• Activities Undertaken to Protect Wetlands: The DPRK’s Commitment to Conservation Efforts in the East Asia-Australasian Flyway

    The following article was provided by Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea and written by Dr. Ri Chung Song, Biodiversity Institute under the State Academy of Sciences, Democratic People’s…


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  • Updates of Avian Influenza Situation by FAO/EMPRES-AH (Dec 2023 – Mar 2024)

    The following article is based on a summary provided by Nick Lyons from the FAO Animal Production and Health division (NSAH). Minor revisions have been applied to the original article to align it with the guidelines established by the EAAFP. FAO/EMPRES-AH is constantly monitoring the avian influenza situation worldwide and compiles information from multiple national and international sources as well as peer-reviewed scientific articles. In close collaboration with country and regional offices, the implementation of avian influenza field surveillance projects, and networks of expertise like WOAH/FAO’s OFFLU (www.offlu.org) provide access to timely information on outbreaks, surveillance findings, and genetic similarities of circulating viruses or their virological features. This information is stored in the EMPRES Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i), a database that can be accessed online at https://empres-i.apps.fao.org/.  ©EMPRES-i During the period 3 December 2023 to 8 March 2024, three highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtypes (H5N1, H5N5 and H5N6) and five low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus subtypes (H5N3, H7N1, H7N6, H7N7 and H7N9) have been reported in East and South-East Asia. H5Nx HPAI viruses continue to circulate in Asia and are well established in certain areas of the region. During this period, China reported H5N1 HPAI in in seven wild birds that included Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) in a national park in Fujian Province in December 2023. Taiwan Province confirmed H5N1 HPAI infection in Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) in December and January, and in Grey Heron [Ardea cinerea] in February; they also reported 28 outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI in chicken, duck and goose farms and 2 detected at a slaughterhouse. H7N1, H7N6, H7N7 and H7N9 LPAI were also confirmed in environmental samples (Anatidae feces). Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) detected H5N1 HPAI in environmental samples collected in early December followed by confirmation in Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon, Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), and Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura). In the Republic of Korea, the major cause of HPAI outbreaks during this period was H5N6 HPAI virus, being detected from 25 poultry outbreaks in four provinces affecting domestic chickens (15) and ducks (10), with more than two thirds reported in North Jeolla Province; the virus was also reported in 12 samples from wild birds (mallard [Anas platyrhynchos], Mandarin Duck [Aix galericulata], Northern Shoveler [Spatula clypeata], Whooper Swan and the environment from five provinces. In addition, H5N1 HPAI was also reported in six farms (duck [4], chicken [2]) in three provinces, with one of these outbreaks being a mixed infection with H5N6; 8 samples were also reported from wild birds including Eurasian Wigeon and Whooper Swan. The last AI event was on 8 February. Moving further north, in Japan, the major cause of HPAI outbreaks during this period was H5N1 HPAI with outbreaks reported on nine chicken farms; 71 events were also detected in sick/dead wild birds over 19 prefectures with 41 percent of these events reported from Hokkaido[1]. Fewer cases were reported among Hooded Crane [Grus monacha] (4) and White-naped Crane [Grus vipio) (3) at the Izumi Wintering Habitat of Cranes (a Ramsar Site), compared to the previous wintering season when more than 1,000 cranes died over the same period. This reduction may be due to some level of immunity developed in previously affected birds.  Japan also reported 20 H5N5 HPAI detections in wild birds in Hokkaido and three other prefectures mostly in Large-billed Crow [Corvus macrorhynchos], and two H5N6 HPAI detections in a Peregrine Falcon and a chicken farm both on Kyusyu Island. In the Russian Federation, one H5N1 outbreak was reported in domestic poultry in Sakhalin Oblast in February 2024, and to the west, Kazakhstan reported an H5N1 case in a Mute Swan [Cygnus olor] in December 2023 on Mangyshlak Peninsula by the Caspian Sea. In Southeast Asia, Cambodia reported nine H5N1 HPAI outbreaks in village poultry in Battambang, Kandal, Kratié, Prey Veng and Siemreap provinces. Viet Nam confirmed H5N1 HPAI outbreaks in domestic birds in Bac Ninh, Long An, Ninh Binh and Tien Giang provinces and HPAI (subtype unknown) in Khanh Hoa Province, between 1 January and 23 February 2024. Indonesia also confirmed HPAI outbreaks in January 2024 in West Java and South Kalimantan provinces. The Philippines and India reported H5N1 HPAI outbreaks in domestic birds that had occurred in early 2023. In addition, China reported A(H5N6), A(H9N2) and A(H10N5) human infections in Sichuan (4) and Hong Kong SAR (1) with the case in the latter having recent travel history to Guangdong. Furthermore, Cambodia reported a total of five human infections with A(H5N1) virus during this period. Analysis showed that the two in Prey Veng and Siemreap provinces were caused by clade 2.3.2.1c of A(H5N1) virus, which is different from the H5N1 virus currently circulating worldwide (which is clade 2.3.4.4b). The results from the remining three A(H5N1) human cases in Kampot and Kratié provinces are pending. Highly pathogenic H5N1, H5N2, H5N5, H5N6, and H5N8 viruses have demonstrated the ability to spread via migratory waterbirds. We consider avian influenza activity to be the highest in the period from December to March, therefore reports of outbreaks in poultry or detections in wild birds are not expected to increase over the coming months in the region. However, recent confirmation of H5N1 in Cambodia and in the American side of Antarctica deserve closer attention and monitoring. The list of bird species affected by H5Nx HPAI globally is available HERE with the new species reported since 2021 highlighted in orange. [1] Species in which events were reported were: Carrion Crow [Corvus corone], crow [Corvus spp.], Dunlin [Calidris alpina), Eastern Buzzard [Buteo japonicas], Eurasian Wigeon, Hoodeed Crane [Grus monacha], Northern Goshawk [Accipiter gentilis], Peregrine Falcon [Falco peregrinus], Tufted Duck [Aythya fuligula], Ural Owl [Strix uralensis], White-naped Crane [Gris vipio], White-tailed Eagle [Haliaeetus albicilla] and Whooper Swan [Cygnus Cygnus].


