Abstract

 The Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea is one of the most threatened waders in the world. Its population declined dramatically in the decade to 2010, and without concerted conservation action it would now have been on the cusp of extinction. In 2010, conservation organisations from along the species’ migratory flyway, supported by organisations and individuals in the UK and elsewhere, joined forces to try to save it. In this paper, we describe the action taken and the challenges that remain. The work so far has made a substantial difference to the chances of survival of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, its intertidal habitats and other species suffering similar threats. It has also benefited the people who live alongside it. However, much more needs to be done and there are still gaps in our knowledge about what is required to save this flagship species.