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EAAFP at CMS COP14: Nature Knows No Borders
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has stood steadfast as a pivotal intergovernmental partner to the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP)…
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Welcome Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) as EAAFP’s 40th Partner!
Today, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) is delighted to announce the Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) as its 40th Partner. This new partnership would enhance collaborative effort, especially on CEPA (Communication/Capacity Building, Education, Participation and Awareness) on wetlands and migratory waterbird conservation in the Asian region of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. RRC-EA is one of the Ramsar Regional Initiatives adopted by the Ramsar Convention. Based in Suncheon City of the Republic of Korea, it was established through the initiative of the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of the Republic of Korea to serve as a regional platform for capacity building, information exchange, and cooperation among governments, Ramsar Sites and wetland managers and stakeholders, international and national non-government organizations, technical experts and business organizations. One of the primary areas of focus for the RRC-EA is to build capacity and provide technical assistance to countries in the region to build capacity in wetland management, and to develop CEPA programmes. It leads the development of a regional CEPA strategy to raise awareness and promote the value of wetlands and their conservation in the region, including the development of Wetlands Link International (WLI) - Asia-Oceania, a network of wetland centres that promotes the sharing of knowledge, experience, and best practices in wetland conservation and management. With their focus aligning with the EAAFP's mission, RRC-EA has been actively collaborating with the EAAFP for many years, and their partnership was officially strengthened in December 2020 when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (link). The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in common activities in the field of wetland conservation, especially on the expansion of cooperation and co-organization of capacity building, training and awareness-raising to relevant stakeholders at regional and national levels. Celebrating the new partnership, Mr. Suh Seung Oh, Executive Director of the Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia stated, "We are honored to become the 40th partner of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. Wetlands are crucial habitats for migratory waterbirds, and our collaboration will enable us to work together more effectively to conserve these ecosystems and the waterbirds that depend on them. We look forward to sharing our expertise in wetland conservation, to promote and raise awareness of the importance of wetland conservation." The RRC-EA's expertise in wetland conservation and CEPA programs will be a valuable asset to the partnership's efforts to conserve migratory waterbirds and their habitats along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Visit RRC-EA's homepage: http://rrcea.org/
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Work and achievements of EAAFP Secretariat in collaboration with the Partners in 2022
1. Development of Flyway Site Network Designation of new Flyway Network Sites, Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve and Gochang Getbol In 2022, the EAAFP welcomed two new Flyway Network Sites: Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve from the People’s Republic of China (joined on 2nd February 2022 as EAAF 152, Read more) and Gochang Getbol from the Republic of Korea (joined on 28th August, 2022 as EAAF 153, Read more). © Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve Gochang Getbol FNS © Gochang City Supporting development of local Flyway Network Sites and Sister Site Programme in 2022 The Secretariat facilitated the development of Flyway Network Site Hwaseong Wetlands in Ro Korea to prepare a management plan and supported surveys for Far Eastern Curlew at the site (Read more). as well as linking important Far Eastern Curlew sites in the Philippines. Our Partner WWT visited in May to provide consultations on conservation management to Hwaseong, Seocheon and Gochang Cities. Regarding Incheon - Hong Kong Sister Site Program, while the national and international Black-faced Spoonbill census continued, an in-person environmental education training workshop was held in August (Read more) and a Black-faced Spoonbill migration teaching pack was revised with support from Partner WWF-Hong Kong (Read more). WWT field visit to Yubudo Flyway Network Site in Seocheon © EAAFP Secretariat Incheon-Hong Kong Environmental education training workshop © EAAFP Secretariat 2. Enhance communication, education, participation and awareness (CEPA) 2022 Year of the Tern The EAAFP Secretariat and the Seabird Working Group initiated the Year of the Terns in 2022, aimed to raise awareness and promote information exchange and collaboration on the over 150 seabird species throughout the EAA Flyway. Throughout the year, we carried out a Photo Contest (Read more), a webinar series in line with World Seabird Day (Read more) and promoted via social media “Terns of the Month” and flyway stories. © EAAFP Secretariat Youth