Optics for Africa
You can support wetland education in west African bird migratory routes by donating your pre-loved binoculars or ‘scopes at a WWT Wetland Centre.
We have distributed one hundred donated optics to partner organisations in West Africa since Optics for Africa began in late 2019. They have sparked a love of migratory birds and a sense of empowerment in local communities visiting wetlands, and enabled more people to count birds and contribute to scientific knowledge.
Each year tens of millions of birds migrate between Europe and Africa along a globally important bird migration route known as the East Atlantic Flyway. Many species that use this route are declining in numbers, but we need to have reliable information on actual bird numbers, their feeding sites, and migration routes. That’s why we are working to inspire and develop whole new communities of citizen scientists on this flyway to provide us with feedback.
By donating any pre-loved optics to this cause, you can inspire another generation of nature lovers. Optics for Africa is being co-ordinated by Migratory Birds for People, an initiative WWT leads that works with wetland partners worldwide. Senegal-based Ibrahim Hama from partner organisation, Wetlands International West Africa said:
You can support Optics for Africa by donating any optical equipment you no longer use to staff at WWT Wetland Centre shops across the UK. We request that you donate only working equipment.
How to donate
You can support Optics for Africa by donating any optical equipment you no longer use to staff at WWT Wetland Centre shops across the UK. We request that you donate only working equipment.