The Bingo Environmental Foundation of Lower Saxony has pledged its support for an international nature conservation project to protect meadow birds. This will strengthen the protection of migratory bird species that breed in Lower Saxony and winter in West Africa. The project is being implemented by an international consortium consisting of the Université Gaston Berger, the nature conservation organisation Nature-Communauté-Développement (NCD), the Senegalese National Park Authority, and the NLWKN within LIFE IP GrassBirdHabitats.
“With this commitment – supported by the Bingo Environmental Foundation – Lower Saxony is underlining its special responsibility as Germany's most important meadow bird state and sending a clear signal for globally minded nature conservation,” said Lower Saxony's Minister for the Environment Christian Meyer, commenting on the funding commitment.
The international efforts focus on building local expertise in the West African country, knowledge transfer in the field of water and ecosystem management, and close scientific monitoring. The effects of the measures planned for the period 2026 to 2028 can be directly tracked using satellite-based telemetry to monitor the birds' movements.
The central project location is the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary in northern Senegal. The sanctuary is one of the most important wetlands in West Africa – and a key area for global migratory bird conservation. The reason: the approximately 20,000-hectare sanctuary is one of the first resting places for migratory birds south of the Sahara. It is home to around 1.5 million birds and more than 400 species every year, including numerous meadow birds native to Germany. “The Djoudj therefore plays a crucial role in preserving biodiversity along the African-European migratory bird flyway,” emphasizes project coordinator Dr. Alain Maasri. Species such as the Black-tailed Godwit spend a large part of their lives in this area. “Changes in the ecological conditions in the Djoudj therefore have a direct impact on breeding populations in Lower Saxony as well,” says Maasri. The protection of the sanctuary is a central component of meadow bird conservation in Germany.
Implementation in Africa – direct impact in Europe
In addition to its importance for biodiversity, the Djoudj is also relevant for global climate protection. Wetlands regulate the water balance and increase climate resilience. At the same time, they are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. The project, which has now been awarded funding of around 42,000 euros by the Bingo Environmental Foundation, therefore combines nature conservation, climate protection, and sustainable development. “The protection of meadow birds does not end at national or continental borders. With this project, we can make a decisive contribution to securing the wintering habitats of our native species in the long term,” emphasizes Maasri.
