Written by Bena Smith, WWF Hong Kong

With support from both the Yellow Sea Ecoregion Taskforce and the Shorebird Working Group of the East Asian–Australian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), WWF-Hong Kong releases a Collaborative Work Programme for the conservation of East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) shorebirds, with a focus on the Yellow Sea Ecoregion. The Programme links to the work of Partners involved in the EAAFP.

The Programme puts in place a framework to achieve on the ground conservation action in the most important areas for migratory shorebirds in the EAAF. The action is to be implemented through ‘collaborative’ means whereby international organizations and local groups (including government agencies or local governments and coastal provincial/prefectural governments) work together in a specific geographic area of mutual interest. Due to the geographic importance of the Yellow Sea coastline for migratory shorebirds, and in light of the immense development pressure it faces, as a priority the Programme identified an initial set of five reference coastal sites around the Yellow Sea including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea coast for conservation action. The Programme also links to the major objectives and action items identified in the EAAFP Implementation Strategy (2012-2016), the China Coastal Wetland Conservation Blueprint Project, and the Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative.

To cater for broader needs of priority species across the EAAF, a range of other activities including improved monitoring of waterbirds and their habitats, migration research, awareness raising and key data analysis are promoted in the Programme.

The EAAFP Yellow Sea Ecoregion Taskforce and EAAFP Shorebird Working Group will provide mechanisms for reporting on programme activities.

“For the Yellow Sea Ecoregion Taskforce the Programme is an essential resource and support tool for managers, scientists and politicians. It will also provide EAAFP Partners, and other parties, a broader context for their activities to promote conservation of migratory waterbirds in the Yellow Sea Ecoregion,” Bruce McKinlay, Chair of the Yellow Sea Taskforce commented.

“This Programme identifies the priority action items for the conservation and sustainable development of the Yellow Sea – clearly one of the most important areas for migrating shorebirds traveling along the EAAF.  I encourage EAAF partners and others to work together to implement these actions,” said Rick Lanctot, Chair of the Shorebird Working Group.

• To find out more about the WWF-led shorebird conservation project, please click here.
• To download a copy of the Collaborative Work Programme, please click here.

If you would like further information please contact Bena Smith, Mai Po Centre Manager, WWF-Hong Kong: bsmith@wwf.org.hk

WWF-Hong Kong would like to thank the many EAAF shorebird enthusiasts, conservations and field surveyors who contributed to the project. You know who you are. Also, the Shorebird Working Group and Yellow Sea Ecoregion Taskforce of the EAAFP for their technical support and patience.