Species Use Database

Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus

Used for Food and feed in Kenya

A. Species

Scientific name: Tringa ochropus

Common name(s): Green Sandpiper

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Least Concern


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Kenya

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: Kenya


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2009

End Year: 2009


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species sourced from significantly modified habitat

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Hunting and/or Trapping of live terrestrial and aerial animals

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed

Motivation of use: Basic subsistence

Is this use legal or illegal?: not recorded


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species sourced from significantly modified habitat

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable

Details of assessment carried out: anecdotal evidence and personal opinion.

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The use of the target species has been assessed as ecologically unsustainable for the following reasons: High Mortality Rates: There is significant bird mortality due to poisoning with pesticides, particularly Furadan. Species such as the African Openbill have been heavily affected, with mass deaths recorded. Widespread Poisoning Practices: The local community, especially in areas like the Bunyala rice irrigation scheme, engages in deliberate poisoning of birds to protect crops and for consumption. This practice has been persistent despite awareness and intervention efforts. Lack of Effective Regulation: Although there are efforts from national bodies like the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Pesticide Control Products Board to regulate pesticide use, these have not been fully effective in curbing the widespread use of harmful pesticides. Ecological Impact: The poisoning not only affects targeted species but also has broader ecological consequences, impacting other wildlife and potentially disrupting local ecosystems.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable

Details of assessment carried out: The evidence from the report indicates that the high rate of bird poisoning driven by local demand for wild bird meat poses significant threats to bird populations and public health, suggesting an unsustainable economic practice

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: ,.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species


Record source

Information about the record source: grey_lit, own_res_data_knowledge, indig_local_knowledge and expert_knowledge

Date of publication/issue/production: 2010-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

Odino, M. (2011). Measuring the conservation threat to birds in Kenya from deliberate pesticide poisoning: a case study of suspected carbofuran poisoning using Furadan in Bunyala Rice Irrigation Scheme. Carbofuran and Wildlife Poisoning: Global Perspectives and Forensic Approaches., 53–70.

Date of record entry: 2024-07-12


Records from the same source material: