As part of the implementation of the “Action Plan for the Conservation of Bird Species listed in Annex II to the SPA/BD Protocol” and in order to fill many gaps in the knowledge concerning coastal and pelagic birds in the Mediterranean, RAC/SPA has, for several years, supported the organisation of winter waterbirds census in Libya in close collaboration with the Environment General Authority (EGA). Many other national and international organisations have participated in this activity.

This field work has allowed the gathering of valuable data that has formed the basis for developing the “Atlas of wintering Waterbirds of  Libya”.

RAC/SPA have had the pleasure of contributing to the setting up of a team of national and international ornithologists, who have shown great enthusiasm and passion in working together in Libya.

RAC/SPA should like to take this opportunity to congratulate this team, which has worked so hard and thank all the national and international organisations, who have helped in the fieldwork and/or for the preparation of this Atlas, particularly the Environment General Authority (EGA, Libya), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), Wetlands International (WI), the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA, Italy), the National Office for Hunting and Wildlife (ONCFS, France), Vogelbescherming Netherlands (VBN), Tour du Valat Biological Station (TDV, France) and the “Conservatoire du Littoral” (France).

This Atlas has been presented during the side-event programme of May the 14^th 2012 at the 5^th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (La Rochelle, France).

For any further information: lobna.bennakhla@rac-spa.org