Publication Series # 2017-1
DATE 10 - 14 October 2016
VENUE Suncheon Bay International Wetland Center, Suncheon City, Republic of Korea EDITORS 8th Suh, Seung Oh, Norman Emmanuel C. Ramirez and Bishnu B. Bhandari Regional Level Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia Publication Series # 2016-1
Asian Experiences in Wetland Management
Proceedings of the 8th Regional Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia (10-14 October, 2016, Suncheon City, Republic of Korea)
Hosted by: Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea & Suncheon City Organized by: Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia and EAAFP
Editors Suh, Seung Oh / Norman Emmanuel C. Ramirez / Bishnu B. Bhandari
Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia 2016 Published by: Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia
Copyright: @ Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia, 2016 Note: Materials from this document may be reproduced in whole, in part, or in any form for educational or non- profit uses without permission from the RRC-East Asia, provided the source is acknowledged. RRC-East Asia would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication which uses this document as a source.
Citation: Suh, Seung Oh / Norman Emmanuel Ramirez / Bishnu B. Bhandari (2016). Asian Experiences in Wetland Management . Suncheon: RRC-East Asia.
ISBN: 978-89-6461-161-6
Disclaimer : The opinions expressed herein are taken from the PowerPoint presentations and therefore personal. The views do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers, nor the organizations the authors represent. The authors assume full responsibility and liability for all statements of facts or opinions contained in their presentations.
Lay out and Design: Kim, Hang Ah
Available from : Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia 2nd FL. Suncheon Bay International Wetland Center 47, Gukgajeongwon 1ho-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, Rep. of Korea
Homepage: www.rrcea.org Email: [email protected] 8th Regional Level Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia RRC-EA
Acknowledgements Acronyms Contents Executive Summary
Part I Opening Ceremony
Part II Keynote Speech
01. The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971) - Llewellyn Young 22 02. Past, Present and Future of the RRC-EA - Suh, Seung Oh 29 03. International Cooperation for a Shared Biodiversity Resource - Spike Millington 32
Part III First-Hand Experiences in the Region
01. Korea, ROK (2) 36 02. Myanmar (2) 42 03. Japan (2) 46 04. Taiwan (2) 50 05. Lao PDR (2) 54 06. Malaysia (1) 58 07. China (2) 60 08. Viet Nam (1) 64 09. Nepal (2) 66 10. Mongolia (2) 70 11. Philippines (2) 74 12. Bhutan (1) 77 13. Thailand (2) 79 14. Sri Lanka (1) 83 15. Cambodia (1) 84 16. Indonesia (2) 86 17. Brunei Darussalam (1) 90
Part IV Strategic Plan, Tracking and Management
01. The Fourth Ramsar Strategic Plan (2016-2024) - Llewellyn Young 94 02. Ramsar Sites Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool - Raphael Glemet 97 03. Steps in the Designation and Management of Ramsar Sites - Bena Smith 101
Part V Flyway Partnership
Annexes
I. Ramsar Sites in Suncheon City 128 II. List of Participants 130
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Acknowledgements
The editors would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the participants for their valuable time in making the presentations in the workshop. We also like to offer our thanks to them for kindly giving us the permission to use the presentations for the report. Any error or omission in the interpretation of the materials is our own. Any comment and suggestion are most welcome.
The Editors December 2016
4 8th Regional Level Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia RRC-EA
AMBI Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative AWS Asian Wetland Symposium CEPA Communication, Capacity Building, Education, Participation and Awareness COP Conference of the Contracting Parties CREHO Ramsar Regional Center for Training and Research on Wetlands in the Western Hemisphere EAAFP East Asian-Australiasian Flyway Partnership ECD Ecological Character Description IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature MAB Man and Bioshphere MICE Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events MOE Ministry of Environment MOU Memorandum of Understanding NGO Non-government Organization PA Protected Area R & D Research and Development RAMCEA Ramsar Centre for Eastern Africa RIS Ramsar Site Information Sheet R-METT Ramsar Site Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool ROK Republic of Korea RRC-CWA Ramsar Regional Center-Central and West Asia RRC-EA Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia SC Standing Committee SIS Site Information Sheet STRP Scientific and Technical Review Panel WCPA World Commission on Protected Areas WLI-Asia Wetland Link International - Asia WWD World Wetlands Day
Acronyms
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Executive Summary
The Eighth Regional Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia was held in Sucheon Bay International Wetland Center, Suncheon City, Republic of Korea from 10 to 14 October 2016. The Training Workshop was hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Suncheon City and was organized by the Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia and the East- Asia-Australasian Flyway Partnership.
The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Cho, Choong Hoon, Mayor of Suncheon City with his welcoming remarks. Other speakers in the opening session were Mr. Suh, Seung Oh, Executive Director of the Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia; Mr. Llewellyn Young, Regional Advisor, Ramsar Convention Secretariat and Mr. Spike Millington, Chief Executive of the East-Asia- Australian Flyway Partnership. Their speeches are presented in Part I: Opening Ceremony.
The objective of the workshop was to share data and information from the region and make the participants aware of the latest tools, techniques and technology employed in the wise use of wetlands. The participants were also given first-hand exposures to the participatory management and conservation of two Ramsar sites: Suncheon Bay and Dongcheon Estuary (see the short profiles of these sites in Annex I). Nearly 50 participants from 17 countries attended the workshop. The list of the participants and resource persons along with their country of residence are presented in Annex II.
The proceedings began with the first plenary of the three keynote speeches. Mr. Llewellyn Young of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat gave the overall concept, philosophy and ideals of the Convention on Wetlands. The second speaker, Mr. Suh, Seung Oh began his presentation with the historical development of the Rasmar Regional Center-East Asia, its program of activities and future strategies. The last keynote speaker, Mr. Spike Millington talked about the rationale, establishment and objectives of the East-Asia Australasian Flyway Partnership and flyway network sites. The summaries of their keynote speeches are presented in Part II:
6 8th Regional Level Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia RRC-EA
Keynote Speech. Technical Sessions I and II were alternately moderated by Dr. Bishnu B. Bhandari and Mr. Suh, Seung Oh. Some 28 papers which discussed 40 wetland sites were presented, each followed by a short question and answer session. A total of 49 queries and suggestions were raised from the floor. The summaries of their PowerPoint presentations are presented in Part III: First- Hand Experiences.
Papers were descriptive in nature, not analytical. Only problems, issues and threats were presented. Some papers have highlighted innovative wetland works, while others have given more time on the physical description of their Ramsar sites. There are variations in scope, content and style of presentations. The overall observations on these presentations are briefly given below.
