Task Force on Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Waterbirds
Introduction
Hunting is a substantial threat to migratory waterbirds in the EAAF and has been linked to the decline of many threatened species in the Flyway. In many parts of this diverse region, hunting is considered as illegal because species targeted are protected under national or sub-national legislation.
The Task Force was established with the mandate of Decision 10 of the 9th Meeting of the Partners (MOP9) of the EAAFP, following the recommendation of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), and in line with the mandate provided by the Resolution adopted at CMS COP11 (11.16 rev. COP12), entitled “The Prevention of Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds” of the Convention on Migratory Species.
Goal
The Task Force aims to provide a platform for Partners to work together, and exchange experience and knowledge with the ultimate goal of taking action to significantly reduce the impact of illegal hunting, taking and trade of migratory waterbirds in the flyway.
The Task Force has a wider goal of addressing illegal hunting, taking and trade of migratory birds (IHB) takes place in East Asian - Australasian Flyway (EAAF). To reach its goal the Task Force will facilitate concerted efforts and procedures to combat illegal hunting in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway
Scope of the Task Force
- The geographical remit of the Task Force covers all states of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway; Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United States of America (Alaska) and Vietnam.
- The Task Force covers migratory waterbird taxa as identified by the EAAFP.
Proposed Activities
- Support and guide a regional review on the status of hunting regulations in relation to migratory bird species in the EAAF;
- Support and guide a situation analysis on illegal hunting of migratory waterbirds in the flyway, building on the existing work of CMS MIKT in the Mediterranean, Europe and Middle East,
- Promote and facilitate the implementation of decisions and plans adopted in the framework of relevant MEAs or other frameworks, especially the CMS, AMBI and Bilateral Migratory Bird Agreements.
- Stimulate internal and external communication and exchange of information, experience, best practice and know-how,
- Assist in resource mobilization for priority actions including cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
- Monitor the implementation of the relevant decisions and plans and their effectiveness and regularly submit progress reports to the governing bodies of participating MEAs, including via an intergovernmental ‘scoreboard’ to indicate progress on eliminating IHB,
- Strengthen regional and international networks with experience on IHB and,
- Liaise and share experience with the CMS MIKT Task Force
Task Force Chair
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Dr. Srey Sunleang (Cambodia) Director, Department of Freshwater Wetlands Conservation, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia Email: kampongspeu[at]yahoo.com |
Task Force Vice Chair
Dr. Mark Carey
Assistant Director
Biodiversity Conservation Division, Protected Species and Communities Branch, Migratory Species Section
Department of the Environment and Energy
Australian Government
TEL: +61 (0)2 6274 1873
Email: [email protected]
Bio: Mark obtained his PhD at La Trobe University, Australia in 2011 where he examined the effects of investigator disturbance on the reproductive success of Short-tailed Shearwaters. He joined the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment in 2012 where he works on migratory species policy. Since joining the Department, Mark has had exposure to a wide range of international environmental agreements including Ramsar, CMS and Australia’s three migratory bird treaties with Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.
Task Force Documents
- Term of Reference (ToR) of Task Force
- Agenda of 1st meeting of Task Force
- MOP 10 Report of the Task Force
Relevant Materials
- Gallo-Cajiao at. el. (2020) Extent and potential impact of hunting on migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific. Biological Conservation. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.
- CMS Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean: https://www.cms.int/en/taskforce/mikt
- CMS Resolution 11.16 (Rev COP 12): The Prevention of Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds
- Press release (The Conversation. dated 25 May 2020): Be still, my beating wings: hunters kill migrating birds on their 10,000km journey to Australia
- Evaluation of hunting pressure on Numeius species (Curlews, Whimbrels) and other shorebirds in the Russian Far East. Stage one: initiation of surveys in Kamchatka: Final report
- BirdsRussia report on Shorebird Hunting 2019: Final report