During the Doñana International Birdfair held from 1 to 4 May the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med) organized a Spanish-Moroccan workshop on ornithological tourism, in collaboration with the Moroccan Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification [High Commission for Waters and Forests and the Fight against Desertification] (HCEFLCD) and SEO/BirdLife.

The objective of this meeting was for participants to share their experiences of birdwatching tourism, and to implement economic development initiatives on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea.

This workshop had three main goals: to lay the foundations for a future birdwatching tourism fair in Morocco, to promote associative links to develop joint activities, and to make Moroccan bird life more widely known.

At the meeting, representatives of national institutions working on migratory birds and ornithological tourism from Morocco and Spain took part in fruitful discussions. As a result of this workshop, a meeting was also planned between the Moroccan authorities, represented by Mohamed Endichi, the Director of Nature Protection of the HCEFLCD, the Spanish authorities of the Regional Government of Andalusia, represented by Esperanza Perea, Director General of Natural Spaces and Civic Participation, and IUCN-Med, for the development of joint activities in this field.

Doñana International Birdfair was also the perfect occasion both to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the foundation of SEO/BirdLife and for amateur and professional ornithologists to enjoy a meeting in Doñana.

For further information, please contact: Antonio Troya