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EAAFP Partners engagement at Ramsar COP14
The 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) of The Convention on Wetlands will take place from 5 to 13 November 2022, with the theme “Wetlands Actions for People and Nature”. Hosted by China and taking place in both Wuhan, China and Geneva, Switzerland, this Hybrid Conference will convene all Contracting Parties and Observers of the Ramsar Convention to adopt resolutions for administering the Convention and guiding its implementation. The EAAFP Secretariat and our Partners will take part in the discussions actively by attending the conference, organizing side events and running booths. The partnership will assist in working towards a better future for wetlands and migratory birds. For information on the COP14 agenda and resolutions, visit the COP14 webpage [here]. The Secretariat is summarizing the side events organized or joined by the EAAFP Secretariat and the Partners. You can download the flyer highlighting the side events by EAAFP and Partners [here] For a full schedule of side events, click [here] . SIDE EVENT (07/11/22, MON)ORGANIZERSSLOT (CET)ROOM Global Mangroves into 2030/2050Mangrove Foundation(MCF, China), National Forestry and Grassland Administration PRC, UNDP-GEF, UN Ocean IUCN, WWF, Wetlands International, The Global Mangrove Alliance 12:15-13:15Plenary C Delivering the Global Biodiversity Framework: Inland Water Global Restoration Targets for the next DecadeWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF), TNC, IUCN, Wetland International, Birdlife, WWT12:15-13:15Plenary F The Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands: A Paradigm Shift to Meet Global ChallengesSociety of Wetland Scientists, Wetlands International12:15-13:15Plenary E Finance for Adaptation, Biodiversity and Wetlands: what are we learning from evaluationsIndependent Evaluation Unit, Green Climate Fund, ADB-IED, DEval, EBRD, EIB, CIFOR-ICRAF, IUCN, AF-TERG12:15-13:15Room 14 Interactive dialogue on the importance of wetlands, climate change and ecosystem serviceMinisterio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales de Republica Dominicana, Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología y Medio Ambiente de Cuba, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago, the Secretariatof the Ramsar Convention on Wetland, Stur University and Delft Institute18:30-19:30Plenary F Community wetland management for livelihood and biodiversity resilienceInternational Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka, Cobra Collective, UK International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Department of Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Wildlife Resources Sri Lanka (Ramsar focal point)18:30-19:30Room 4 Recommendations on 'Delivering the EU Green Deal through landscape restoration. A 4R Framework lens for integrating multiple policy priorities.'Wetlands International, Commonland, Landscape Finance Lab 18:30-19:30Plenary E Global Wetland Watch, the World Wetland Network and Civil Society Engagement with the Ramsar ConventionWildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), Society of Wetland Scientists; Cobra Collective; World Wetland Network18:30-19:30Room 14 Reducing the impact of sand mining to conserve the world wetlandsWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF), UNEP, IUCN, Holcim/Lafarge 19:45-20:45Plenary C Launch of the 2022 IUCN situation analysis on intertidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea (PRC, DPRK and RoK)International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, Birdlife International, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Wetlands International, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Korea Getbol World Heritage Pro19:45-20:45Plenary F Wetlands as Nature-based Solution for sustainable food productionThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat, CGIAR19:45-20:45Room 14 How to run Ramsar sites over time? Feedbacks to improve wetlands managementAssociation Ramsar France, French Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea Ministry of Environment19:45-20:45Plenary E Wetlands as Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Development