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Second Training Workshop of Youth Think Tank Competition for EAA Flyway is about Local Community Engagement
2nd training Workshop of Youth Think Tank Competition for EAA Flyway - Understanding Nature-based Solutions and local community engagement in conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands During the 1st EAA Flyway Think Tank Competition Workshop last year, we gained insight into the high level of interest that youth participants had in environmental issues, especially wetlands and migratory waterbirds. Many participants showed their eagerness to learn more about conservation and how they can engage in the implementation of local actions to decision-making. To better equip young people, especially future young professionals to take part in the conservation of migratory waterbirds, their habitats, and local communities relying on the wetlands, the EAAFP Secretariat is pleased to organize a 2nd training workshop with a focus on local community engagement. Objectives: To introduce the concept of Nature-based Solutions as a tool that links local community engagement and conservation To enhance knowledge and skills on local community engagement for conservation projects Date: 28th – 29th May, 2022 (Saturday and Sunday) Part 1. Open webinar “Understanding Nature-based Solutions and local community engagement in conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands” Date and time:28th May, 2022, 1500-1600 KST (1 hour) Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkfuipqDIrHdF_cnd72-FUQOP4ZMRFt8KZ Livestream on EAAFP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eaafp Part 2. In-depth workshop “Engaging Local Community in conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands” Date and time:28th & 29th May, 2022, 1700-1900 KST (2 hours/day) Quota: 30 people Registration: : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebISr3L5X2u0cbNI5Q0LOPzvWX4AcOlwxx00P1BV9a6-_lgw/viewform Deadline of registration: 13th May, 2022 Tool: Zoom Target Audience: Young conservationists, green youth groups., local and international NGOs young staffs, university students Eligibility for In-depth workshop: Aged 18-29(under 30 on the date of application) Applicants with a nationality from EAA Flyway countries will be given priority to join Applicants to the EAAFP Youth Think Tank Competition will be given priority to join Important notice We are using Zoom for the webinars and workshop. Please download the Zoom App (https://zoom.us/download) prior to the workshop. Successful applicants to the In-depth workshop will receive a separate email for the Zoom link and workshop rundown. It is a series of four workshops, only those who attend at least two In-depth workshops of the Youth Think Tank Competition Programme will receive a certificate of participation. Programme Part 1 Webinar – "Understanding Nature-based Solutions and local community engagement in conservation to migratory waterbirds and wetlands" Keynote speakers Ms. Kathryn Bimson Programme Officer, Water, Wetlands and Nature-based Solutions for Climate at the IUCN Asia Regional Office. Ms. Kathryn Bimson has been working on wetlands in Southeast Asia for the last nine years, and is currently coordinating the regional implementation of a number of projects related to Nature-based Solutions and wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin. Ms. Bimson also supports the Secretariat for the Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative, working closely with the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam to strengthen the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the region. Ms. Bimson holds an MSc. in Biology from the Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, and a BSc. in Biology from Fairfield University, USA. She previously received a National Geographic Young Explorer’s Grant to study private sector engagement in coral reef restoration, and spent her first year in Thailand as an English Teaching Assistant with the US Fulbright Program. Mr. Jiefeng Jin Yangtze Basin Program Manager, China Programme, International Crane Foundation (ICF) Mr. Jiefeng Jin started his conservation career in 2009 and joined ICF in 2014. To conserve the Critically Endangered species Siberian Crane and other three crane species as well as their wetland habitats, he maintains and develops good relationships with various partners, donors and other stakeholders, designs and implements ICF conservation strategies in wintering area of Yangtze River Basin, particularly in Poyang Lake where over 98% of the world population of Siberian Crane together with almost all of the western population of White-naped Crane are wintering. He works closely with national and international research institutes to advise on management actions for protecting cranes and other waterbirds. He is committed to promoting public awareness and engagement, such as