The RSPB’s work internationally
Birds don’t recognise international borders, so neither should we! We work to save nature all around the world.
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From the tropical rainforests of West Africa to the high seas of the Pacific, the RSPB works with partners across the world to protect birds and other wildlife, and the habitats they depend on. Our international conservation works is incredibly varied. We work with local communities in the Caribbean, university students in Senegal, and negotiators at global summits – to name three.
Why do we work internationally?
Birds and other wildlife don’t do borders. To conserve and protect them we must work beyond the shores of the UK. In addition, the UK Government has a responsibility to support wildlife conservation in the UK’s 14 Overseas Territories (countries under which the UK government has jurisdiction) which are home to a wealth of incredible wildlife. For example, did you know that the country with the most penguins is, technically, the UK? We support partners in these territories to champion and protect their wildlife.
How do we work internationally?
That’s where our network of BirdLife partners comes in. This is a family of conservation organisations throughout the world. The RSPB is the BirdLife Partner in the UK. BirdLife Partners carry out and promote wildlife conservation work, all with a focus on protecting birds.
We work with country partners on the East Atlantic Flyway from Iceland to South Africa, in the UK Overseas Territories and in the marine environment where the bycatch of seabirds (when seabirds are accidentally caught in fishing gear) is greatest. Our aim is to work at landscape-scale where we can have an impact on restoring nature, improving livelihoods and reducing the effects of climate change. We support and enable in-country partners though assisting with capacity building and we share nature restoration techniques and policies that are most effective. Working with local people is key.
What do we focus on?
We have six core international programmes where we are work alongside local partners to give the greatest conservation impact. These six are listed below. In addition, we do other international work, such as presence at COPs and species-specific work that takes us from the mudflats of Korea, to the hills of Kenya.
Flyway conservation
The UK sits in a key position on the East Atlantic Flyway, a bird migration superhighway stretching from the Arctic to South Africa, used by millions of migratory birds every year. From the wetlands of Iceland to the wooded savannahs of Ghana, we’re working with our partners to protect and restore vital habitats for migratory birds.
Gola Rainforest
For over 30 years, we’ve supported the protection of the Gola Rainforest, a West African rainforest of global importance that spans the border of Liberia and Sierra Leone. This biodiversity hotspot is home to Pygmy Hippos, Forest Elephants, Chimpanzees, Pangolins and over 330 species of birds.
UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs)
The UK Overseas Territories are territories which fall under the UK’s jurisdiction, and are home to a staggering 94% of our unique species. The UK Overseas Territories include Gibraltar, Bermude, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands. We campaign for an increase in the scale and quality of UK Government financial and technical support. This is needed to protect the special places where these vulnerable species live.
BirdLife International Marine Programme
Seabirds are in trouble, and have declined by at least 70% in the last 50 years. But the BirdLife International Marine Programme is working hard to change that – from working on board ships to prevent bird species from being accidentally caught in fishing great to ensuring the most important sites are protected for seabirds.
Hutan Harapan
Hutan Harapan is incredibly precious – it’s one of the last remaining fragments of lowland rainforest in Sumatra. It’s where critically-endangered species such as the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Elephant, Sunda Pangolin, Helmeted Hornbill and Storm’s Stork make their home.
We work with local communities to promote sustainable development in the area, whilst also opposing damaging activities such as coal and oil developments which would damage the forest.
Altyn Dala
Kazakhstan, in the heart of Central Asia between China and Russia, is home to the world’s largest and most intact steppe grasslands, which are dry grasslands found in Eurasian temperate climates.
Since 2005, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, co-founded by the RSPB, has been dedicated to protecting and restoring these precious habits. This includes recovering ancient species such as the Saiga Antelope.