and Climate Change MitigationMedWet MedSea Foundation, EuroNatur, WWF Tunisie, WWF Spain, Tour du Valat, IUCN ECARO, BirdLife Europe, IUCN-Med, MAVA Foundation19:45-20:45Room 3 SIDE EVENT (08/11/22, TUE)ORGANIZERSSLOT (CET)ROOM LAUNCH OF THE WORLD COASTAL FORUMBirdLife International, Eco-Foundation Global Ministry of Natural Resources of China National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China Yancheng Municipal People's Government, China World Coastal Forum Establishment Group members (to be added) 13:15-14:15Plenary F Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84914398993?pwd=eER2K2hwSHdIeVNSMGtZei9BRUcrZz09 Meeting ID: 849 1439 8993 PIN: 468384 Unpacking the potential of wetlands for addressing climate change and biodiversity lossInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Geneva Environment Network, ICLEI Europe 13:15-14:15Room 3 Ramsar’s new approach to delivering better CEPA and the new WWT global wetland capacity building facilityWildfowl & Wetlands Trust(WWT), Mangrove Foundation (MCF), RRC-EA, Society of Wetland Scientist, The Nature Conservancy, Youth Engaged in Wetlands13:15-14:15Room 14 Regional Collaboration for Wetlands Wise Use in South AsiaWetlands International South Asia, Ramsar Regional Center East Asia International Water Management Institute GIZ-India (Indo German Biodiversity Programme)18:30-19:30Plenary F Celebrating wetlands during the World Wetlands DayAssociation Ramsar France Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet)18:30-19:30Plenary E Advancing the Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI) in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for the sustainable management of wetlandsBirdLife International, East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat Asian Development Bank19:45-20:45Plenary C The hybrid link: https://birdlife.zoom.us/j/87951376150?pwd=R3ZyZHdiS0xmbWtHSElwWlV0Q0ovUT09 Action for People and Rice Paddies as a Sustainable Wetland EcosystemMinistry of the Environment, Japan (MOE-J), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF-J), and Ramsar Network Japan (RNJ), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO) and Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea (ME-K)19:45-20:45Room 14 SIDE EVENT (09/11/22, WED)ORGANIZERSSLOT (CET)ROOM Ramsar CEPA for Wetland Conservation Mangrove Foundation(MCF)07:00-11:00Virtual Global Waterbird Flyways and Habitats Conservation ForumAcademy of Forestry Inventory and Planning/National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China; Beijing Forestry University; China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA); World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); International Crane Foundation (ICF), China Wetlands Association; Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research/Chinese Academy of Science; East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP); Paulson Institute; Wetlands International; SEE Foundation; Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF); Inner Mongolia Lao Niu Foundation07:00-10:30Virtual, On-site (Wuhan, China) Wetland Education in Formal Education : Application and PracticesMinistry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, Upo Ecology Education Institute (of Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education), Gyeongsangnam-do Ramsar Environmental Foundation, Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education, Suncheon Bay Institute of Eco-Culture Education (of Jeollanamdo Office)13:15-14:15Plenary F Launch of the Indo-Burma Wetland Outlook: Key recommendations for strengthening collaboration through the Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional InitiativeInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative Secretariat, Governments of: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), WWT, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity18:30-19:30Plenary E Wetland Link International, Flyway CEPA approaches, and the WWT Wetland Centre Star AwardsWildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), Mangrove Foundation (MCF), RRC-EA, EAAFP, AEWA, Environment for the Americas (EftA)19:45-20:45Plenary C Selected key results of the RESSOURCE project: (1) Promoting waterlily cultivation in