recruiting and training volunteers from local communities and colleges to carry out education and outreach for the public. He has a deep interest in working with local communities to safeguard their resource base while restoring landscapes important to cranes. He obtained his second M.S. degree in Environmental Conservation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020. Part 2 In-depth workshop “Engaging Local Community in conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands” Key Trainer Ms. Mercy Kariuki Programme Officer, BirdLife International Ms. Mercy Kariuki is a Kenyan conservationist with an interest in community conservation work especially in Africa and is a recent graduate of MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge. She has worked for BirdLife International (both in Nairobi & currently in Cambridge office) for about 10 years in various capacities & positions. Through the BirdLife Local Engagement and Empowerment Programme, Mercy has worked with BirdLife Partners supporting community-led conservation initiatives, developing community conservation projects/proposals, managing projects, meeting local communities to conduct capacity assessments among other activities that involve community engagement. Mercy enjoys outdoor activities such as birdwatching, hiking and mountain climbing. Case Study Speakers for In-depth Workshop Mr. George Ndung’u Muigai Founder, Cranes Conservation Volunteers Prof. Wataru Kitamura Associate Professor, Department of Restoration Ecology and Built Environment, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Tokyo City University Ms. Amy Lecciones Executive Director, Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. Mr. Johnson Chung Project Manager, Hong Kong Bird Watching Society Supporting organizations: Topics of upcoming workshops: 3rd workshop: Project management, evaluation and impact assessment, and fund-raising (6-7, August, 2022) 4th workshop: Communication (story-telling and scientific communication) and project evaluation, impact measurement (September, 2022) More information about the Youth Think Tank Competition for the EAA:https://eaaflyway.net/thinktankcompetition/ Playback of the workshop: https://eaaflyway.net/2022/06/10/eaaf-youth-think-tank-2nd-workshop/
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“Year of the Terns” Flyway Story Series #16 – Prof. Daniel Roby, Seabird researcher and conservationist
As EAAFP is designating 2022 the “Year of the…
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First EAAFP Conservation Status Review (CSR1) consultation draft update webinar
Following the MOP 10 adopted Decision 12 “Development of a Conservation Status Review of Migratory Waterbird Populations for the EAAFP” in 2018, the first EAAFP Conservation Status Review (CSR1) was kicked off on 8th April 2021, to ensure researchers, government agencies, conservationists and other stakeholders can get access to up-to-date information of waterbird population estimate. After one year of extensive consultation and valuable feedback, the EAAFP Secretariat jointly with Wetlands International are pleased to host a webinar to present the final draft of the First EAAF Conservation Status Review (CSR1) with all Partners, Working Groups/Task Forces, and other stakeholders about this important project. The details of the webinar are as follows: Date: 12th May, 2022 (Thur) Time: 06:00-08:00 UTC/15:00-17:00 KST Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrfuqppjgpG9KQUAQkhLvNMROVCNrMovX3 The provisional agenda is as follows: Welcoming remarks by Doug Watkins, Chief Executive, EAAFP Secretariat Introduction by Nick Davidson, Chair, EAAFP Technical Sub-Committee Presentation of the CSR1 report by Taej Mundkur and Tom Langendoen, Wetlands International Open Discussion moderated by Doug Watkins Plans to finalise the CSR1 report by Taej Mundkur Closing remarks by Robb Kaler, Chair, EAAFP Watch the recording of First EAAFP Conservation Status Review (CSR1) consultation webinar
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New study says protected areas don’t always boost biodiversity: management is crucial
The impact on wildlife of designating protected areas such as national parks varies, according to the largest ever global study of their effects on waterbirds. The findings show that…
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At the Nakdong Estuary FNS, river flowing freely for the first time in 35 years
