Far Eastern Curlew Task Force

The Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis is endemic to the East Asian – Australasian Flyway, is the largest migratory shorebird species in the world and is listed Endangered under IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2015).

Recent evidence suggests that the Far Eastern Curlew has undergone a significant decline over the past 20 years. Drivers of this decline are likely due to habitat loss, human disturbance and possibly hunting. Successful conservation of this species requires urgent collaborative action across its full geographical range, including at breeding locations, at important migration stop-over sites as well as in non-breeding areas.

At the Eighth Meeting of Partners (MOP8) of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership in Kushiro, Japan, Australia proposed the formation of a Far Eastern Curlew Task Force. Australia sought the commitment from all Partners, including all relevant government Partners, to cooperatively develop an International Far Eastern Curlew Action Plan. The Far Eastern Curlew Task Force was officially endorsed by the Partnership in January 2015.

Goal:

To restore the Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis to a favourable conservation status and remove it from the threatened categories on the IUCN Red List.

Role:

The role of the EAAFP Far Eastern Curlew Task Force will be to:

  • Coordinate the development of the International Far Eastern Curlew Action Plan;
  • Consult and support range states on identifying specific threats and actions to support the survival of Far Eastern Curlew;
  • Encourage and support range states on the implementation of the Action Plan.

Task Force Chair:
Dr. Mark Carey
Assistant Director
Biodiversity Conservation Division, Protected Species and Communities Branch, Migratory Species Section
Department of the Environment and Energy
Australian Government
TEL: +61 (0)2 6274 1873
Email: mark.carey@dcceew.gov.au

Bio: Mark obtained his PhD at La Trobe University, Australia in 2011 where he examined the effects of investigator disturbance on the reproductive success of Short-tailed Shearwaters. He joined the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment in 2012 where he works on migratory species policy. Since joining the Department, Mark has had exposure to a wide range of international environmental agreements including Ramsar, CMS and Australia’s three migratory bird treaties with Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

Task Force Coordinator: (Vacant)

Task Force Documents:

Relevant Materials:

More information about the Far Eastern Curlew

Far Eastern Curlew Range States (EAAFP Partners indicated by *)
Australia*, Bangladesh*, Brunei, China*, Fiji, Guam (to USA*), Indonesia*, Japan*, Malaysia*, Micronesia, Mongolia*, Myanmar*, New Zealand*, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Northern Mariana Islands (to USA*), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines*, Republic of Korea*, Russian Federation*, Singapore*, Thailand*, Timor–Leste, Vietnam*.

Relevant news and articles

Click here for more information about the Far Eastern Curlew.

News about Far Eastern Curlew in EAAF

Funding Boost for Flyway Activities: Australian Government’s Support and Priorities

Republic of Korea: Yeongjong Tidal Flat Bird Monitoring Reveals High Conservation Value

Summary of interim results of Shorebird Hunting Impact Assessment Project: northern part of EAAF in North-East of Russia (2019-2021)

The search for Far Eastern Curlews in the Philippines

2022 World Migratory Bird Day Celebration in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Envisioning Roadmap of the Gochang Tidal Flat World Heritage Site management

The irreplaceable habitat of Australia’s Moreton Bay to migratory watebirds, in particular to the Endangered Far Eastern Curlew

Seocheon City celebrated Getbol World Heritage Inscription

World Migratory Bird Day 2021 Poster for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

New EAAFP key species factsheet