Wildlife Without Borders-Global Program (WHMSI)

Although cultures vary across the thousands of miles comprising North and South America, countries within the western hemisphere are constantly connected by sea and air creatures alike as they trek their journeys across hundreds of miles of water and terrain. From the Arctic to Antarctica, migratory species are vital ecological and economic resources shared by the nations and inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere. They are sources of food, means of livelihood and recreation, and they have important biological, cultural, and economic values for society. Despite their great value, many migratory species are endangered in the Western Hemisphere due to overexploitation, water pollution, the alteration and destruction of their breeding and wintering habitats, illegal trade, use of pesticides and, more recently, climate change. Since migratory species do not recognize borders, the conservation of these species and their habitats and migration routes can only be achieved through joint efforts of the Western Hemispheres nations. No single local organization can take on the entire responsibility of ensuring the protection and conservation of these migratory species homes, homes-away-from-homes, and everything in between, wildlife agency directors and other senior officials created the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI) to facilitate international cooperation. WHMSI is a regular forum for the conservation of migratory wildlife in the hemisphere. This is a notice of intent to award a grant to The Organization of American States (OAS). This grant is being awarded without competition under 505 DM2(4), unique qualifications - The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based on a variety of demonstrable factors such as location; property ownership; voluntary support capacity; cost-sharing ability, if applicable; technical expertise; or other such unique qualifications. Competition for this award is not pratical because OAS is the depository for the western hemisphere convention as stated under current bylaws, and is the mechanism of implementation under which WHMSI operates. As a result, they are uniquely qualified to provide the strategic framework and management duties for WHMSI.