Sitting in the River mouth of Nakdong River, one of the largest rivers in RO Korea, Nakdong Estuary Flyway Network Site (EAAF097, SIS), located in Busan Metropolitan City in RO Korea, has joined the Flyway Site Network since 2009. The Nakdong Estuary consists of sandy shores, estuarine waters, intertidal marshes, and artificial wetlands. There are internally endangered Chinese Egret, Oriental Stork, Steller's Sea eagle, Black-faced Spoonbill, and Eurasian Oysters in the Estuary. The Nakdong Estuary Embankment was built in 1987 to secure agricultural, industrial, and drinking water by preventing from mixing of fresh and salty water. On the other hand, the bank has degraded water quality, the environment, and the ecosystem of the estuary. There has been a long discussion on opening Nakdong Estuary Bank’s floodgate for 35 years. One of the previous discussions was introduced on the EAAFP website (click here). Eulsukdo near the bank is one of the important sites for migratory birds. Especially in the mid-80s, a lot of swans and geese visited the site every year. This site used to be productive on plankton, shellfish, crabs, and fish to accommodate these visiting waterbirds. However, after the completion of the estuary bank, the number of waterbirds has drastically declined to only about 5-10% of the numbers recorded in the 1990s. At the Nakdong Estuary Eco Center © EAAFP Secretariat In the end, the floodgate of the bank (W 2,400m x H 18.7m) has been fully opened since 18 February 2022. This is based on the research work from 2017 to 2021, comparing the effect on the number of fish species between flowing and closed water bodies in the estuary. After the decision and its implementation by the RO Korean government, EAAFP Secretariat staff including Ms. Hyeseon Do, Ms. Yeonah Ku, and Ms. Hyoeun Kim visited the FNS from 21 to 22 February 2022 to meet conservationists and staff from local environmental NGOs, research institutes, and government officials to encourage this important project of wetland restoration. Understanding the importance of what recently happened at the Nakdong Estuary FNS, officers from the EAAFP Secretariat visited the Nakdong Estuary Flyway Network Site. Group photo with Wetlands and Birds Korea © EAAFP Secretariat They visited the office of Wetlands and Birds Korea (WBK), an environmental organization that worked for the conservation of birds and wetlands at the Nakdong Estuary since 2000. Mr. Junerog Park and Mr. Sihwan Kim from WBK informed the trend of birds population and the constructions issues at the Nakdong Estuary. Busan Metropolitan City has been planning to build more than the existing 10 bridges (including two bridges for subways) across the Nakdong Estuary. Furthermore, its monitoring results were discussed with other organizations out of RO Korea, which they used to share with the Australasian Wader Study Group. It was touching to hear that they had felt connected when had heard from other bird watchers from Australasia first time and; also their thoughtful care on decreasing bird populations, especially the Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Nakdong be broadly recognized. Meeting with Professor Joo © EAAFP Secretariat The next stop was the Freshwater Ecology Lab of Pusan National University. Prof. Geajae Joo gave a presentation on the status of the Busan Eco-city and Eulsuk Island. The researchers and Professor Joo from the lab were involved in the research which supported opening the water gate of the Nakdong Estuary Bank. Thanks to the meeting, the team could understand more about the perspective of the government and public corporations of Ro Korea on river management of the site. Meeting at the Nakdong Estuary Eco center © EAAFP Secretariat At the Nakdong Estuary Eco Center in Eulsuk Island, we had a meeting on the core protected area of the island and the potential FNS manager workshop in 2023, with Dr. Nial Moores from Birds Korea and the director of the Eco Center. Dr. Nial Moores was involved in designing the core area and the center in the early phase, with Prof. Geajae Joo’s team. After that, Dr. Hyunwoo Kim guided the center and Eulsuk Island Ecological Park. they had a conversation on the management of the core area and the center for planned renovation. The natural flow of the Nakdong River and its effects should be carefully considered, which could encourage other rivers/ estuaries’ ecological restoration. All the effort and passion of the conservationists and researchers who worked for the estuary will pay off, hopefully in the near future.
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Citizen Scientists in Republic of Korea Monitor Birds in River and Streams
On 5th February 2022, on occasion of World Wetlands Day, the Korea Network for River and Watershed hosted the 3rd Citizen Monitoring of Migratory Birds along rivers…
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Envisioning Roadmap of the Gochang Tidal Flat World Heritage Site management
To further develop the roadmap for advancing management of Gochang Tidal Flat after its designation as a World Heritage Site in Ro Korea, a 2-day technical workshop for…
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Endangered Black-faced Spoonbill breaking the record of over 6000
EAAFP Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group reported another record high of 6,162 for the global population of…
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