The Working Group originated in July 1997 as the North East Asian Crane Site Network to oversee the implementation of the North East Asian Crane Site Network Action Plan of the Asia Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy. In 2000 conservation issues related to Oriental and Black Storks were included but the Working Group and Network but retained its name for the sake of continuity and for the same reason is maintained as a working group of the EAAF.
The goal of the group is to encourage international cooperation on conservation of cranes and storks and their wetland habitats to ensure the long-term survival of all crane and stork species. This will be done through the establishment of a cooperating unit of globally important sites and a network of conservationists under the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership.
Grus japonensis Red-crowned Crane
Grus leucogeranus Siberian Crane
Grus vipio White-naped Crane
Grus monacha Hooded Crane
Grus grus Eurasian Crane
Grus nigricollis Black-necked Crane
Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane
Anthropoides virgo Demoiselle Crane
Ciconia boyciana Oriental Stork
Ciconia nigra Black Stork
Conservation of the eastern subspecies of Great Bustard Otis tarda dybowskii sharing the habitat with crane species will be included whenever the Working Group thinks feasible and appropriate.
Geographic scope includes the six countries in North East Asia: East Russian Federation, Mongolia, People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, and Japan. (Projects on Black-necked Cranes might involve other countries neighboring China).
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