On July 27th, the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar became the 32nd Partner of EAAFP with enthusiastic and unanimous support from all Partners.
Flag of Myanmar
Despite not being a formal Partner, Myanmar has been active in supporting EAAFP and EAAFP activities for many years. The country is critically important for a variety of migratory waterbirds.
Bird tracks on the mud © Christoph Zöckler
The coastlines along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea support extensive inter-tidal mudflats and the Gulf of Mottama, nominated as an EAAFP Flyway Site, is of global significance for Spoon-billed Sandpipers (SBS) as it is one of the few sites supporting a substantial proportion of the total population of this critically endangered species during the non-breeding season.
Members surveying at the gulf of Martaban © Christoph Zöckler
The EAAFP SBS Task Force works with local authorities, NGOs and communities in the area to undertake surveys and reduce the threats of indiscriminate shorebird trapping. Historically, Myanmar has supported important populations of another critically endangered species, Baer’s Pochard.
Bird watching with local children ©Spoon-billed sandpiper task force
Poster session of the Workshop on World Wetland Day 2012, Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar © Spoon-billed sandpiper task force
More surveys and monitoring are required to assess the status of this and other waterbird species in the country. Five sites – Gulf of Mottama, Indawgyi Lake, Moeyungyi Wetland, Inlay Lake and Meinmahla Island are nominated to join the EAAFP Flyway Site Network. EAAFP looks forward to cooperating with the Government of Myanmar to strengthen national partnerships – several national and international conservation NGOs are active in Myanmar and support ongoing survey, monitoring and conservation efforts, including with other EAAFP Partners.