1. There is a great dearth of examples on meaningful participation. People’s participation does not happen at vacuum. There should be some valid reasons to happen. It will be spontaneous if the plan can win their hearts and minds. One of the ways to draw their attention is to address their concern/problem and let the outsiders be part of it. Then, only will we be able to receive their active, whole-hearted and responsible cooperation, engagement and participation on the ground. None of the paper dealt with genuine issues and good examples of community engagement. 2. There is a great demand of simple and easy-to-understand educational materials. Education is an engine that helps catalyze wetland conservation. Education to be effective in, and relevant to, the situations, should be based on real life problems of the world of work. This is what is known as problem-solving type of education and should be promoted and diffused at the grassroots level. Effective dissemination is possible only when we use a multitude of educational modes, materials and mechanism. That is why our educational materials should be simple, easy to read and easily accessible to general public. The general public also wants the simplified version of educational materials that are already in the wetland market. 3. The target of education should be as specific as possible. Vitally important issue in wetland conservation is to know who is responsible for the destruction of wetlands. Those responsible ones should be targeted for educational intervention. Or, the real problem needs to be identified and education should be developed around this problem so as to change their knowledge, attitude and behavior. Therefore, the problem should be specified; the target should be clearly identified; methods should be simple; materials should be easy-to-understand and the teacher should be well-versed on the subject. 4. Quantity or quality of wise use? The total Ramsar sites in Asia are 2,240. The simple change in statistics has not changed the face and fate of wetlands and its dependants. The qualitative change is needed both in wetland site as well as in the life and livelihood of the local community in the vicinity. Quality and quantity of development in wetlands should be the goal of any wetland conservation in the region. The balance should be the focus of wetland conservation, not bias. Quantity alone does not make any difference if
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the quality is not ensured. 5. Public awareness: Public awareness is a blanket phrase which envelops many things: methods, matter and materials. So setting the target, identifying subject matter and methods are of utmost importance. Now the time has come before us to graduate from the awareness-raising level to move to another level of journey to creating interests and adopting diffusion of the wise use of wetlands for a specific target group. 6. Land use planning seems to be of low priority: No mention has been made of land use planning in the presentations. This concept needs to be integrated into wetland conservation without which our conservation works will be incomplete. All the conservation planning for wetlands should be in line with the principles of land use planning and all the relevant disciplines should take into consideration.
The issues raised from the floor are briefly summarized below.
1. Still, there exists a big hesitation, on the part of the authority, to accept the professional society in the policy, planning and decision-making processes. 2. Law enforcement seems to be poor in the region. Legal status is not clear. Lands inside the wetland area are outright encroached. Boundaries are not properly demarcated. All these have created conflict and tension between wetland authority and local community. 3. In many countries still rice farming and conservation law are not wetland-friendly. 4. The big question remains unanswered concerning the persuasion of citizens who are against conservation for sustainable use and protection of wetlands. 5. Enough consultation with local community, stakeholders and wetland experts is neither done, nor encouraged while designating wetlands as Ramsar Sites. 6. Farmers and fishermen do not like ducks in the area of the Ariake Sea in Japan. However, many Ramsar Sites have been designated for the Ramsar listing. It raises the question of not enough consultation, cooperation and communication with local people. 7. Organic farming should be promoted, legumes should be planted, and the use of chemical fertilizers should be avoided as much as possible. 8. The role of canals in Guandu Nature Park, Taiwan is both to recharge and discharge wetlands and rice fields. The surrounding areas are used for grazing domestic buffalos. Buffalo grazing is one of the biological control measures for grasses and bushes. 9. National Wetland Parks are the only mechanism to protect wetlands in China. These parks are meant for social or educational benefits. Otherwise it would be difficult to conserve them. 10. The Republic of Korea has provided a good example of how cities and villages could obtain accreditation of the Ramsar Convention. The designation procedure is a good example and it is praise-worthy. 11. The designation of Ramsar Sites should help create conducive environment for healthy competition among stakeholders, not the filthy tug-of-war. Ramsar Sites should not be the means for competition with local community but complementary to their lives and livelihoods.
8 8th Regional Level Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia RRC-EA
Questions and short answers
1. How many tigers are there? Any conflict with local community? Answer: 17 tigers in Sumatra and 8 in another park. This information is based on the camera traps. There are cases of conflict between humans and tigers. As soon as they get information, the team goes there for rescue. 2. The Arwana is an endangered species of fish. How do you reconcile it with the needs of local community? Answer: Through the protection of its habitat, enforcement of regulation, breeding and releasing 10% to the wild. 3. Why is there more red tide in the Ariake Sea? Any program for raising awareness about tidal flats? Answer: The red tides are due to urbanization and land reclamation. Children education (Ramsar Child Club, hands-on activities and letter sending to the prefecture) is organized to raise awareness about tidal flats in the area. 4. Why do we focus education only on children? Answer: We are concerned about the future of this tidal flat. And, therefore, our concern at this moment is children. Through them, we like to create social pressure on adults for the protection of the tidal flat. In order to make them aware of, and interested in, the conservation of the tidal flat, we are developing educational programs such as hands-on activities, development of posters about migratory birds and formation of the Ramsar Children Club. Also we run different type of program for adult, which is not discussed here. 5. The invasion of Golden Apple snail is a serious problem. How do you control them? Answer: In some countries, the otter and duck farmers have successfully used this species to feed otters and ducks. 6. How can we make our patrolling effective? Answer: It is effective when it is done in cooperation with local community, especially engaging the ex-poachers and hunters. This gives them opportunity for their rehabilitation into the society. 7. Where are the gold mines located in Indawgyi? Are they inside or near the lake? Answer: No, they are not nearby. The gold mines are up in the mountain at the catchment areas. 8. How often is bird monitoring done? Answer: Three times, twice in summer and once in winter. 9. Has the Ramsar designation helped the conservation of wetland and resources in Mongolia? Answer: Yes, it has drawn the attention of the government and has created social pressure for the involvement of relevant stakeholders in conservation. Comments: A similar question was asked to the participants of the Training Workshop at Bugok in 2011. Their responses are provided here so as to elucidate the reader about the importance of Ramsar nomination. The question was “What are the benefits of nominating a wetland site in the Ramsar list?” The responses are
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summarized below. Ramsar designation is like a prize for good conservation work. It is a recognition and prestige for the communities. Its ultimate aim is to receive more support, funds, grants and opportunities. The overall responses are given below. i. Raise the attention of governments, institutions, universities and international community about values, necessity and sustainability. ii. Serve as a vehicle for consensus building on and setting priority for wetland conservation and development. iii. Drum up support of local communities and relevant stakeholders for their informed, active and responsible engagement. iv. Instill in local communities a sense of pride, glory and esteem about their local heritage. 10. Any good examples for avoiding direct conflict between the protected area and local community Answer: Formation of a multi-stakeholder forum and engaging the local community in conservation activities. 11. Are there any good methods of enhancing community participation? Answer: Different countries have different models of community participation. There is a consensus that the best method always begins with activities that address the first- hand problems of the community. 12. How do you deal with the elephant terror in Sri Lanka? Answer: Not blocking their migration route; keeping their natural corridors open and undisturbed. 13. What are your criteria of identifying wetlands of national importance? Answer: Mainly birds and biodiversity. 14. Are not you destroying the natural habitat of birds when letting the people harvest thatch grasses in Koshi Tappu? Birds are mainly found in water-logged area or along the River. Answer: Grass cutting and controlled grass fires are some of the means of managing wetlands. Grass cutting is a precautionary approach to prevent large-scale forest fire in the Reserve and to meet the basic needs of the local people.
