“Birds and Waste: The Ultimate Solution “webinar

Birdlife- Amman

 Waste management is becoming a major problem along the Rift Valley - Red Sea Flyway (RVRSF) as human populations rise, and industrialisation increases. Waste management sites provide a predictable food source for birds. Nevertheless, the improper management of waste has the potential to cause serious impacts on the environment and biodiversity.

Therefore, Birdlife and the Migratory Soaring Birds (MSBs) Project, funded by GEF and coordinated by UNPD, organized a webinar entitled “Birds and Waste: The Ultimate Solution “, on May 4^th, 2023, to shed lights on adequate management of waste disposal sites taking soaring birds’ conservation into account.

The MSB project aims to integrate consideration of soaring birds into the waste management sector in the region while supporting proper management that will ensure public health, social, economic, and ecological benefits.

The impacts of the management of different types of waste (domestic and hazardous solid wastes, sewage, and slaughterhouse) on birds was summarized by Ibrahim Alhasani, the Species and IBAs officer of the BirdLife International Middle East Office in Amman. He also presented the regional guidelines that was developed by the MSB Project to provide best practices guidelines for the conservation of MSBs in the waste management sector.

Case studied from Jordan, was presented by Mr. Tareq Qaneer, from the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) shared the experience of Al Akairer Landfill experience.

Another case study from Egypt was highlighted by Dr. Ahmed Gamal

Yehia/ HCWW, who talked about The collaboration between the MSB project and the Holding Company for Drinking Water and Wastewater

MSB project partners are actively working in their respective countries for the establishment of strategic partnerships with major actors of the waste management sector, to proposing best practices guidelines for waste disposal sites which could provide valuable feeding habitats for birds if they are properly managed.