The International Waterbird Census in Libya started on Thursday, 15 January 2026, as part of the internationally recognized program for monitoring migratory waterbirds in wetlands. The census follows standardized scientific methodologies applied worldwide.

IWC 2026 is implemented by the Libyan Society for Birds, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, the University of Tripoli, Bessida Society for the Protection of Farwa Island and Lagoon, the Libyan Organization for Conservation of Nature, Alhaya Organization for Protection of Wildlife and Marine Organisms, and the National Research Center for on Tropical and Transboundary Diseases. This national partnership reflects the importance of coordinated efforts in conserving biodiversity.

Field activities:

Field surveys began today in the Zuwara, with the participation of the Libyan Society for Birds, the Ministry of Environment, the University of Tripoli, the Bessida Society for the Protection of Farwa Island and Lagoon, and the National Research Center of Tropical and Transboundary Diseases.

At the same time, census activities were launched in the central region by the Libyan Organization for Conservation of Nature, in cooperation with the Misrata Environmental Affairs Office.

These efforts underscore Libya’s importance as a key stopover along migratory bird flyways and its role in contributing reliable scientific data that support the protection of migratory birds and the conservation of wetlands, ensuring the sustainability of natural resources for future generations.