Factors responsible for wetland loss and degradation in Asia
The specific problems prevalent in wetland conservation and management are summarized in this section. In the presentations, words like threats, obstacles, concerns, issues and challenges have been used interchangeably. Whatever the nomenclature, the bottom-line is that there have been barriers to the smooth implementation of conservation, management and sustainable utilization of wetlands on the ground. All the problems included in the presentation are enumerated and collated into six clusters. These clusters, individually or collectively, directly or indirectly have remained responsible for the loss and degradation of wetlands and are causing failures in the successful implementation of the concept “wise use of resources” in Southeast and East Asia. The specific problems under these clusters of issues are briefly
10 8th Regional Level Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia RRC-EA elaborated below. 1. Heavy exploitation of resources: Wetlands are the means of livelihoods in rural areas. Resources are used to meet the basic, secondary as well as tertiary needs of the people. These resources are vitally important for the sustenance of local people. The decreasing availability of fish species, low volume of fish harvest as compared to the past, shrinking area under water bodies are the indicator of what we call overfishing. Likewise, other wetland resources are also being exploited intensively. The common activities that are responsible for the heavy exploitation of wetland resources are fishing (legal as well as illegal, appropriate as well as inappropriate use of fishing gears like electric fishing gear, gun powder), use of water for agriculture, intensive grazing of domestic animals, use of aquatic resources, firewood collection, forest fire etc. 2. Conversion of wetlands: Farming is the main occupation of the people in Southeast Asia. The small land holdings preponderate in the region. Also the boundaries of the wetlands are not well-marked and illegal activities are common inside the area. Therefore, people around and about wetlands tend to encroach the wetlands for cultivation and building shelters. Some activities related to conversion are reclamation for aquaculture, rice farming, shrimp culture, gardening and cultivation of other aquatic resources, deforestation, clearing of low land forest, rubber and oil palm plantation, swamp forest, mining and extraction (uranium, gold, sand and gravels) and low level of freshwater. 3. High level of pollution: Since wetlands are in the depressed areas, all the runoffs from the surrounding areas go to wetlands. Because of this they are highly vulnerable to threats such as the discharge from agricultural fields (pesticides and chemicals, algae, plankton, micro-organisms), cities (wastewater, rubbish, litter, sewage, sludge), pastures and grazing lands, sludge from the factory or mines, use of chemicals and pesticides, oil spills, marine debris (in case of marine wetlands). 4. Change in land use and land cover: Change in land use and land cover in the catchment or basin area is another serious threat to wetlands in the region. For example, mining (gold in Myanmar, uranium in Mongolia, sand and gravel mining in Nepal), flooding, siltation, sedimentation, drought, forest fire, disturbances in hydrological system, shifting of river course, hydro-power development, water inundation upstream and downstream, impact of development, shifting cultivation, clearing of land, deforestation, burning and cutting of trees and even illegal farming have singly or collectively changed the land use and land cover in the catchment area and thereby deforming the natural integrity of wetlands. 5. Habitat destruction/degradation: The destruction of wetlands has caused the loss of food, space and water for the water-dependant flora and fauna. Some of the species are on the verge of extinction. The habitat destruction has affected the long-distance migrant birds like Demoiselle Crane, Grus virgo, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and many others. This situation has arisen basically due to sand-mining, human encroachment, land conversion, illegal logging, illicit timber trade, intensive fishing, use of inappropriate fishing gears, growing human population, impact of plantation, shipping industry, drying of freshwater sources, land clearance, prolific growth of invasive alien species such as
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water hyacinth, Golden Apple snail and so on. 6. Poor governance and knowledge gap: Wetland resources are directly related to daily livelihoods of the people. On the one hand, lack of community friendly legislation, low level of enforcement, poor management, weak institution, unmotivated staff and governance encourages illegal activities, hunting and poaching around and about wetlands. On the other hand, still a lack of baseline data and information, local capacity and education, and limited technical knowledge are the hurdles in the conservation and management of wetlands and their resources.
12 Part I. Opening Ceremony
Part II. Keynote Speech
Part III. First-Hand Experiences
Part IV. Strategic Plan, Tracking and Management
Part V. Flyway Partnership RRC-EA Part I
Opening Remarks
Suh, Seung Oh
Executive Director Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia
A heartfelt welcome to the distinguished guests and to the participants who traveled a long way to join the 8th Regional Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia. Welcome to Korea. Welcome to Suncheon City, a model city in the wise use of wetlands.
On behalf of the Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA), I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our hosts, the Ministry of Environment and the Suncheon City Government, especially the Mayor of the Suncheon City, Honorable Cho, Choong Hoon, who has been giving us whole-hearted support to the cause of wetlands in the area.
As you are well aware of, wetlands are one of the most productive environments rendering ecosystem services to countless species of plants and animals including humans. However, they are also one of the highly vulnerable environments around us.
In spite of untiring efforts for more than 40 years by the Ramsar Convention, an enormous number of wetlands has been lost and destroyed, and the speed at which destruction is taking place is occurring faster and faster.
This is the reason why we are all gathered here today to continue our efforts for the effective conservation and management of wetland resources, particularly in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
All of you, wetland managers, are standing at the front line to make the changes by leading efforts on conservation and wise use. At least all of us have to communicate regularly, share information, experiences and knowledge and discuss solutions to stop the further loss of wetland resources. And also we need to reach out to the general public to make them understand and encourage them to join our invaluable conservation mission. I hope this workshop would be an opportunity for all of us to be reminded how important our
14 Opening Ceremony RRC-EA work is, what has to be done in the future and how much we can do to change the world in a positive way. I promise that the RRC-EA will be around to support and assist all of your activities with its utmost efforts. Therefore, please just contact the RRC-EA with no hesitation, should you need any kind of help.
Before closing, I would like to express again my heartfelt welcome to you all and to extend my sincere thanks to all officers from MOE Korea and Suncheon City for their unsparing efforts to organize this workshop.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
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Welcome Remarks
Cho, Choong Hoon
Mayor Suncheon City
Distinguished Guests!
I would like to extend my sincere welcome to you all. I am Cho, Choong Hoon, the Mayor of Suncheon City. Today, I feel honored to host the 8th Regional Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia in Suncheon City, the City of Ecological Capital and the City of Happiness with Garden. As you may know, Suncheon Bay is one of the uniquely protected Ramsar Sites in the Republic of Korea and is an important resting and feeding ground for more than 240 species of migratory birds.
Until the end of 1990s, Suncheon Bay was a garbage and wreckage collection site. However, the citizens and local NGOs realized the ecological value of Suncheon Bay and began the movement for the restoration and conservation of Suncheon Bay since early 2000s. As the result of citizen’s effort, Suncheon Bay is the first coastal wetland in the Republic of Korea to be designated as a Ramsar Site. And Suncheon City also designated the estuarine area and farmlands around Suncheon Bay as its second Ramsar Site.
The national garden, where you are now, is the first place where the city began its ecological and cultural design for the city based on the conservation policies for Suncheon Bay. It is an eco-belt to preserve the Suncheon Bay and an incubator to breed living organisms. This garden was designated as the first National Garden in Korea considering its ecological value. And it is now one of the most popular healing place with more than 5 million visitors a year. The garden became an essential resource for local economy with Suncheon Bay.
Suncheon City is trying to put ecological components into designs with the help of the globally renowned designer, Alexandro Mendini. You will be able to experience his designs in the national garden during your stay. Suncheon City won various awards related to the environment such as Green Apple Awards, UN-Habitat Asian Townscape Award and it was also selected to be part of Green Destination 100 this year.
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Suncheon City will make its utmost efforts for better conservation of Suncheon Bay and share its knowledge and experiences with the newly hosted Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia.
In addition, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all the participants who traveled a long way to Suncheon City including Dr. Lew Young from the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Mr. Spike Millington from the EAAFP Secretariat and Mr. Raphael Glemet from the IUCN Asia Regional Office. Before closing, I hope that this workshop in Suncheon City will be an opportunity for all participants to share their knowledge and experience and to discuss ways and means for the conservation of biodiversity and habitats for wildlife.
Thank you very much for listening.
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Congratulatory Remarks
Llewellyn Young
Senior Advisor for Asia-Oceania Ramsar Convention Secretariat
I am very happy to represent here the Ramsar Convention. Thanks to Suncheon City and the RRC-EA for making my trip possible to participate in the workshop. I would like to offer my thanks to the Mayor of Suncheon City for hosting the workshop.