the Senegal delta; (2) supporting the designation of the 4th Sudanese Ramsar site and (3) developing a MOOC on African waterbirds and wetlandsFood and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (Sudan), Tour du Valat (Unité de Soutien Technique à l'initiative africaine de l'AEWA), Office Français de la Biodiversité, OMPO (Oiseaux Migrateurs du Palearctique Occidental), Fondation François Sommer19:45-20:45Plenary E Investing in National Wetlands Inventories: A key building block to meeting the Sustainable Development GoalsSecretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Aguaconsult and Sturt University, Barbados, Costa Rica, Myanmar, Norway, Uganda, Aguaconsult and Sturt University19:45-20:45Plenary F SIDE EVENT (10/11/22, THU)ORGANIZERSSLOT (CET)ROOM The Wetland City Accreditation : All You Need to KnowMinistry of Environment of the Republic of Korea (MOE-K), Local Governments for Sustainability Ramsar Regional Centre-East Asia(ICLEI)13:15-14:15Plenary F The Natural Flow of Water – Key to conservation and restoration of wetland biodiversityKorea Wetland NGO Network / Ramsar Network Japan, World Wetland Network(WWN), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust(WWT), East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership(EAAFP)13:15-14:15Room 14 Learning from newly accredited Wetland CitiesRamsar Regional Center - East Asia, Ministry of Environment - Korea, Independent Advisory Committee for Wetland City Accreditation of the Ramsar Convention, CLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability18:00-20:00Amphitheatre D Wetlands – crucial for national climate commitmentsWetlands International, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO), Greifswald Mire Center, The Ramsar Secretariat, GPI/UNEP18:30-19:30Plenary C Side Event on the Wetland City Accreditation and the Ramsar AwardMinistry of the Environment, Japan (MOE-J)19:45-20:45Plenary E SIDE EVENT (12/11/22, SAT)ORGANIZERSSLOT (CET)ROOM Collaboration to meet global goals on nature, climate and people - the importance of protecting and conserving Ramsar sitesInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), BirdLife International, International Water Management Institute, Wetlands International, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, WWF (the IOPs) and International Crane Foundation13:15-14:15Plenary F River cetaceans and Ramsar: building consensus on global conservation prioritiesWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF) International, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural affairs of the People’s Republic of China18:30-19:30Plenary E Lessons from multi country, multi stakeholder experiences on urban wetlands policy and regulatory initiativesWWF-India, EPCO State Wetland Authority, Rwanda Environment Management Authority, Ramsar Regional Center in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO), Coastal Solutions Fellowship/Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile18:30-19:30Room 3 Collective action models on urban wetland conservation and rehabilitationWWF-India, EPCO State Wetland Authority, Rwanda Environment Management Authority, Ramsar Regional Center in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO), Coastal Solutions Fellowship/Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile19:45-20:45Room 3 The Future of Wetlands - an Intergenerational DialogueYouth Engaged in Wetlands, East Asia-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), Wetlands International (WI), Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat (TBC), Mangrove Conservation19:45-20:45Plenary C For the entire schedule, please visit [here]. For social media promotion materials, please find them [here]. Please also visit the booths of EAAFP and our Partners at COP14 in Geneva: Mangrove Foundation China, Wetlands International Japan, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia, and China
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Belief in People’s Power, Citizen Ecological Survey Group Activities in 2022, Hwaseong Wetland, Ro Korea
As conservationists, we believe in people’s power. One of…
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Winner of the Youth Think Tank Competition for the EAA Flyway revealed!
