Pyaephyo Aung, Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association
The Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Birdlife International 2016). In 2010, it was assessed that the global population of this species was declining by 26% per year, with a global population estimate of approximately 100 pairs (Zockler et al. 2010). Conservation actions since then, especially in Myanmar and the breeding grounds, have reduced the rate of decline and the population may have stabilized. Nevertheless, the population remains precariously low and conservation actions need to be maintained throughout its range and in some places increased.
The Union of Myanmar, which became a partner of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership in 2014, has three East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network Sites currently designated. The BirdLife International partner in Myanmar, Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), acts as a guardian of Spoon-billed Sandpiper wintering grounds and has carried out conservation activities since 2008 in collaboration with several institution. In Myanmar, the Gulf of Mottama [EAAF117] hosts at least 50% of the global population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper and thus the area needs to be protected immediately. BANCA, in its push to highlight the importance of the gulf to government officials, succeeded in having the gulf designated as a Ramsar site. Nonetheless, the need to protect the coastal areas of Myanmar continues due to the fact that relatively little of its 2800 km coast line is protected.
This Spoon-billed Sandpiper National Action Plan (2017-2020) was created in participation with high level government officials and endorsed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) of Mon State.