The RRC-EA is the most active center in sharing the experiences around the region. I am happy to see the workshop being hosted by this great city, which houses two Ramsar sites: Suncheon Bay and Dongcheon Estuary. We will be visiting both of these sites in a few days. These sites are the model for the management of wetland sites in Asia.
There are some 50 participants attending the workshop representing some 17 countries in the East and Southeast Asia plus resource persons from different countries. These participants belong to both contracting as well as non-contracting parties. One of the goals of the workshop is to listen to them and learn from each other. Let us build our relationship and friendship.
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Congratulatory Remarks
Park, Ky Young
Honorary Director Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia
Good Morning!
I am Park Ky Young, Honorary Director of the Ramsar Regional Center- East Asia. I would like to extend my sincere welcome to Mayor Cho, Choong Hoon, Dr. Lew Young of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Mr. Spike Millington, and wetland managers from East and Southeast Asia to this 8th Regional Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in East and Southeast Asia.
I am also pleased to hold this workshop in Suncheon Bay for sharing experience on wetland management with wetland mangers from 17 countries. In particular, this workshop is the first event held in Suncheon City since the RRC-EA moved here.
I also welcome you to Sunchoen City where it has two Ramsar Sites: Dongcheon Estuary and Suncheon Bay. I am pleased to hold this workshop for wetland managers and experts to build their capacity and discuss the wise use of wetlands.
Lastly, I do hope to build a strong network beyond the country and share our successes and challenges on wetland management through this five day-long workshop. Thank you very much for listening.
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Congratulatory Remarks
Spike Millington
Chief Executive East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
The EAAFP is proud to be here at the time our friends, birds are migrating to the South. Birds are welcome here. Our sincere congratulations to all of you for holding the workshop jointly by the Ministry of Environment and Suncheon City. Suncheon City is in the middle of the Flyway.
The EAAFP is part of the Ramsar Regional Initiatives. We hold many joint trainings, both national and international. We have very good relations with the RRC- East Asia. We have successfully organized many trainings and workshops. It is the process how we build a network with others. We then reinforce each other. Our vision is working together with as many organizations as possible for the cause of migratory birds and wetland sites. Congratulations to all of you for organizing and hosting this very constructive workshop.
20 Part I. Opening Ceremony
Part II. Keynote Speech
Part III. First-Hand Experiences
Part IV. Strategic Plan, Tracking and Management
Part V. Flyway Partnership RRC-EA Part II
The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971)
Llewellyn Young
Senior Advisor for Asia-Oceania Ramsar Convention Secretariat
1. Ramsar Convention text and wetland ecosystem services
… recognizing the interdependence of Man and his environment, … considering the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands as regulators of water regimes and as habitats supporting a characteristic flora and fauna, especially waterfowl, … wetlands constitute a resource of great economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value, the loss of which would be irreparable,
The Ramsar Convention text shows that from the beginning, the Convention has focused on the wetland ecosystem services and not just wetland biodiversity that is what many people still
22 Keynote Speech RRC-EA think of the work of the Convention
Mission: Conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.
To achieve this, it is essential that the vital ecosystem services that wetlands provide to people and nature, are fully recognized, maintained, restored and used wisely.
2. Wetland and Recent International Agreements
Aichi Biodiversity Targets Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded.
Sustainable Development Goal 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services… in line with obligations under international agreements.
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 Priority 3: 30 (g) Promote the mainstreaming of disaster risk assessment, mapping and management into…. [the] management of, inter alia, mountains, rivers, coastal flood plain areas, drylands, wetlands and all other areas prone to droughts and flooding... and preserving ecosystem functions that help reduce risks.
3. Wetland Loss and Degradation
Despite the importance of wetlands and the work of the Convention, wetlands and their resources are still being lost and degraded. • Wetlands are being lost at a faster rate than any other ecosystem. • 64-71% of wetlands have been lost since 1900 (Davidson, 2014). • Globally, the costs of the loss of wetland ecosystem services from 1997 to 2011 is estimated to be between US$4.3–20.2 trillion/year (Costanza et al, 2014).
4. Challenges for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use
The reasons for the continued loss and degradation of wetlands are numerous. In their National Reports to COP12 (2015), the Asian Contracting Parties highlighted some of the main challenges
23 RRC-EA Part II they face in conserving wetland and implementing the conservation. a. National level issues • Low awareness of wetland value, lack of cooperation between relevant government sector, lack of specialist staff, • Lack of appropriate policies for wetland conservation, • Lack of information and awareness for effective conservation and management. b. Ramsar Site level issues • Insufficient resources, • Increasing human pressures, • Lack of an integrated river basin approach to wetland management, • Impacts from climate change.
5. The Three Implementation Pillars
The Convention text highlights the three main ‘pillars’ of the implementation of the Convention i) wise use of wetlands, ii) the designation and conservation of Ramsar Sites and, iii) international cooperation. i. Wise use of wetlands
a. National wetland inventory • Develop an updated wetland inventory so that you know the location and status of the
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wetlands in the country, the ecosystem services that they provide and their priority for conservation (the % in the brackets is the % of Asian Parties reporting to COP12 as having a national wetland inventory). • Identify the distribution and status of the wetlands in the country; the services they each provide and to prioritise them for conservation and management (52% of Asian Parties). b. Establishment of a ‘National Wetland Committee’ The aim of such a Committee (or working group or similar), is to promote communication and cooperation between stakeholders. The Committee can give advice to higher levels of governments, or can give decisions. • Broad-based forum for discussion and/or decision making for wetland conservation and wise use, • Involvement of all the relevant stakeholders (62% of Asian Parties).
c. Review national legislation and policy Only 38% of Asian Parties have reviewed their national legislation that is low and more Parties need to take action on this issue. • To ensure that the legislation is compatible with wetland conservation and wise use.
d. Development of a national wetland strategy / action plan Such a strategy / action plan would help guide future work on wetland conservation in the country (48% is low). ii. Ramsar Site Designation and Management The second pillar of the Convention is the designation and management of priority wetlands as ‘Ramsar Sites’. Although many wetlands are being identified for designation as Ramsar Sites based on their importance for biodiversity, the full range of services that the site provides should be understood from the beginning so that they can be included in the management plan and maintained.
a. Understand the value of the site Resolution XII.15 invites Ramsar Site management authorities to assess and measure the services that their Site provides (such as the storage, treatment and provision of water, support to the livelihoods and health of human communities, disaster risk reduction, climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, tourism and education) and ensure the maintenance of these services in their management processes.
b. Engage the local community Gain community support and ensure their involvement in site designation, management and monitoring.
c. Establish a broad-based ‘site management committee’
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The local communities have to be engaged and involved from the beginning of the process to designate the site, including playing a key role in the site management committee and the drafting and implementation of the management plan.
d. Draft and implement management plan • Local involvement, • Based on traditional knowledge and science, • Restoration, monitoring, review, • Education and awareness programme, • Budget, fundraising, workplan and timetable.
e. Evaluating management effectiveness Evaluating management effectiveness is an important part of the management of the site. One of the main tools for carrying out the evaluation is the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) which has been successfully tested amongst ASEAN Heritage Parks, and some countries have also adapted the METT for their country’s use (e.g. in Bhutan).
A Ramsar-METT has been developed for wetlands and Ramsar Sites whose development was supported by Thailand and which was adopted at COP12 (2015). • 57% of Asian Parties have evaluated the management effectiveness of all or some of their Ramsar Sites. • In 2015, Thailand supported the development of a voluntary, Ramsar Site specific Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (R-METT) that was adopted at COP12 (RexXII.15).
