On December 7th 2019, the “International forum on migratory bird protection of Poyang lake” was co-organized by Science Unit of EAAFP with Jianxi Provincial government, as a part of the 1st Poyang Lake International Birdwatching Week, nearby Poyang Lake, one of very important Flyway Network Sites and Ramsar Sites in the Yangtze River basin, broadly in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway.
Starting with Mr. Doug Watkins’s opening speech, the forum started, more than 200 participates from China, Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, US, UK and Kenya attended the forum. Eight experts from FAO, Ramsar Secretariat, ICF, SEE, Mangrove Foundation as well as Dr. Nick Davidson and Mr. David Melville of EAAFP Technical Sub-Committee, were invited to give presentations under the theme of “great conservation and green development”, following with Dialogues on migratory waterbirds conservation, international wetland cities construction, and society involvement. Nanchang Declaration was released as an important outcome.
The Declaration recognizing that:
- Poyang Lake is a globally and nationally important wetland ecosystems in the Yangtze River basin, and is so recognized under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971).
- Within Poyang lake complex geographical, climatic and hydrological characteristics allows abundant wetland biodiversity to flourish and play an irreplaceable role in the ecological security of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River;
- Poyang Lake provides a full range of ecosystem services including climate regulation, flood control, drought prevention, purification of water quality, provision of fresh water, fisheries, shipping, tourism etc.;
- Poyang Lake is the most important migratory waterbirds habitat in the East Asia-Australasian flyway, supporting 350,000 wintering waterbirds, including more than 98% of the global population of Siberian cranes, more than 75% of the global population of Oriental Storks and more than 30,000 geese;
- Poyang Lake represents strong eco-cultural values represented by ancient Peng Li and Tengwang Pavillion, among others. It forms a valuable spiritual heritage of Jiangxi and China. The long interactive history of human and wetland relationships represents the values of ecological civilization;
- Within the national strategy of ecological civilization for China Yangtze River conservation represents an important opportunity for Poyang Lake to lead in wetland conservation and regional green development nationally and globally;
- Ecological monitoring and scientific research are the basis for wetland and migratory bird conservation;
- Education and popularization of wetland and migratory bird conservation, making full use of social resources, can help governments implement conservation and wise use of Poyang lake wetlands.
Some other sections also included: opening ceremony, an academic forum of “Jiangxi Mode” of Beautiful China, CCTV special coverage activities, international bird watching competition, rescued birds release, international photo competition and photo exhibition, provincial bird selection, Jiangxi top ten excellent wetlands and migratory bird protection volunteers /organizations selection, public natural education series and so on.
Prof. Lei Guangchun, Dean of the School of Nature Conservation at Beijing Forestry University, also advisor of Science Unit EAAFP Secretariat, delivering a speech
Mr. Doug Watkins, Chief Executive of EAAFP Secretariat, gave a welcoming speech
Dr. Nick Davidson, Chair of EAAFP Technical Sub-Committee, spoke at the panel discussion on “The Migratory Birds Conservation and international Wetland City”
Mr. David Melville, Vice Chair of EAAFP Technical Sub-Committee, released the Nanchang Declaration
Team photo of EAAFP Secretariat
Download “Nanchang Declaration” [here].
