© EAAFP
On 17th December 2021, the Environment Bureau of Incheon Metropolitan Government and the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region co-hosted the second virtual “2021 Incheon – Hong Kong International East Asian – Australasian Flyway Black-faced Spoonbill Conservation Cooperation Forum”, with the EAAFP Secretariat and EAAFP Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group as co-organizers. The Forum was an action under the Sister Site Agreement between Incheon Metropolitan City, Ro Korea, and Hong Kong S.A.R., the People’s Republic of China, signed in 2019. With the purpose to enhance the cooperation of conservation for internationally endangered Black-faced Spoonbill (BFS) in the EAAF, representatives from Incheon, Ro Korea and Hong Kong S.A.R. shared the outputs of 2021 relevant activities, reported the results of Black-faced Spoonbill monitoring and study on their habitats and winter census, and the current works for BFS in Incheon, Ro Korea, and Hong Kong. Over 80 participants, including government officials, local NGOs, experts, and researchers from Ro Korea, Hong Kong and beyond, joined the Forum.
Opening remarks by Mr. Kin Fung Chan, Simon, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region © EAAFP
The Forum was arranged with three main pillars: Presentation session, Reporting session, and Discussion session. In the opening remarks, Ms. Song, Hyun-Ae, Director of Environment and Climate Policy Division of Environment Bureau, Incheon Metropolitan City Government, acknowledged the effort to continue this forum regardless of the ongoing pandemic situation and to dedicate to conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill through collaborative projects. Mr. Kin Fung Chan, Simon, Assistant Director of AFCD of Hong Kong S.A.R., showed his appreciation to this forum with eagerness to learn more from the Korean side. The Hong Kong Government recently announced the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy initiative, including the resumption of private land with high conservation value in Deep Bay for sustainable development to protect the migratory waterbirds in Hong Kong. Mr. Doug Watkins, Chief Executive of EAAFP Secretariat, expressed that this forum and activities of the two sites provided an outstanding model for other Flyway Network Sites.
After the opening remarks, Ms. Hyeseon Do, Programme Officer of EAAFP Secretariat moderated the presentation session. Mr. Dol Ho Kim, Deputy Director of Natural Environment Bureau, Incheon Metropolitan City Government, presented 2021 Incheon Black-faced Spoonbill and Waterbirds Conservation Activities. He highlighted the progress in awareness-raising and capacity-building program that has been conducted in BFS nature school along the Namdong reservoir since its opening in March 2021.
Presentation by Mr. Yamme Leung, from WWF – Hong Kong © EAAFP
Ms. Wai-yan So, Wetland and Fauna Conservation Officer of AFCD of Hong Kong S.A.R. presented Ramsar Site management and conservation of waterbirds in Hong Kong. She introduced the overall management strategy of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site.
Mr. Yamme Leung, Education Director of WWF- Hong Kong, presented work on the conservation of Black-faced Spoonbill at Mai Po Nature Reserve, managed by WWF-Hong Kong with the support from AFCD. He introduced the education and awareness-raising tool, Black-faced Spoonbilll Lolo’s Flyway Journey game pack, which was recently revised with the EAAFP Secretariat to let players experience the challenging migration journey of BFS.
A special presentation was followed by Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi, Senior Researcher of Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea, who presented the BFS status in DPR Korea. She brought new insight to the Korean and Hong Kong BFS experts regarding the monitoring of BFS in DPRK.
In the second session, both experts from Hong Kong and Ro Korea shared the reports on the status of BFS monitoring in RO Korea and in EAA Flyway. Mr. Yat-Tung Yu, Director of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society and Coordinator of EAAFP BFS Working Group, shared the 2021 BFS International Winter Census results. Dr. In–Ki Kwon, Team Manager of National Institute of Ecology of Korea, and Dr. Kisup Lee, Director of Waterbird Network Korea and Chair of EAAFP BFS Working Group, shared the results of 2021 national monitoring on BFS and studies on their habitats in the Ro Korea.
Before the discussion session, Ms. Yeonah Ku, Local Project Coordinator, and Ms. Vivian Fu, Communication Officer of the EAAFP Secretariat briefed the work by the Secretariat for facilitating the Sister Site Progeamme activities. After that, Ms. Fu moderated the discussion and audiences were actively engaged in the discussion on 2022 activities following the progress of 2021 activities. Participants showed interest in the CEPA activities and strengthening and expanding the sister site initiative.
Following suggestions were raised during the discussion:
1. Involve in other global conventions (Ramsar, UNFCCC, and CBD) in 2022 to advocate and share importance for migratory species
2. Further discussion is needed on how to support the Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group in support of the international and national network
3. Initiate CEPA activities which will facilitate exchange among local schools in the two sites
The presentations files are available [here].
