Thursday 30 June 2022
3pm London / 9am Cayman
Online Webinar
Moderator / Opening Remarks:
Dr Tasha Ebanks Garcia Representative,
Cayman Islands Government Office, UK
Keynote Speech:
Sacha Dench
In Conversation:
Sangeeta Laudus
Patricia Bradley, MBE
Panel Discussion
The pivotal role that migratory birds play in the ecosystem and the importance of stopover habitats like the Cayman Islands for their survival.
Speakers:
Ian Redmond, OBE
Simone Williams
Cathy Childs
Closing Remarks:
Charlie Butt
Outro Video:
Bird Life in the Cayman Islands by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands
Birdsong is a natural wonder and simple pleasure and also nature’s alarm clock, with the dawn chorus signalling the start of the day. However, birds are the unsung heroes in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Around half of the UK’s bird species migrate each year, some taking short journeys, and others travelling thousands of miles across to Africa and the same is happening over in North America as they travel down towards the Caribbean and the Cayman Islands.
This special online webinar during London Climate Action Week 2022, featuring Ian Redmond OBE, renowned wildlife biologist and conservationist and Ambassador for the UN Convention on Migratory Species, and others, will celebrate and highlight the importance of bird migration to the global ecosystem. In particular the role birds play in ecological processes from which we all benefit, nutrient cycles, carbon sequestration and seed dispersal. It will also showcase the new Motus posts in the Cayman Islands which will enable better understanding of these flight paths and support conservation efforts.
The Cayman Islands are part of the UK Overseas Territories which together are home to 94 per cent of British endemic species and 90 per cent of the biodiversity, for which the UK Government has responsibility. And while the Cayman Islands is well known internationally as a leading international finance centre, many may not know of its history of practising responsible management and sustainable use of the natural environment and natural resources through environmental protection and conservation, wise use, scientific research, and public education.
