BirdLife and Audubon's conservation work gets Royal support

“Protecting threatened species is vitally important to developing a different relationship with our planet”, said HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at a recent event in Washington DC, United States. “Humanity needs to adopt a more humble attitude, aware that it needs other species to survive”.

The event was organised by BirdLife, Audubon (BirdLife in the US) and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and took place at the Washington DC Residence of H.E. Gilles Noghes - the Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the US. The evening was also attended by Bernard Fautrier and John B. Kelly – respectively CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and President of the Foundation’s US Chapter.

A major focus of the event was on the ratification of the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) by the US Congress. Last year Ex-President George W. Bush passed the treaty to the US Senate for approval. The Washington event created an opportunity to advance the agenda for the US Senate ratification of the ACAP treaty by the attendance of Dr Jane Lubchenco - Under Secretary of commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator - and Evan Bloom of the US State Department.

The conservation of seabirds, tropical forests and Globally Threatened species represent priority work areas for both BirdLife and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “BirdLife International is an exceptional environmental protection organisation”, announced HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. “It provides a campaigning vehicle in which everyone can play a valuable role. This spirit also drives my Foundation which is currently working on over eighty projects across all continents”.

The purpose of The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s is to protect the environment and to encourage sustainable development. One of the projects which the Foundation is currently supporting is the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme, and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco is the Species Champion for the Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita. “We look forward to a fruitful working relationship which will enable us to implement a range of highly effective initiatives”, added HSH.

During the evening BirdLife’s Chief Executive – Dr Marco Lambertini – illustrated the challenges we face in protecting seabirds, forests, migratory birds and species on the brink of extinction, and outlined exciting recent progress achieved by the BirdLife Partnership.

We’ve worked together to achieve drastic reductions in seabird bycatch through fisheries adoption of our simple, inexpensive and effective mitigation measures”, said Dr Lambertini. “The BirdLife Partnership is also undertaking several groundbreaking projects for the conservation and restoration of tropical forests like the successful pilot for long-term forest restoration in Indonesia, and has recently identified over 2,500 Important Bird Areas across the Americas that are crucial for the conservation of both Globally Threatened and migratory species”.

“Birds know no boundaries, and to protect them we need to follow their lead,” said John Flicker - Audubon president. “Audubon is honored to be the US Partner for BirdLife International, and grateful for the generous support and recognition our combined efforts have received this evening. It will help us to ensure that birds in all hemispheres and around the globe can thrive”.

Audubon is one of the oldest environmental charities in the world. It strives to conserve and restore natural ecosystems for the benefit of wildlife and people, and undertakes activities such as: promoting sound environmental policies; developing an IBA programme throughout the United States; connecting millions of people each year with nature through Audubon nature centres, and; engaging people in monitoring, assessing and protecting bird populations through initiatives such as the Christmas Bird Count.