United States of America

United States Shorebird Conservation Plan (2000). Partners from state and federal agencies and non-government organisations from across the country pooled their resources and expertise to develop a conservation strategy for migratory shorebirds and the habitats upon which they depend. The plan provides a scientific framework to determine species, sites, and habitats that most urgently need conservation action. Eleven regional conservation plans were developed incorporating an assessment of conservation and research needs, and incorporating a comprehensive monitoring strategy for each region.
The main goals are:

• To ensure that adequate quantity and quality of shorebird habitat is maintained at the local level; and,
• To maintain or restore shorebird populations at the continental and hemispheric levels.

United Kingdom

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Britain's domestic legislation to implement the Birds Directive), the government has a duty to notify as a SSSI any land which in its opinion is of special interest for its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features. SSSIs are thus Britain's best sites for wildlife and geology. Various selection criteria exist.

The notification of an SSSI is made to owners and occupiers, the local planning authority and the Secretary of State, who may make representations or objections to the nature conservation agencies regarding the notification. Any representation or objection made must be considered by the nature conservation agencies before a decision is made by them to confirm the notification. Most SSSIs relate to land owned by private landowners and not by conservation organisations or the government.

A SSSI gives certain protection against damaging operations. Any potentially damaging operation must be authorised by the relevant government agency i.e., English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council Wales or Environment and Heritage Agency (Northern Ireland). A SSSI also confers a certain amount of planning protection, but in practice this is sometimes not sufficient to prevent development.

For more information on SSSI see: http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/

Australia

Although they are not agreements, two Australian documents propose the use of national criteria to identify important wetland sites:

• National Plan for Shorebird Conservation in Australia
• Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia

The National Plan for Shorebird Conservation uses shorebird count data to identify sites of significance for shorebirds.

For more information see: www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory/waterbirds/natplanshore.html

The Directory of Important Wetlands is an inventory of important wetland sites in Australia, compiled by the States and Territories and the Australian Government. It provides information about the different wetland types and the flora and fauna that are dependent on these wetlands.
For more information see: www.deh.gov.au/water/wetlands/database/index.html