Wetlands International has gathered the results of twenty years of waterbird monitoring in Asia in the new publication entitled Status of Waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987-2007. The results of the analysis in Status of Waterbirds in Asia include information on waterbird numbers at a large variety of sites designated under various international and national instruments. The publication highlights the value of long term monitoring of waterbirds and wetlands, and the need for strengthening national networks of thousands of volunteers who collect the necessary data. [24/03/10]
Download Status of Waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987-2007
BirdLife International, supported by the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), has compiled International Action Plans for three highly threatened waterbirds in Asia: Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Chinese Crested Tern, and Black-faced Spoonbill. The action plans for the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) and Chinese Crested Tern (Sterna bernsteini) were launched at the fourth meeting of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership on 23 February 2010. [24/03/10]
Download CMS Species Action Plans
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was initiated in 2006 and is coordinated by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). It is an annual global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. This year’s theme is “Save migratory birds in crisis – every species counts!” The event is closely linked to the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) declared by the United Nations for 2010. The East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership has recently become a Partner of WMBD. [24/03/10]
Go to the World Migratory Bird Day 2010 Website
The Fourth Meeting of Partners (MOP4) of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway Partnership was held in Songdo, Republic of Korea, 23-24 February 2010. Seventy-four delegates including Partners and Potential Partners from eleven governments, two intergovernmental organizations, six international NGOs and several Korean provincial governments and NGOs participated in the meeting. A full Report (Minutes) of the Meeting including discussions, actions and other decisions agreed by the Partners will be circulated to all Partners and MoP4 participants as soon as possible. [02/03/10]
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) became the 21st Partner of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway Partnership on 23 Feb 2010 which coincided with the opening day of the 4th Meeting of Partners. Partners warmly welcomed Dr. Baz Hughes who represented WWT at MOP4. [02/03/10]
The latest addition to the network of important sites for migratory waterbirds (the Flyway Site Network), Kejo-numa in Japan, was celebrated at a ceremony in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan on 14 February 2010. Kejo-numa is Japan’s 28th Network site and comprises a system of water storage wetland and rice paddy fields. It meets Network criteria for five Anatidae species, with high numbers of wintering White-fronted Goose and Thick-billed Bean Goose and it supports threatened waterbird species. Local community groups are actively involved in the conservation and management of Kejo-numa and nearby important sites. [18/02/10]
The Fourth Meeting of Partners of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) is scheduled for Tuesday 23 February and Wednesday 24 February 2010. The meeting will be held in Songdo, Incheon City, Republic of Korea and arrangements will be handled by the EAAFP Secretariat team. [14/01/10]
Congratulations to Dr JEONG Yeon-Man, Director-General, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea on his appointment as Chairman of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. [October 2009]
One of the first roles of the EAAF Partnership Chairman has been the appointment of the Chief Executive of the Secretariat.
The position of Chief Executive of the EAAF Partnership Secretariat was appointed on 19 October 2009 by the EAAF Partnership Chairman, Dr Jeong.
Mr Roger Jaensch, formerly with Wetlands International – Oceania, will formally take office on 1 November 2009, at the Partnership Secretariat office in Incheon, Republic of Korea. [19/10/09]
The Chairman of the EAAF Partnership has suggested that the next MoP (scheduled for late November or early December) should be held in the new year to allow for the newly appointed office bearers to settle in their new roles and prepare for the next MoP. [19/10/09]
The Chairman of the East Asian-Australasian Partnership, on behalf of the Partners, accepted a generous offer by the Republic of Korea to take over the hosting of the Partnership Secretariat from the interim Secretariat in Australia.
In order to effect a smooth transition of the Secretariat from Australia to the Republic of Korea a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to be developed by the Partnership Management Committee and endorsed by all Partners by about mid March 2009. This is to enable the Republic of Korea sufficient time to appoint an Executive Secretary and other necessary staff prior to 1 July 2009, the proposed date at which the new Secretariat will be fully effective.
The current Chairman has called nominations for a new Chair and Vice Chair of the Partnership in line with an agreement at the third Meeting of Partners in November 2008. Nominations should be sent to Vicki Cronan - vicki.cronan@environment.gov.au - by 13 February, so that the new Chairs can be preferably appointed by the time the Secretariat MOU is agreed.
Two English language documents developed at the recent Third Meeting of Partners in the Republic of South Korea.
In early May the Partnership Chair (Australian Government) accepted the offer by Wetlands International - Oceania to host the Secretariat for the Flyway Partnership until the 3rd meeting of Partners. Wetlands International - Oceania has contracted Ms Maki Koyama to be the Secretariat working under the guidance of the Partnership Chair.
Ms Koyama has been involved in a number of activities relevant to the position. She was involved in organizing a meeting to develop the EAAF Partnership in 2004 at Seosan, Korea. She has also been involved in various CITES meetings in the 1990s either as a staff member of the CITES Secretariat or part of the delegation of the Japanese Government.
In the lead up to the next Meeting of Partners Ms Koyama will be in communication with Partners and assist in facilitating the work of people involved in this Flyway Partnership leading up to the next MoP.
The USA representative to the EAAF Partnership, Dr Kent Wohl has retired from US Fish & Wildlife Service. A replacement representative to the partnership has yet to be appointed.
In retiring as a participant in the EAAF Partnership a replacement for the Chairmanship of the Seabird Working Group will also need to be appointed.
Dr Lew Young is the newly appointed Senior Advisor for Asia-Oceania at the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. Many people will know Dr Young from his work at the WWF Sir Peter Scott Education Centre at Mai Po and from his many years of chairing the Shorebird Working Group. He will continue working closely with us but from different perspective.
Although he is likely to be very busy travelling we hope he will still have time to enjoy life in Switzerland and local delicacies, such as fondue and fillets de perch!
The Australian Government called for proposals to develop project concept materials for the Flyway Partnership. Wetlands International - China Office was appointed to coordinate. Peter Novak from WI-China is contacting interested Parties to assist with ideas. Please support Peter in this new and exciting venture!
Avifauna Research & Services in Australia (ARS) were awarded the contract to design and establish a website for the EAAF Partnership. ARS will also maintain the website in association with the Secretariat until the end of 2008.
Part of the website is a news page 'What's new' interesting news associated with the Partnership activities are welcome. Please send stories or reports to