After a wonderful 2-years, the Youth Think Tank Competition for the EAA Flyway came to a close on Saturday 22nd October 2022. To extend the momentum of 2020 Flyway Youth Forum which became the first spark for dialogue amongst youth in the EAA Flyway on conservation of wetlands and migratory waterbirds, the Youth Think Tank Competition for the EAA Flyway was launched on August 2021 to encourage and enable youth to actively engaging in conservation. Taking in the feedback from the forum participants, who commented that they wanted further opportunities to actively take part in wetland and migratory bird conservation, the EAAFP Secretariat, with the help of various advisors from the partnership, organized the Competition to provide the opportunity to fulfil the needs. The competition was targeted at Youth between the ages 18-29. During Phase I, a total of 37 applications from 14 countries were submitted. Each project was carefully reviewed by the esteemed judge panel. Eventually, 5 selected teams from China, the Philippines, and Indonesia would receive funding from the Secretariat to implement their projects. The result was announced in December 2021: 1. Project Lupad (Philippines) 2. Seabirds of Tubbataha (Philippines) 3. Environmental Education in Dongting Lake (China) 4. Dining Wetlands for Humans and Birds (China) 5. Rediscover Kei Islands (Indonesia) To help guide the youths with their projects, each team was assigned a mentor, who would coach them along the project implementation. The mentors were helped them to tackle various challenges they faced, one of which proved to be the COVID pandemic. All teams are able to overcome the challenges and successfully implemented their projects from January to October 2022. The second part of the programme is capacity building. The EAAFP Secretariat, with support from recruited 4 youth volunteers and EAAFP interns which formed the Youth Organizing Team, organized workshop series of 4 sessions, inviting distinguished speakers and trainers to cover key topics: 1) Understanding global agenda for environment and how youth are engaged 2) Engaging Local Communities in Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and Wetlands 3) Project Management 4) Conservation Communication and Story Telling. Most workshops comprised of a webinar and an in-depth training workshop. The 4-part workshop series reached a total of 75 different participants from 16 countries within and beyond the Flyway. The Pre- and Post-workshop surveys filled out by the participants of each workshop indicated an increase in knowledge and skills for each topic and the majority of participants also expressed that they found the workshops to be useful in their line of work. On 22nd October, project teams, mentors, judges, and many others gathered for the Closing Ceremony. The ceremony kicked off with opening speeches from Mr. Doug Watkins, Chief Executive of the EAAFP Secretariat and Mr. Casey Burns, EAAFP CEPA Working Group Chair, followed by a short summary presentation of the Competition by Ms. Vivian Fu, EAAFP Communication Officer, who headed the entire competition. Each team then gave 10–15-minute presentations on their projects. After that, the Grand Final Winner selected by the judges was announced by Mr. Doug Watkins. And the Grand Final Winner was Team “Dining Wetlands for Humans and Birds” from China. Image: Winning Team “Dining Wetlands for Humans and Birds" with Mr. Doug Watkins, EAAFP Chief Executive and Mr. Chris Rostron, one of the judges of the Competition The winning team will be awarded an opportunity to join an international events (e.g. Ramsar COP14) and will also be offered a position as a youth representative for the CEPA Working Group. Those who attended the closing ceremony left amazed and moved by the creativity and capabilities of the 5 youth teams. Youth Think Tank Competition once again proves the importance and strength of youth in the conservation field. Following the success of the programme, the Secretariat will continue to find further opportunities for youth to engage in EAAFP work and activities. Image: Closing Ceremony Group Photo We would like to express our gratitude to the advisors: Mark Edison Raquino (Global Youth Biodiversity Network – South East Asia); Suh Seung Oh, Ramsar Regional Center -East Asia; Tomoko Ichikawa, Ministry Of Environment Japan; Yamme Leung, World Wide Fund – Hong Kong; Casey Burns, EAAFP CEPA Working Group; Gab Mejia, Youth Engaged in Wetland, Josefa Cariño Tauli, Global Youth Biodiversity Network. The mentors: Ding Li Yong, BirdLife International (Asia Division); Terry Townshend, Paulson Institute; Sayam U. Chowdhury, EAAFP Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force, Micha Jackson, The University of Queensland. Our special thanks goes to the honorable judges: Mika Tan from ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity; Beom-Sik Yoo, The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention; Spike Millington, International Crane Foundation; Chris Rostron, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT); Anastasia Cronin, National Geographic; and Casey Burns, EAAFP CEPA Working Group. We would also like to thank the amazing organizing team: Ho Bun Yu (Orca), Jord Gadingan, Thura Htike, Frances Alvares (designer) and from the Secretariat Yoomi Sim, Sinwoo Won, Yoonjae Bae, Yuji Lim, Yeonju Park, Hyoin Kim, Sewon Lim, Yunjoo Cho and Yoon Lee. For more on the Youth Think Tank Competition For playback of each workshop: Workshop 1 Workshop 2 Workshop 3
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Youthful Wetland Dialogue on Metaverse at Ramsar COP14
Youthful Wetland Dialogue on Metaverse Call for exhibiters and presenters Young people are key stakeholders to wetland conservation and many of them are taking actions.
