Tweets,
One of my friends in British Columbia forwarded this message to me. I
thought it might be of interest to some of you.

> ----------
> From: Info CEC[SMTP:info at CCEMTL.ORG]
> Sent: February 17, 2000 6:09 AM
> To: CECNews
> Subject: CEC Identifies Continents Important Bird Areas
>
> Every year, millions of birds migrate across North America, stopping in
> a wide range of habitats along the way. Whether as a rest stop for a few
> hours, or a place to nest for a few months, these 'bird sites' are
> crucial to the successful migration, well-being and reproduction of
> hundreds of species of birds.
>
> Without these birds, crucial ecological processes, multi-billion dollar
> economic benefits, and an age-old source of human joy would be lost. Yet
> their survival is threatened across the continent, as development
> encroaches on their habitats and pollution renders them inhospitable. It
> is a problem shared by Canada, Mexico and the United States, and one
> they can only solve together.
>
> In order for the three countries to cooperate to protect habitat, a
> unified effort was needed to identify the most important bird area
> across North America. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
> was ideally suited to take up this task. The Montreal-based organization
> was established in 1994 to build cooperation among Canada, Mexico and
> the United States in addressing environmental issues of continental
> concern.
>
> The CEC brought together bird conservation specialists from each of the
> three countries to identify North American sites critical for the
> conservation of birds. The results have been published by the CEC in the
> book North American Important Bird Areas: A Directory of 150 Key
> Conservation Sites.
>
> "This information plays a critical role by providing a foundation for
> cooperation among wildlife agencies, environmental organizations and
> other important actors in conserving North America's bird populations'
> says Hans Herrmann, head of the biodiversity program at the CEC. "And
> this is really what the CEC does best, build the knowledge base and then
> bring the key players together to work out common solutions to shared
> problems."
>
> The directory is part of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative
> being coordinated by the CEC.
>
> Visit the CEC's web site to download an electronic copy of North
> American Important Bird Areas:
> <http://www.cec.org/english/resources/publications/ibas.cfm?format=2>
>
> Commission for Environmental Cooperation
> 393 rue Saint-Jacques, Ouest
> Bureau 200
> Montreal, Quebec, Canada
> H2Y 1N9
>
> Tel: (514) 350-4300
> Fax: (514) 350-4314

Bill Applegate
applgate at whidbey. net
Whidbey Island, WA