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The Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea is a ‘Critically Endangered’ migratory shorebird. The species faces an array of threats in its non-breeding range, making conservation intervention essential. However, conservation efforts are reliant on identifying the species’ key stopover and wintering sites. Using Maximum Entropy models, we predicted Spoon-billed Sandpiper distribution across the non-breeding range, using data from recent field surveys and satellite tracking. Model outputs suggest only a limited number of stopover sites are suitable for migrating birds, with sites in the Yellow Sea and on the Jiangsu coast in China highlighted as particularly important. All the previously known core wintering sites were identified by the model including the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, Nan Thar Island and the Gulf of Mottama. In addition, the model highlighted sites subsequently found to be occupied, and pinpointed potential new sites meriting investigation, notably on Borneo and Sulawesi, and in parts of India and the Philippines. A comparison between the areas identified as most likely to be occupied and protected areas showed that very few locations are covered by conservation designations. Known sites must be managed for conservation as a priority, and potential new sites should be surveyed as soon as is feasible to assess occupancy status. Site protection should take place in concert with conservation interventions including habitat management, discouraging hunting, and fostering alternative livelihoods.

The spoon-billed sandpiper Calidris pygmaea, a migratory arctic-breeding shorebird, is one of the world’s rarest birds and its population has undergone a large decline in recent decades. We conducted surveys at its most important known wintering area in the Upper Gulf of Mottama in Myanmar to estimate recent (2009 – 2016) changes in its numbers there. The total number of small shorebirds present in the Upper Gulf was counted and the proportion of them that were spoon-billed sandpipers was estimated from sample scans. These two quantities were multiplied together to give the estimated number of spoon-billed sandpipers in each of four years. Total numbers of combined small shorebird species tripled from 21,000 to 63,000 between 2009 and 2016, coincident with efforts to reduce hunting pressure on waterbirds. However, the proportion of small shorebirds that were spoon-billed sandpipers declined and their estimated absolute numbers fell by about half from 244 to 112 individuals. It is probable that loss of intertidal habitat and shorebird hunting elsewhere on the migration route of the spoon-billed sandpipers wintering at Mottama is causing a continued decline, though this is occurring at a less rapid rate than that recorded from Arctic Russia before 2010. The number of spoon-billed sandpipers wintering on the Upper Gulf of Mottama remains the highest single-site total for this species from any known wintering site. Preventing any resurgence of illegal shorebird hunting and ensuring long-term protection of the intertidal feeding habitats and roost sites in the Gulf are high priorities if extinction of this species is to be averted.

Introduction and Objectives. The expansion of novel technologies and ICT solutions can serve for the improvement of population health when used appropriately. The main challenge is digital literacy among population, especially older persons. Older persons can benefit by using new technologies and ICT solutions in many aspects (monitor of heart rate, activity time, calories, create and maintain social networks). The SEFAC project supports the population health with specifically developed ICT solution for the improvement of lifestyles in order to reduce the burden of major chronic diseases and to increase the sustainability of health systems. Participants and Methods. The SEFAC project is developed for the improvement of lifestyles of citizens (+50) that are involved in 7-week program based on the mindfulness approach. The participants were given the opportunity to use SEFAC App on their smartphones or tablets. The main goal of the SEFAC App was to enable participants to use SEFAC knowledge even after the face to face workshops ended. Results. The SEFAC app is available in English, Dutch, Italian and Croatian and it is a part of the implementation phase in four pilot sites of the SEFAC project (Cornwall, Rotterdam, Treviso and Rijeka). The results of Rijeka pilot site implementation will be shown – creation of an user account, installing the App on the devices and showing features that SEFAC App offers (coaching and motivation, monitor nutrition and physical exercise, manage dietary/ physical activity goals, mindful bell, mindfulness practices) in order to prevent, delay, slow down or even reverse the progress of a chronic disease(s), in line with their personalized dietary and activity goals. Conclusion. The benefit that the SEFAC App offers is the possibility to empower users for pro-active self- health management making it an excellent tool for supporting and encouraging participants in a service of a healthy aging with novel technologies.

Introduction and objectives. Europe is facing an unstoppable epidemic of chronic non- communicable diseases. That burden represents a particular challenge for the national healthcare systems, regional governments, local stakeholders and policy makers. Lifestyle changes can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases so the SEFAC project introduces a novel approach to such changes in the community with engagement of social network of health and social care professionals as well as volunteers. The main objective of the SEFAC project (GA no. 738202) is encouragement of citizens in prevention and self – management of chronic non – communicable diseases. Participants and Methods. A total of 360 participants who are 50 years and older and are at risk of developing major chronic diseases or have a cardiovascular disease and/or type II diabetes mellitus attended the seven week workshop program in four European pilot sites: Cornwall, UK ; Rijeka, Croatia ; Rotterdam, The Netherlands ; and Treviso, Italy. Mindfulness based workshops aimed at improving health, promoting healthy habits and healthy lifestyle. By integrating mindfulness into the workshops, participants had the opportunity to learn new skills for improvement of self – efficacy, self – esteem and improve their ability to self – manage their health. The SEFAC program was supported by SEFAC App that was developed to improve the outcome of the workshops. Results. Diversity of the SEFAC project in implementation in four European cities will be shown as well as similarities. Involvement of volunteers and social/ health professionals by community alliances is shown to be valuable for the sustainability and visibility of the project. Conclusions. Community based approach as it is presented in the SEFAC project, is a challenge for every community, but taking into account all the cultural and traditional values, it is possible to implement SEFAC in every part of EU.