Think Tank Competition for the EAA Flyway A continuing the vision from the 2020 Flyway Youth Forum, the Youth Think Tank Competition for the EAA Flyway was organized to motivate and equip young people in the EAA Flyway keen on contributing to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats. The competition ran 4 capacity building workshops and funded 5 selected youth projects, and successfully concluded the Competition, engaging over 150 youths and participants throughout the year. © EAAFP Secretariat © EAAFP Secretariat 2022 World Migratory Bird Day and other awareness-raising events and activities Raised awareness for the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2022 theme focusing on “Light pollution” by funding 14 WMBD events (Read more). For the first time, the Secretariat collaborated with CMS, AEWA and EFTA for a joint WMBD webinar series in October (Read more), and coordinated with Seoul Science Museum for WMBD events (Read more). EAAFP Foundation collaborated with Yeonsu Foundation for Arts and Culture (YSFAC) in 2022 "Birds Meet Art" Programme with a series of educational sessions and exhibitions (Read more) and concluded with an international Workshop (Read more). Poster of 2022 WMBD Exhibition for 2022 "Birds Meet Art" Programme © EAAFP Secretariat 3. Enhance flyway research, build knowledge and promote exchange of information Publication of the first Conservation Status Review for East Asian – Australasian Flyway Since 2021, the consultation of the first Conservation Status Review (CSR1) for EAAF was kickstarted. Launched in July, 2022, CSR 1 was produced by Wetlands International in collaboration with The East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Partners, Working Groups, Task Forces and experts. It is the first time the population distribution ranges of all migratory waterbird populations were mapped in the EAAF (Read more). © EAAFP Secretariat 4. Develop flyway-wide approaches to enhance the conservation As a Ramsar Regional Initiative, the EAAFP and many of its Partners attended and actively engaged in the Ramsar Convention COP14 held in China's Wuhan and Switzerland's Genevan, from 5th to 13th, to negotiate and promote conservation agenda and celebrate achievements. There were over 35 Side events organized or participated by EAAFP Partners and the EAAFP Secretariat (Read more), and many bilateral meetings with Partners and collaborators were held. The COP concluded with 21 resolutions (Read more). EAAFP Partners at Ramsar COP14 © EAAFP Secretariat Youth Dialougue at Ramsar COP14 © EAAFP Secretariat 5. Resource Mobilization Activities of the Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI) The Regional Flyway Initiative partnership - BirdLife International, East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Secretariat, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) - held a Side Event at the Ramsar COP14 held in Geneva, Switzerland on 8th November 2022. The RFI partners with government representatives from Viet Nam and the Philippines gave presentations on how the RFI could contribute to the national biodiversity agenda and in elevating the local communities’ livelihoods. The Side Event included statements from Beom-Sik Yoo from the Ramsar Secretariat, Ward Hagemeijer from Wetlands International, and Warren Evans from ADB. Corporate Champion Programme - Ulsan Corporate Champion Certificate Ceremony Following the MOU signing with the EAAFP Secretariat in May 2021, Ulsan Metropolitan City and the four Ulsan corporates—Hyundai Motor Company, S-OIL Corporation, Korea Petrochemical Ind. Co., LTD., and Kyungdong City Gas co., Ltd. attended the Ulsan Corporate Champion Certificate Ceremony in Incheon, Ro Korea on 25th November, 2022 (Read more) for their contribution to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and habitats. Ulsan Corporate Champion Certificate Ceremony © EAAFP Secretariat 2021–2022 EAAFP Foundation’s Small Grants Programme The 2021–2022 EAAFP Foundation’s Small Grants Programme supports local projects from 8 civil society organizations in Ro Korea to conserve migratory waterbirds and their habitats, with sponsorship by Korea South-East Power Co., Ltd. Yeongheung Division (KOEN) and Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and supported by Incheon Metropolitan City. An achievement-sharing workshop was held o 26th May, 2022 (Read more). EAAFP Foundation Small Grants Programme Workshop © EAAFP Secretariat
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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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Work and achievements of EAAFP Secretariat in collaboration with the Partners in 2020
The year 2020 is an unprecedented time for everyone due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Yet, the EAAFP Partners and Secretariat adapted to the situation and overcome the challenge to…
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EAAFP engagement at CMS COP13 with the theme of “Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home”
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is one of EAAFP’s intergovernmental organization Partners and has been collaborating with EAAFP closely since the early stage…
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Myanmar Becomes the 32nd Partner of EAAFP
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. [caption id=”attachment_8199″ align=”aligncenter”…
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