Note: The detail is found in another article “Ramsar Sites Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool by Raphael Glemet in Part IV: Strategic Plan, Monitoring & Management.
f. Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS): • Completed at the time of designation of a Ramsar Site, • Provide basic information on the Site, • Should be updated every 6 years, • In Asia, 53% of the RIS from Ramsar Sites of 21 Parties is out of date.
The designation of a wetland as a Ramsar Site signals the commitment of the government to the long-term conservation and management of the site. However, many Ramsar Sites do not have sufficient funds or staffs to carry out effective management, and more than half of the RIS of Sites in Asia are out of date. [This may partially be because the focus of attention of the Site has been on biodiversity rather than the wide range of services that the site provides. By shifting the focus to the importance of the site in providing these many services, the Site may be able to attract greater attention and thus funding and support.]
26 Keynote Speech RRC-EA iii. International Cooperation The third pillar of implementation is international cooperation for shared wetlands and their biodiversity. The Convention has a mechanism called ‘Ramsar Regional Initiatives’ for Parties to cooperate on regional issues regarding wetlands. In Asia-Oceania Region, existing regional initiatives include: • East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP): for the conservation of the migratory waterbirds in this flyway as well as the habitats they depend upon, • Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia: organize wetland training courses and workshops, • Proposed new regional initiatives include those for Central Asia, South Asia and the Indo-Burma region.
6. How are Ramsar Sites contributing to sustainable development?
If the Mission of the Convention is that the conservation and wise use of wetlands should contribute towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world, then how should this be done and how do we monitor whether we are successful? The management of Ramsar Sites could be models for promoting sustainable development through focusing not only on biodiversity conservation but also promoting livelihoods. In future, we should consider that plans for management and site monitoring should focus not only on environmental parameters but also socio-economic ones as well.
• What are the benefits of designation to local communities? • Resolution XII.15: Encourages Parties when monitoring the condition of Ramsar Sites to ensure that such assessments not only include biological and hydrological components but also consider the socio-economic status of any indigenous peoples and local communities, subject to the respective national laws of the Contracting Parties.
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7. Case study: Kabukuri-numa (Japan)
These are some of the examples of the organic products from the Site e.g. rice, vegetables, Sake (rice wine), rice biscuits etc. Such labeling of the products from a Ramsar Site could help the sale of the product but there would need to be some control over which products can have the label. The system of control can be via the National Focal Point in each country. • 423 ha Ramsar Site consisting of a central freshwater marsh and the surrounding rice paddies, • Important site for wintering swans, geese and ducks, • Voluntary agreements with the rice farmers to maintain shallow winter flooding of the paddies so the habitat is more suitable for feeding waterbirds, • Rice farmers are moving towards organic farming which benefits the wintering birds and the organic rice products which are sold at a higher price, are popular amongst consumers
8. Summary
The conservation and wise use of wetlands is as important and relevant as ever. Ramsar Parties and partners should continue to promote greater awareness and cooperation for wetland conservation at the site, national and transboundary levels. The need is to identify the key ecosystem services that Ramsar Sites provide, and to manage the Sites to maintain the full range of services the Sites provide.
28 Keynote Speech RRC-EA
Past, Present and Future of the RRC-EA
Suh, Seung Oh
Executive Director Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia
The RRC-EA is one of the four Ramsar regional centers in the world. Other three Ramsar Regional Centers are the RRC-CWA (Ramsar Regional Center-Central and West Asia, Iran), RAMCEA (Ramsar Centre for Eastern Africa, Uganda) and CREHO (Ramsar Regional Center for Training and Research on Wetlands in the Western Hemisphere Panama).
The RRC-EA works with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Historical development of RRC-EA is moving forward as follows. May 2009 : Endorsed by Ramsar SC 51 July 2009 : Inaugurated in Changwon City Dec 2015 : MOU between RRC-EA, MOE Korea, and Suncheon Jan 2016 : Now hosted by Suncheon City
1. Focus areas of RRC-EA
29 RRC-EA Part II i. CEPA Activities: The RRC-EA has refocused its action areas. The refocused ones are as follows. • The Youth Model Ramsar Convention is RRC-EA’s CEPA activity focused on the future generation, students. The best students from different countries are selected and they make their own resolutions. This activity will be continued soon. Training workshops and training in local languages will also be continued. This year we had a training in Indonesia. • Over 900 high school students involved, • Resolutions on the wise use of wetlands and conservation, • Representatives of Ramsar contracting parties, International organization partners, • Increase youth interests on wetlands and provide opportunity to reconsider wetland related environmental issues through discussion. ii. Networking: Several Changwon Declaration Network (CDN) Meetings were organized for the implementation of the Changwon Declaration, Ramsar Resolution X.3 (2008). Now, the RRC-EA decided to discontinue organizing the meetings to focus more its networking activities on the network of wetland visitor centers in Asia through WLI-Asia. However, it will continue to implement the spirit of CDN in all aspects of RRC-EA activities. An MOU has already been signed with Wetland Link International as its official engagement in the network of WLI-Asia. iii. Grant Program: Two types of fund have been initiated: (i) Grants for wetland conservation and management, and (ii) Support for World Wetlands Day (WWD) celebration. The nature, types and processes are as follows. a. Small but important wetland conservation projects b. CEPA related projects including WWD c. 7 Projects per year (4 projects: USD10,000 / 3 projects: USD5,000) d. Reviewed and selected by the RRC-EA Steering Committee
Year No of Projects Countries 2009 2 N. Korea, Mongolia 2010 3 China, Mongolia, Vietnam 2011 4 Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines 2012 4 Lao PDR, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam 2013 4 Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Philippines 2014 4 Indonesia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Vietnam 2015 4 Bhutan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines 2016 7 Indonesia, Cambodia (2), Mongolia, Philippines (2), Vietnam
2. Future Strategies
The coverage of the area is diverse-- 17 countries and many languages. Ramsar Handbooks, technical reports and CEPA tools are great and are the practical source information for various
30 Keynote Speech RRC-EA wetland stakeholders, but access to these guidelines are limited for various reasons such as language barrier, level of communication, lack of training opportunity and so on. Therefore, the RRC-EA will adopt the following strategy in the next few years.
Strategy 1: Local language training program: Simple training material (text, video) will be developed with active support and participation of Ramsar National Focal Points, Administrative Authority, CEPA and Scientific and Technical Review Panel. Since the target audiences are wetland managers, the process of involving the Ramsar National Focal Points has already been activated in many countries.
Strategy 2: Effective Communication Wetland managers do not know each other nor do they have any mechanism for formal communication. Limited opportunities are available for information and experience sharing. So, a big gap exists between the beginner and the experienced. Sharing is the best and shortest way to overcome any barrier that exists between them such as sharing information, knowledge and exhibition, distribution of materials, and maximum use of SNS (Social Network Services like Website, publication and distribution of “Web Magazines”). For this purpose, the following programs of actions have been proposed. 1. Continue working with wetland managers and wetland visitor/education centers, 2. Support WLI – Asia platform for capacity building and information sharing, 3. Facilitate joint programs between Ramsar Sites, and wetland education centers, 4. Publish and distribute “Web Magazine”.
Strategy 3: Cooperative Fundraising through WLI-ASIA Raise 1-2 Million USD / year in collaboration with members of WLI-Asia by providing promotional opportunities to private companies such as Hyundai, Samsung, LG, Toyota and others. The target number of WLI-Asia members will be 100 – 200 with more than 100 million visitors and they will be a great attraction for the companies to promote their products and to improve their brand images.
