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/