Dr. Lew Young, the Chief Executive of the EAAFP, attended China-ASEAN Wildlife Conservation Training Workshop in Sichuan, China for government officials from the ASEAN countries with responsibility for wildlife conservation, and to give a presentation on the work of the EAAFP and in the ASEAN region in particular.

Meeting in progress ⓒEAAFP

The workshop was held from 18th to 23rd June 2018 and consisted of the following key sessions – Session 1: Wildlife Protection Policies, Laws and Regulations, Session2: Key Species and Habitat Protection. There were also field visits, such as to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve and to Yin Ping Village where the reserve is supporting the community to develop a successful eco-tourism programme to support the livelihood of the local people.

Tanjiahe ⓒEAAFP

The training course involved 20 participants from the ASEAN countries, seven invited speakers as well as representatives from Asian-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The EAAFP presentation introduces the EAAFP, its implementation in China and ASEAN countries, and possibilities for future cooperation between China and ASEAN on migratory waterbirds and wetlands. Though all participants from the ASEAN mainly focused on large mammals, the control of illegal hunting and trade, and were not directly involved in EAAFP’s implementation, the presentation was useful for them as well as to the staff from the APFNet and IFAW.