The idea is to inform managers and planners about the key biodiversity issues that apply to oil palm plantation development, and provide practical know-how to mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity in plantations.
The rationale for the approach of Biodiversity for Busy Managers was to use a combination of approaches (participatory workshops, videos, website resources, short papers, etc) to communicate to both senior and operational management of the plantation companies. The goal is that these efforts will begin to influence direct action on the ground. Continuous evaluation is carried out to determine the extent to which this happening.
As part of the effort to educate and communicate the knowledge, a series of Insight Guides are being created. The purpose of the Insight Guides is to focus on aspects of biodiversity of interest and importance to managers.
The first Biodiversity Insight Guide, entitled Migratory Birds in Plantations, comprises a short 4-page brochure and two pull-out posters.
Birds are an essential part of our environment. As consumers, they save agriculture and forestry sectors millions of dollars in pest control each year, they pollinate plants and disperse seeds. As producers, almost half of all bird species (46%) have been recorded as used by humans for one reason or another. Birds are still important indicators of the health of our environment today.
The Insight Guide on migratory birds give an overview of the why birds migrate, their amazing journey across continents and kind of birds to look out for at different times of the year. In the plantation context, the guide also explains benefits of birds in plantation and ways planters can encourage the breeding and hosting of new arrivals.