Strategy 4: Establish Asia Wetland Fund The raised fund will be entitled as “Asia Wetland Fund” and will be used for training workshops, conferences, conservation, CEPA, management, restoration and research. The fund will also sponsor the WLI-Asia conferences, AWS (Asian Wetland Symposium) and other platforms of communication in our region.
3. Conclusion
Your active participation provides fuel to the RRC-EA and the RRC-EA would like to be a bridge in the cooperative network among all wetland stakeholders in the region
Your kind advice, suggestion, wisdom and support are always welcome.
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International Cooperation for a Shared Biodiversity Resource: Migratory Waterbirds in the East Asian - Australasian Flyway
Spike Millington
Chief Executive East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
EAA Flyway Partnership • Launched in Indonesia in November 2006 • Voluntary (non-binding) arrangement • Open to Governments, international non-government and intergovernmental organisations, private sector • Based on 5 Objectives, 5-year Strategic Plan statements • Secretariat is based in Incheon, South Korea and supported by the Government of Korea and Incheon City Government
EAA Flyway Partnership has a total of 35 partners representing governments, IGO, INGO, Conventions, Private Organizations.
Working group and Task Forces • Anatidae, Cranes, Shorebirds, Seabirds, Bf Spoonbill, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Scaly- sided Merganser, Baer’s Pochard, Eastern Curlew • Yellow Sea • AI, CEPA, Monitoring
Flyway Sites Network Flyway Network Sites (124) Important Potential sites (Approx. 950)
The Partnership Objectives 1. Develop the Flyway Network of Sites of international importance for migratory waterbirds.
32 Keynote Speech RRC-EA
2. Enhance communication, education and public awareness of the values of migratory waterbirds and their habitats 3. Enhance flyway research and monitoring activities, build knowledge and promote exchange of information on waterbirds and their habitats 4. Build the habitat and waterbird management capacity of natural resource managers, decision makers and local stakeholders 5. Develop flyway wide approaches to enhance the conservation status of migratory waterbirds.
Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) • Approved by Arctic Council April 2015 • Recognizes that saving Arctic-breeding migratory birds requires action outside Arctic • Prioritizes EAAF • Korea is AC Observer Country
The Australian Government has developed “Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds”.
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34 Part I. Opening Ceremony
Part II. Keynote Speech
Part III. First-Hand Experiences
Part IV. Strategic Plan, Tracking and Management
Part V. Flyway Partnership RRC-EA Part III
1. Korea
Wetland City Accreditation of the Ramsar Convention
Lee Hyun Joo
National Wetland Center Republic of Korea
1. What is Ramsar Accreditation Scheme?
Wetland Accreditation of the Ramsar Convention1) provides an opportunity to local communities to participate in the wise use of wetlands by accrediting adjacent areas of Ramsar Site or important wetland as wetland city of the Ramsar Convention. It considers Ramsar Site as the invaluable asset of the local communities for its wise use. [Note: The Ramsar Convention gives accreditation to the cities (villages) located adjacent to Ramsar Site or important wetland and thereby allowing the participating of local communities into the conservation and wise use of wetlands (Resolution XII.10).]
2. History & Objective
The history of accreditation plan is given below. 2010 • Capacity building of local residents conducted 2011 • The Ramsar Village scheme introduced 2013 • Joint declaration on the Ramsar Village accreditation and pilot project • Workshop organized to develop guidelines for Ramsar Village • Submission to the COP for endorsement 2014 • Draft Resolution submitted (with Tunisia) to the Ramsar COP12 • Resolution XII.10 adopted in the Ramsar COP12 • Pilot project selected for accreditation
1) The Ramsar Convention gives accreditation to the cities (villages) located adjacent to Ramsar Site or important wetland and thereby allowing the participation of local communities into the conservation and wise use of wetlands (Resolution XII.10).
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The objective of the Accreditation Scheme is to promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands and regional and international co-operation as well as generate sustainable socio- economic benefits for local populations (Ramsar Resolution XII.10Annex Para. 6).
3. Accreditation Procedure
1. Selection of the candidate cities 2. Submission of the proposal (2017) 3. Review of the proposal (2017) 4. Report of the evaluation (2018) 5. Certificate by the Secretary-General (2018)
4. Selection criteria
1. It has one or more Ramsar Sites or other significant wetlands fully or partly situated in its territory or in its close vicinity, which provide(s) a range of ecosystems services to the city. 2. It has adopted measures for conservation of wetlands and their services including biodiversity and hydrological integrity. 3. It has implemented wetland restoration and/or management measures. 4. It considers the challenges and opportunities of integrated spatial/land-use planning for wetlands under its jurisdiction. 5. It has delivered locally adapted information to raise public awareness about the values of wetlands, and encouraged stakeholders for the wise use of wetlands, for example, establishing wetland education/information centers. 6. It has established a local Wetland City Committee with appropriate knowledge and experience on wetlands and representation of stakeholders and their engagement to support the Wetland City accreditation of the Ramsar Convention and the implementation of proper measures for fulfilling the obligations under the accreditation.
5. Wetland City Accreditation in Korea
Its main objectives are as follows. 1. Transferring the responsibilities of management and conservation of wetlands to local community. The process includes designing protected area, making conservation and management plan, undertaking conservation, management and wise use (tourism) and monitoring the progress. 2. Systematic integration among wetland conservation, management and wise use (education, conservation, management, tourism, efficiency project, culture & arts). The procedures it adopted here are; (1) application for the candidate sites, (2) selection and nomination, (3) designation for the accreditation.
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6. Pilot Project Sites
The nine project sites were selected for the purpose. These sites were; (1) Ungok Wetland, (2) Upo Wetland, (3) Mulyoungarioreum, (4) Dongbaekdongsan, (5) Daeeme Mount Youngneup. The Ministry of Environment, River Basin Office, local government, local communities and local NGOs were involved in the management of pilot sites.
Major Activities 1. Formation of Local Management Committee (Multi-stakeholder Committee) 2. Development and implementation of conservation plan, rules and regulations. a. Villagers and tourists meet and show respect to nature b. Villagers adopt environment-friendly methods and practices. c. Villagers formulate a harmonious landscape improvement projects in Dongbakdongsan wetland d. Villagers make their village as eco-village e. Villagers make their village as water, energy self-sustaining village. 3. Identification of ecosystem services from the wetlands and strengthening the connectivity with the City or Village (Commercialized wetland ecosystem services, creating regional product and self-service stand for regional product) 4. Development of methodologies by local residents (Environment Friendly Farming, Eco-tourism etc.) 5. Involvement of local residents in wetland restoration and management (Signing MOU between school, village and local research institute to protect rare plant species, eradicating exotic plants, maintenance of wetlands, landscape monitoring by local people in Upo wetlands, restoration of deteriorated forest area into environmental education site, signboard and newsletter created by villagers’ monitoring program). 6. Dissemination of the result through wetland education and wetland visitor center (animation, brochure, youth wetland news report published in local newspaper, operation of wetland visitor center, displays in village office, young nature interpretation program, book publication)
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7. Impact of Pilot Project
At the end of the pilot project in 2015, a survey was conducted in Sunheul Village. Its purpose was to find out people’s perception about wetlands. The results, as indicated by their response are as follows. 1. I can feel the positive changes after the designation of the site (97% of villagers). 2. My village is becoming more attractive now than before (83% of villagers). 3. I have higher self-esteem now than before (60% of villagers).
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Suncheon Bay: Wise Decision of Citizens
Shim Soon Sup
Director, Suncheon Bay Conservation Suncheon City Republic of Korea
Suncheon City, which has a population of 280,595 in an area of 910 km2, has two Ramsar sites (Suncheon Bay and Dongcheon Estuary) and a national garden, the first of its kind in Korea. About 5.5 million people visited the garden. Its natural and seasonal beauty in four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) is beyond comparison.
