: Kenya committed to protecting migratory bird species and their habitats by signing the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in 1999. However, the National Energy Policy of 2018 lacks guidelines for bird-friendly power lines. Addressing this requires collaboration from the government, power companies, research institutions, conservation groups, and local communities. A concerted effort involving public education, targeted funding for research, and stakeholder collaboration can help Kenya meet its conservation obligations and safeguard vital habitats for migratory birds.

Where, When, What, and Which? Using Characteristics of Migratory Species to Inform Conservation Policy Questions

Although many migratory species are of conservation concern, traditional conservation policies and economic analysis rarely address the unique characteristics of migratory species, limiting their impact. After a brief description of key attributes of migratory species, this paper explores how those features alter approaches to answering critical conservation policy questions: where, when, with what tools, and which migratory species to conserve? Because migratory species make movement decisions across space and time, migratory species conservation also considers the joint question of when and where to conserve. Policy analysis that considers the spatial–temporal actions of migratory species throughout their annual habitat and incorporates the use of near real-time information is of particular importance for migratory species conservation. Regression analysis of increasingly available spatial–temporal data about species movements could generate important insights about species responses to human-managed landscapes and provide inputs that simplify and empirically ground spatial–dynamic conservation policy analysis.

Предложения по законодательному решению проблем гибели птиц на воздушных линиях электропередачи в Казахстане

Предложения по законодательному решению проблем гибели птиц на воздушных линиях электропередачи в Казахстане

Evidence of likely foraging by pygmy blue whales in the Timor Trough during the late austral winter and early austral spring

Understanding the behavioural context of wildlife movement patterns is imperative to the conservation of migratory species like cetaceans. The traditional model of baleen whale migration entails uninterrupted journeys performed throughout extended periods of fasting, during which individuals sustain the enormous costs of travelling from the poles to the tropics only from energy reserves acquired prior to departure. However, this ‘feast and famine’ paradigm is being challenged by increasing observations of supplemental feeding events along whale migratory routes. In this context, identifying the location of migratory stopovers is key to managing cetacean populations, particularly in data-poor ecosystems subject to changing ocean conditions. We report on likely foraging activity by migrant pygmy blue whales Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda in the Timor Trough (ca. 9.5° S, 126° E), a deep-water habitat south of the species’ presumed breeding grounds. Using photo-identification and generalised additive modelling, we analysed visual sightings collected aboard seismic vessels operating off Timor-Leste in 2007-2008 and demonstrate that (1) whales engage in surface behaviours suggestive of active feeding, (2) some individuals remain within the region for more than 1 d, and (3) whale presence is significantly associated with predictably high chlorophyll a concentrations. Despite previous efforts to examine pygmy blue whale movements at low latitudes using long-term satellite telemetry, knowledge of the species’ behavioural ecology in the tropics remains limited. Our results lend support to previously untested hypotheses about the possible use of the Timor Trough as a foraging site by eastern Indian Ocean pygmy blue whales during the late austral winter and early austral spring.

An Adaptive Management Framework Concept for the Sustainable Use of the Saker Falcon

The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Globally Endangered. It breeds across continental middle latitudes, with its range spanning over 7,000 km from Central Europe to Western China, and 3,000 north to south. Most populations are migratory and a number of different routes have been confirmed by field observations and satellite tracking. One of the principal threats affecting its global population is unsustainable trapping/harvest on the breeding grounds and along the migration routes. The Saker Falcon is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which enables trade subject to the development of a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF). Under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the species is listed under Appendix I (with the exception of the Mongolian population which is listed in Appendix II), meaning that take is generally prohibited, except for the Mongolian population. The Saker Falcon Global Action Plan (SakerGAP) was adopted by CMS Parties in 2014 and a Saker Falcon Task Force (STF) was established to oversee implementation. One of the key aims of the STF is to develop an Adaptive Management Framework (AMF) that moves the current illegal, and presumably unsustainable trapping activity, into a system that is legal, controlled, and sustainable. Such a system will need to be carefully developed, implemented, and monitored, and conforms with requirements under CMS and CITES. To develop such a framework the STF established an Adaptive Management Framework Discussion Group (AMF DG) to conceptualize a modular AMF as a tool to assist the decision-making of stakeholders, especially international partners, and national authorities, on the sustainable use of the Saker Falcon. The objective is to design an international AMF which integrates nine modules: 1) global governance and data management, including effective sustainable use models and a sustainable, international quota scheme, 2) internationally harmonized policy and law-making that ensures sustainability, 3) reinforced law enforcement, 4) effective awareness raising, 5) effective monitoring and research schemes, 6) complementary ex situ conservation measures, 7) compensatory in situ conservation measures, 8) effective stakeholder engagement, cooperation, and networking to respond to the socio-economic and cultural drivers of Saker Falcon use, and 9) the involvement of rural communities in the conservation management of the Saker Falcon. Currently, a significant degree of uncertainty and speculation accompanies the population estimates for certain key Range States, especially in Asia. Therefore, while designing the AMF, the STF is seeking to find a careful balance between the benefits of an internationally coordinated sustainable use framework and the inherent risks of taking Saker Falcons from the wild in large numbers. According to the draft AMF, the legal harvest may conditionally be allowed in larger, stable, or increasing Saker Falcon populations in parts of its global range, only if legal, ecological, and socio-economic safeguards for sustainability are met and the origin of falcons is identifiable. Depleted or decreasing breeding populations may not currently be considered suitable for any harvest and are illegal as currently listed in CMS Appendix 1. However, the AMF must mitigate the illegal taking of wild falcons along the flyways and in wintering areas. This would require an international harmonization of alternative policies, and legal and wildlife management tools. As well as a concerted international data sharing to ensure that harvest that is assessed non-detrimental at the Range State level does not affect negatively the Saker Falcon populations of other Range States.

