Wetlands International promotes the flyway approach to manage migratory waterbirds and their wetland habitats.  We support the establishment and management of networks of protected and well managed wetlands along flyways that benefit migratory waterbirds, other biodiversity and people that depend on them.

Wetlands International has been actively working with a wide range of partners from government, conventions, international organisations, local non-government organisations to local communities to develop and promote frameworks for the networks in the different flyways of the world, particularly the African-Eurasian, East Asian-Australasian and Central Asian Flyways.

Flyway definition

"A Flyway is the total area used by a (group of) species during its entire life cycle. The term can be used to describe such area for a single species (e.g. the flyway of the Black Tern), but also to indicate such area for all populations migrating in it (e.g. the African Eurasian Flyway), and of any geographic subunit of it (e.g. East Atlantic Flyway).

Government agencies, NGOs and conventions are increasingly recognising the value of the networks of nature areas along the flyways of waterbirds and are enhancing their support to them. To be effective, these networks need to be further developed and strengthened, by extending site coverage and by enhancing network activities."