The citizens of Suncheon City made a wise decision to use the Bay and its ecosystems judiciously. How they did this is summarized as follows. “The abandoned land in 1992 becomes the first National Garden in Korea with the active and responsible engagement of the local communities. The Bay was declared as a Ramsar Site in 2006. Now it is a paradise for birds, especially the Black-necked Cranes, skippers, crabs and many other creatures. Bats come here in the winter. Prior to the designation of the site, farmers were convinced to remove 282 electric poles from there so as to make the area a better place for these fauna. Then the City government removed
40 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA
duck farming, restaurants and roads approaching the area from outside. Only the rice fields were allowed to remain there.”
The chronology of its development is presented below.
The total and final responsibility of the management of the Bay area lies with the Suncheon Bay Wetland Conservation Committee consisting of representatives from the city government and civil society as well as experts. Now the Suncheon Bay Natural Ecology Committee (private/public management) discusses ways to effectively preserve and make sustainable use of the Bay, including the promotion of planned tourism like the MICE Industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Events) in Suncheon City. Suncheon Bay: Now the city has developed a master plan for the conservation of the Bay area. The plan has divided the area into four zones: urban zone, transition zone (National Garden, an artificial landscape), buffer zone, and eco-reserved zone.
Dongcheon Estuary: The Estuary was declared as a Wetland Protected Area in 2015 by the Ministry of Environment, Korea and as a Ramsar Site in 2016. Initially, local community opposed it but later a consensus was developed to declare it as a Ramsar Site.
Now the city has a plan to nominate the area for consideration in the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme in 2018. The proposed Biosphere Reserve area has been divided into Cooperation Area, Buffer Area and Core area. The city is planning to apply for City Accreditation ofthe Ramsar Convention in 2018. The city is also planning to nominate the area in 2019 to be included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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2. Myanmar
Management Issues in Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary
Thin Thin Yu
Park Warden Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary Myanmar
In 2005, the Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as the first Ramsar site in Myanmar and a flyway network site in 2014. It covers an area of some 40 sq. miles. Itis extremely rich in biodiversity, especially migratory birds. The summary of management issues as presented by Ms. Thin Thin Yu is as follows: 1. During dry season, overfishing, electric fishing, cattle and duck farming, illegal paddy cultivation in the newly retreated area and settlements near the boundary 2. Insect trapping by the people in the winter season in Bago region 3. Conversion of certain areas of the wetland into agricultural fields 4. Golden Apple Snail is widely distributed in the area, which destroys the lotus and rice,
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field and thus reducing the habitat area. How to control them is the number one issue in the Sanctuary 5. Overuse of water for agriculture in winter 6. Pesticide problem 7. Introduction of exotic species (Suckermouth catfish, Mimosa pigra) 8. Domestic animal grazing (cattle, duck) 9. Lack of resources for boundary demarcation, alternate livelihood, technical skills, zoning (such as fishing zone, non-fishing zone and core zone) and capacity building of the field staff 10. Lack of coordination among the Irrigation Department, Forest Department and Fishery Department when the level of water goes down to at least 22 feet in the dry season
The following activities currently being implemented in the Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary attempt to address the management issues: 1. Smart patrolling and law enforcement 2. Regular survey of waterbirds 3. Monitoring of flora and fauna such as aquatic plants, fish and migratory birds 4. Conduct of research on wetlands and waterbirds in collaboration with the academe (universities) and with local and international NGOs 5. Promoting education and public awareness through the Wetland Education Center and Mobile Education Program 6. Promoting ecotourism
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Current Activities in Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
U Kyi Oo
Range Officer Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Myanmar
The Indawgyi Lake is the largest inland lake in Myanmar and covers an area of 100 sq. miles. It was included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2015 and designated as a Ramsar site in 2016. The lake and its surroundings house some important birds such as Woolly- necked Stork, Black-necked Stork, Sarus Crane, Ruddy Shelduck and Soft-shelled Turtle. Although pristine in nature, the Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is plagued with a number of problems, which are summarized by the Park Warden as follows: 1. Gradual encroachment to the sanctuary area for growing crops 2. Gold mining at the upper catchment causing siltation, sedimentation and pollution, 3. Overuse of resources especially for logging and wood harvesting 4. Over-fishing
44 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA
5. Increasing number of fishing immigrants to the area 6. Sewage and plastic littering in the lake area 7. Overproduction of firewood
To address the threats, the Indawgyi Lake management office is carrying out the following activities: 1. Joint community patrolling 2. Establishment of “no fishing zones” or Fish Conservation Zones (FCZs) within the lake 3. Biodiversity surveys 4. Education and awareness program (includes installation of signboards) 5. Establishment of forest user groups 6. Provision of fuelwood saving stoves 7. Fish stock enhancement 8. Ghost net and plastic removal campaign 9. Law enforcement for gold mining operations
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3. Japan
Tidal Flat of the Ariake Sea
Sayaka Nakamura
Kashima City Office Japan
The Ariake Sea is the biggest tidal flat in Japan. It houses about 44% of the tidal flats. The Sea is a large tidal flat and a good habitat for mudskipper, Fiddler crab, Saunders’s gull. A large number of migratory birds visits the area. The place is popular for its seaweed “laver” cultivation.
Despite its abundance in sea fauna, the Ariake Sea is riddled with several problems, which has threatened its biodiversity. Three main problems are as follows:
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1. Sea pollution (dysoxic and red tide) has caused the decrease of fish catches. The Ariake Sea frequently experiences red tide. Because of this, fish catch decline from 140,000 tons in the 1960s to just 20,000-30,000 tons in years beginning 2000. 2. People do not have interests in the Ariake Sea. In the 1960’s, children used to dig the Chinese Razor Calm with a pan but nowadays no interest is shown. Therefore, conservationists are praying and working for the revival of the Chinese Razor clam. 3. Ducks feed on barley and seaweed “laver”. Thus, ducks are considered the enemies of farmers and fishermen in the area.
The future of this tidal flat is an important concern. Therefore, it is important for the younger generation or children to learn more about the tidal flat. Through the youth, social pressure can be created on adults for the protection of the tidal flat. In order to make the children aware and interested in the conservation of the tidal flat, the Ramsar Promotion Office is developing educational programs such as hands-on activities, development of posters about migratory birds and formation of the Ramsar Children Club.
The presentation was concluded with the announcement of the next Asian Wetland Symposium to be held in Saga Prefecture from 7 to 11 November 2017.
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Management System of the Yatsu Higata Tidal Flat
Aya Genseki
Narita Ranger office Kanto Regional Environment Office Ministry of the Environment, Japan
The Yatsu-Higata is the only tidal mud flat in the Tokyo Bay area. Situated in the Chiba Prefecture, it is an urban wetland and was designated as Special Protection Zone in 1988, Ramsar site in 1993 and recently declared as Flyway Network Site. It is a stopover for about 2,000 migratory bird species. The area is also a place for relaxation for the people of Tokyo.
Recently, the area is facing major problems, which are summarized below. 1. Decrease in the number of plover and sandpiper 2. Deterioration of living environment with rotten smell of sea lettuce 3. Problem of garbage which flows in from the sea with the rise and fall of the tide 4. Due to lack of education program for the community, there is a slack in local participation
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especially learning about the current status and fascination of the Yatsu Higata.