Introduction to the Symposium on Economics and Policy for Seasonal Migratory Species Conservation

Previous articleNext article No AccessEconomics and Policy for Migratory Species ConservationHeidi J. AlbersHeidi J. Albers*University of Wyoming (email: [email protected]) Search for more articles by this author Email the corresponding author at [email protected]PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Review of Environmental Economics and Policy Ahead of Print Published for the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists and the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Views: 26Total views on this site Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/723884 Views: 26Total views on this site HistoryPublished online February 21, 2023 © 2023 Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

The response of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species to light pollution

Light pollution became a major transboundary concern for the environment and biodiversity protection, especially with regard to species migration and spatial orientation. In view of the need for effective nature conservation, the international community has to adapt to the new challenges. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, or the Bonn Convention, as the main international framework for migratory species protection, has recently taken initial steps towards mitigation of light pollution adverse impacts. In order to understand the response to the new environmental problem at the international level, this article explores and briefly summarizes the response of the Bonn Convention framework on light pollution as a hazardous threat. The article also discusses the potential role of the Convention in the formation of an international regulatory framework on this matter.

Increasing the Effectiveness of the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention; the Convention) was adopted on 23 June 1979 and has a current membership of 133 parties. This article introduces the Convention and examines the measures and practices that have been taken under its auspices to seek to make the Convention more effective. This article also considers the factors that may directly or indirectly inhibit the efficient functioning of the Convention, especially the role of membership fees and voting practices.

Using ecosystem services to identify inequitable outcomes in migratory species conservation

AbstractBiodiversity conservation efforts have been criticized for generating inequitable socio‐economic outcomes. These equity challenges are largely analyzed as place‐based problems affecting local communities directly impacted by conservation programs. The conservation of migratory species extends this problem geographically since people in one place may benefit while those in another bear the costs of conservation. The spatial subsidies approach offers an effective tool for analyzing such relationships between places connected by migratory species. Designed to quantify ecosystem services provided and received in specific locations across a migratory species’ range—and the disparities between them—the spatial subsidies approach highlights three axes of inequity: between indigenous and settler colonial societies, between urban and rural populations, and between the Global North and Global South. Recognizing these relationships is critical to achieving two mutually reinforcing policy goals: avoiding inequitable conservation outcomes in efforts to conserve migratory species, and ensuring effective long‐term conservation of migratory species. In demonstrating how the spatial subsidies approach enables the identification and quantification of inequities involving three migratory species (northern pintail ducks, monarch butterflies, and Mexican free‐tailed bats), we argue that a spatial subsidies approach could apply to migratory species conservation efforts worldwide under the context of “payments for ecosystem services.”

Evaluating staging habitat quality to advance the conservation of a declining migratory shorebird, Red Knot Calidris canutus

Abstract Identifying where and when population ‘bottlenecks’ occur is critical to the conservation of migratory species, many of which are declining precipitously worldwide. Especially challenging is the evaluation of changes to staging sites. These sites are indispensable links in the migratory cycle but are typically used only briefly. We devised a field‐based approach to assess the quality and carrying capacity of a critical staging site in Nanpu, China, for the declining, migratory Red Knot (Calidris canutus rogersi & C. c. piersmai) during northward migration. The Nanpu tidal flat supports 50,000–100,000 Red Knots annually, and while there, the knots feed almost exclusively on the bivalve Potamocorbula laevis. We simultaneously monitored changes in the abundance of Red Knots and bivalves across this entire staging site in spring 2018. After taking into account potential competition with other shorebird species, we estimated that the Nanpu tidal flat was capable of supporting approximately 1.46–1.70 times the observed level of Red Knot usage of this site, and therefore is operating below, but close to, carrying capacity with respect to food resources for Red Knots. This result suggests that any further habitat loss or degradation at this site could harm the Red Knot population along the entire East Asian‐Australasian Flyway. Synthesis and applications. Quantitative monitoring and evaluation of habitat quality of staging sites are essential to successfully conserve declining migratory species. In particular, researchers and conservation practitioners should incorporate both population size and staging duration to more accurately assess the importance of different sites and to quantify how changes in staging habitat quality may translate into changes in the population sizes of migratory species at both local and global scales.