Convention OMPO – OMPO Vilnius – Wetlands International

This program combining several European research institutes strengthens scientific cooperation between Wetlands International and OMPO within the scope of the EU New Flubird Project [1]. It gives OMPO an active role in the United Nations Environmental pilot project "Wings over Wetlands WOW" in which Lithuania participated with 11 other states of the African-Eurasian range.

Object: The program aims at objectively assessing the role of migratory birds in the spread of these viruses, a prerequisite for the establishment of a European early warning of health risk.

• Detailed GPS-based mapping of all areas holding important concentration of waterbirds in the Nemunas River Delta,
• Capture during spring and fall migration, hundreds of waterfowl and shorebirds on which will be collected biological samples (tracheal, cloacal and blood):
  • To evaluate the prevalence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses among migratory waterbird populations,
  • To ring these birds,
  • To better understand their migration patterns and their movements which have indisputably evolved in recent decades,
  • To better appreciate the risk of outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Europe, through the establishment of a European network of early warning risk assessment,
• Elaborate sustainable management measures of the natural ecosystems and sites of the Nemunas River Delta for the conservation of migratory birds.

Status: Action implemented in en 2009-2011

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[1] Developed by the European Commission following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Europe in late 2005-2006, Project New Flubird was assigned to a research consortium coordinated by the Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam.