Asian Wetland Symposium (AWS) / Ramsar Asia Regional Meeting (RARM) in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Asian Wetland Symposium (AWS) was held together with the Ramsar Pre-COP12 Asia Regional Meeting (RARM) on 3-7 November 2014 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, hosted by the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Wetlands International Japan and Ramsar Center Japan. The AWS provides an opportunity for discussions among various sectors who are engaged in wise use of wetlands in Asia. The RARM is an opportunity to review progress on implementing the Ramsar Convention, and also allows discussion and development of regional inputs into the Draft Resolutions prior to the next Conference of Parties (COP), which will take place in Uruguay in June 2015. In this joint meeting, 170 participants including 33 Ramsar National Focal Points from the Asia region participated to share issues and best practices on wetlands and wetland conservation, and developed and discussed draft resolutions.

@ EAAFP

@ EAAFP

From EAAFP Secretariat, Spike Millington, Chief Executive, and Tomoko Ichikawa, Communication Officer, participated in the AWS/RARM. On the first day, Spike gave a presentation on EAAFP as a Ramsar Regional Initiative (RRI), and coordinated a breakout session on RRI. As a RRI, EAAFP supports and deepens Ramsar implementation in the Flyway for migratory waterbird habitat conservation and works closely with the Ramsar Regional Center for East Asia on training and capacity building. The cooperation also strengthens linkages between Ramsar and EAAFP Flyway Network Sites and site managers. On the second day, Tomoko gave a presentation on challenges and approaches in CEPA along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, that has 22 countries with different language, culture, and social conditions, which becomes an obstacle for sharing information, knowledge and experiences. The presentation highlighted the importance of identifying better mechanisms for information sharing, awareness raising, and international cooperation to improve global conservation outcomes, and demonstrated EAAFP’s attempts such as World Migratory Birds Day campaign and Sister Sites arrangements and encouraged active participation. The Secretariat also contributed by actively participating in the discussions on Ramsar COP12 Draft Resolutions and declaration throughout the Symposium and Meeting, highlighting the issues and importance of conserving migratory waterbirds in Asia. The Secretariat also coordinated with EAAFP Partners attending there on Flyway Network Site nomination and EAAFP MOP8 preparation.

The practical inputs on the Draft Resolutions brought together from various sectors in the AWS/RARM will be presented to the Ramsar COP12.

@ EAAFP

@ EAAFP

@ EAAFP

@ EAAFP

To see the details of the programme, please click here.
To visit AWS / RARM website, please click here.
To see related articles, please click here: (1) Cambodia Hosts Asian Wetland Symposium in Siem Reap, (2) Environment Minister Presides Over the Opening of Asian Wetland Symposium

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