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Ramsar COP14: Pre-COP Orientations
As Ramsar COP14 is 2 weeks away, to equip delegates, especially youth, smaller CSOs and NGOs and newcomers to Ramsar COP14, two Pre-COP Orientations were set this week. One…
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Closing Ceremony of Youth Think Tank Competition for EAA Flyway
After a wonderful 2-year-long journey, the Youth Think Tank Competition for the EAA Flyway is coming to an end….
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Winners of 2022 “Year of the Terns” Photo Contest Announced!
On the second peak of 2022 World Migratory Bird Day (8th October, 2022), the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Secretariat and its Seabird Working Group announced the results of…
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New Zealand Government launched a online tool of using birds to track light pollution at sea
New research has expanded our understanding of which migratory bird species are most threatened by light pollution at sea. A fishing…
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World Migratory Bird Day 2022 Webinars
Brief Introduction With the official slogan of World Migratory Bird Day 2022 “Dim the Lights for Birds at Night!”, this global campaign focus on the impacts of light pollution on…
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The Hunter Estuary Forum 2022
0 Participants of Hunter Estuary Forum ©Hunter Wetlands Centre The Hunter Estuary in Newcastle NSW, Australia is a place of great contrasts. It hosts the most important estuary in NSW for migratory shorebirds, the Hunter Estuary National Park and the Hunter Estuary Ramsar site, which includes Hunter Wetland Centre, Australia’s first dedicated wetlands centre. The Hunter Estuary is also home to the largest export facilities for both thermal and manufacturing coal in the Southern Hemisphere. Since the early 1980’s the Hunter Estuary has benefitted from four significant wetland restoration projects, beginning with the restoration of a small area of drained and degraded wetlands which was to become Hunter Wetlands Centre. Each of these restoration projects took lessons from what had gone before. Most importantly strong social partnerships among community conservation organisations, governments and industry organisations underpinned these achievements. Earlier this year Hunter Wetlands Centre proposed the idea for a Hunter Estuary Forum to commemorate the 20th anniversary Hunter Wetlands Centre being listed as a Ramsar site and to open a conversation among estuary stakeholders that have a role as managers, knowledge holders, service providers and educators for the estuary. Such an event would provide the opportunity to reconnect with our shared conservation history The forum program was designed in partnership with Australian Ramsar Administrative Authority (Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Hunter Bird Observers Club. EAAFP also came on board in recognition of the Hunter Estuary as Site Number 10 on the East-Asian Australasian Flyway Site Network. On 31 August, participants from Local Government, State Government, Industry groups and non-government conservation organisations joined together at Hunter Wetlands Centre to hear from both keynote speakers and estuary locals from many sectors on the priorities and the challenges for the Hunter Estuary. The response to the event and the engagement on the day was very encouraging. It was clear from discussions from the floor and in break-out groups that collaboration across sectors has been a missing ingredient in recent years. There was strong concensus among participants on the need for a collaboration mechanism that could provide a neutral space where shared objectives might be developed. The Hunter Estuary and surrounding catchment has a unique opportunity to demonstrate a collaborative and cooperative approach to conservation and management of our coastal environment. We have the opportunity to leverage the science and knowledge underpinning the Hunter Estuary to guide coastal wetland restoration and identify transferrable learnings that can be used in other coastal communities. There was strong support for continuing the Hunter Estuary Forum process where some of these threads can be developed and it is hoped that a follow-up event can be held by mid 2023. Through sharing knowledge and experience, we may be better able to consider innovative management models that can deliver mutual benefits for our estuary and its stakeholders. Article prepared by: Christine Prietto, HWCA Ramsar Officer, Hunter Estuary Forum Convenor, Ramsar NGO CEPA Focal Point, Australia Official website of Hunter Estuary Forum: https://wetlands.org.au/hef/
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