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  • Newly Tagged Spoon-billed Sandpipers Orange K9 and A6 Provide Vital Insights into Migration Patterns

    The following article is provided by Sayam U. Chowdhury from the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force: © Alan Leitch (top),…


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  • Republic of the Philippines to host the 12th Meeting of Partners in November 2025

    Republic of the Philippines to host the 12th Meeting of Partners in November 2025 The Secretariat of the…


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  • In memory of Mr. Richard Hearn, Global Coordinator of Baer’s Pochard Task Force (1971–2024)

    Plenary lecture at the International Workshop on the conservation of Baer’s Pochard ©Prof. Ding Changqing It is with…


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  • Call for EAAFP WG/TF 2020 Small Grant Application

    The Small Grant Fund for EAAFP Working Groups and Task Forces was established to provide financial support to members to go towards…


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  • Farewell to Communication Assistant Haejin Park

    In the words of Ms. Haejin Park “I was a regular student majoring in Communication BA, who was also interested in sustainable development. As a Communication Assistant in EAAFP, I…


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  • The EAAFP Secretariat visit to 2019 SWS-Asia Chapter and KWS Joint Meeting in Suncheon, ROK

    Organizers: Society of Wetland Scientists – Asia Chapter, Suncheon City, Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA), and Korean Wetlands Society. 


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  • World Migratory Bird Day 2018- Bangladesh

    Event title:World Migratory Bird Day Event Organizer:Nature Conservation Society Participants: Nearly 1200. Most of them were school and college students & members of the local community Outcome:- Mass awareness for youth and local community for the conservation of wetlands and supported species, specifically migratory birds.- Motivation of policy makers, social and media personnel.- Conservation education program for school and college teachers. Summary:In Bangladesh World Migratory Bird Day 2018 was celebrated in a colorful way. The main event was conducted in Shunamgonj. On 10th May a colorful rally was organized by Nature Conservation Society with the help of local Forest Division followed by a seminar at Shaheed Abul Hossain Auditorium, Shunamgong. Near about thousand took part in that rally in which most of them were school and college children & haor community people. Representatives from District Administration, Police Department, NGOs, College and School, Co-management Council, Local Government, Forest Department, Fisheries Department, Environment Department and University teachers were also present as the resources person of that program. 03 presentations on Migratory Birds & Biodiversity of Wetlands were presented in the seminar. At the end of the seminar, a shot drama was presented by the Nature Conservation & Study Club of Jagannath University on the importance of migratory birds and wetland. The aim of this program at the migratory birds habitat site was to raise awareness and the get involvement of next generation of the local community towards conservation of migratory birds and its habitat. For more photographs, visit our Flickr album.


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  • Avian Influenza Update in East and Southeast Asia (January 2018)

    Sophie von Dobschuetz, FAO FAO/EMPRES-AH is constantly monitoring the avian influenza situation worldwide and compiles information from multiple national and international sources as well as…


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