Currently, the stakeholders that are engaged in maintaining the Yatsu Higata Tidal Flat are the Ministry of the Environment (to cooperate with local government and local community on conservation), Narashino City Government (educating children and local community), local community (engaged in cleaning rotten lettuce, improving the aquatic environment and promoting education and awareness in the community), and researchers (identifying the problems and suggesting solutions).
Now the office of the Yatsu Higata Tidal Flat is proposing to celebrate Yatsu Higata Day to remind the people about the importance of wetlands and to look into the future. Therefore, it is crucial to provide the local community with opportunities of learning current situations as well as the fascinating aspects of the Yatsu Higata.
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4. Taiwan
Strategies in Habitat Management at Guandu Nature Park
Jeff Yeh
Department of Conservation Wild Bird Society of Taipei Guandu Nature Park Administration Office Taiwan
The primary purpose of wetland conservation is the maintenance of functions and values particularly for biological, economic and livelihood purposes. The Park has several types of habitats: water bodies, paddy fields, grasslands and forests.
Guandu Nature Park’s attraction is the shorebirds. Its area has been divided into four management zones: (1) Core Reserve Area (strict protection and no access to the public), (2) Sustainable Management Area (limited access to the public and interface between nature and human), (3) Main Area (area for the public access) and (4) Outdoor Observation Area (access to the public).
Management of the Core Reserve Area includes activities such as maintaining habitat diversity, restoring open water area and shallow areas into mudflats (as habitat for shorebirds) and deep
50 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA ponds (as habitat for ducks). These are further achieved by the restoration of marshy lands, ponds and surrounding mudflats, removal of tall macrophytes and accumulated soils, and management of waterways.
Since 1999, major restoration activities have been carried out in an area of 22 ha. The restoration work has made some impacts on the park, which can be summarized as follows: 1. Soil compaction due to the prolonged use of heavy machinery, which negatively affected the benthic population. 2. Accumulation of soil and organic matter due to dredging and the removal of grasses. 3. Obstruction of the viewing of the birds by tall macrophytes. 4. Restoration of more open waters due to dredging and removal of grass buildup by bulldozers.
Biological control is a new method of management because water buffaloes and low human interference reduce the amount of disturbance to the environment. The grazing and walking of water buffaloes in different areas reduce the growth of tall macrophytes and other pressures. It helps reduce the target species of Para grass (Brachiaria mutica). Biological control is compatible with wetland landscape and encourages the preservation of traditional agricultural methods. Brackish water is introduced at high tide, forming a short-lived biological pathway increasing the diversity of wetland environment. That is why, the Park is planning to construct a floodgate opening device and dike check valve.
Paddy field management approach, which is used in the Park is discussed in thenext presentation by Lisa Chou.
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Paddy Field Management Approach in Guandu Nature Park
Lisa Chou
Department of Conservation Wild Bird Society of Taipei Guandu Nature Park Administration Office Taiwan
The Paddy Field Management Approach is a management tool used in Guanda Nature Park to make the environment wetland friendly. The open areas such as rice fields and emergent vegetation are suitable for shorebirds. Also the bare ground offers feeding areas. These areas are also used by Painted Snipes, Black-winged Stilts and Zitting cisticola. Paddy fields provide habitats for Zitting cisticola when the rice grows to a certain height and Painted Snipe nests in July interferes with the weeding process. Birds including Egret and others can also hide in and feed on rice.
The Paddy Field Management Approach helps the wetland environment in the following ways:
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1. Provides vegetation according to seasons, 2. Maintains open areas during the winter/spring months, 3. Lowers the impact of large scale habitat restoration work, 4. Reduces the damage on vegetation cover, and 5. Reduces the accumulation of organic matter.
Dredging and removal of grass buildup by backhoes and bulldozers restore open waters in the Core Reserve Area. Soil and organic matter that accumulates quickly needs to be transported outside the park. Tractors, instead of heavy dozers, are used in the rice fields which reduces the damage on vegetation cover and thereby reducing the accumulation of organic matter as well. The rotation of vegetation cover is followed to lower the impact of the large scale habitat restoration works.
In 2009, a paddy field with an area of 0.7 ha was restored but was later divided into plots. Rice was grown in a plot of 0.4 ha once a year and economically important aquatic crops were grown in 6 mini-plots of 0.3 ha to draw the attention of the business sector for sponsorship. This area is referred to as the “Heart Field”. Sponsorship has fostered awareness, understanding and sustainability of the wetlands and has allowed the corporate people to get out of the office and release their tension. The sponsorship program will be continued into the future.
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5. Lao PDR
Wetland Management in Lao PDR
Thaksakone Chounlamountry
Department of Water Resources Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Lao PDR
The National Water Resources Strategy 2025 and Action Plan 2016-2020 are the framework policy documents for the management of water resources in Lao PDR. It has spelt out two action agenda as follows:
Action 1: Formulate and implement regulations and action plan on wetland management 1. Formulate and implement specific strategy and action plan 2. Formulate regulations and legislations on wetland management and utilization
Action 2: Strengthen wetland management capacity 1. Strengthen capacity in wetland management
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2. Promote participation of all sectors concerned 3. Establish specific Wetland Management Taskforce
These two actions were implemented and the results of which are summarized below. 1. The development of a set of guidelines for the management of wetlands is ongoing. For this purpose, Nong Harn Wetland was selected. This wetland site has the problems of flooding, waste water from the cassava factory, garbage and agricultural land extension. The area is divided into many conservation zones. Local people cooperate with each other and share information. The site also faces some challenges such as selling-buying land in the conservation area and thereby causing possibilities for encroachment in the future; and time constraints for raising awareness of local people.
2. In Nong Oun Wetland, a working group has been set up. With the help of a team, zoning has been implemented and boundary posts have been erected. The team also has established a village fund to improve livelihoods and promote wetland conservation and management. A biodiversity inventory has been conducted and a study center was built. All these activities have been carried out with local participation and the information has been regularly shared with others.
3. Now a similar program has been initiated in Xechamphone Wetland, where they have already developed the wetland profile and are now discussing about the preparation of a wetland management plan.
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Ramsar Site Management in Lao PDR
Khonesavah Louangraj
Department of Environmental Quality Promotion Lao RAMSAR Secretariat, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Lao PDR
Lao PDR has two Ramsar sites: Xe Champhone Wetland (Savannakhet Province) and Bung Kiat Ngong Wetland (Champasak Province). The total area of the Xe Champhone Wetland and Bung Kiat Ngong Wetland is 12,400 ha and 6,000 ha, respectively. A number of national laws and local regulations related to wetland management has been in action, e.g. the Constitution of Lao PDR, national laws on land, forestry, water and water resources, environment protection, fishery, urban planning, among others.
A National Steering Committee on Ramsar Site Management has been formed to catalyze wetland conservation in Lao PDR. In the same manner at the provincial level, Provincial Steering Committees in Savannakhet and Champasak Provinces were also established along with Technical Teams to take care of the Ramsar sites in Lao PDR.
Customary law does not allow the killing of monkey but now there is a big problem of monkey killing due to the demand from the international market and because of felling of trees. Many
56 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA types of educational materials have been produced and disseminated in the surrounding areas of the Ramsar sites.
The Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia, through its Wetland Fund, provided financial support for the implementation of the project “Strengthening and sharing of experiences and best practices on wetland management in Ramsar Sites with Central and Local People in Lao PDR”. Project activities focused on capacity building and stakeholder awareness.
Major issues and challenges facing the country are: lack of clear-cut legislation on wetland management, overfishing, overgrazing, flood, drought, unclear boundaries, deforestation and conversion of wetland for agriculture and gardening purposes, use of pesticides, increased soil salinity, emergence of invasive species, population growth, impacts of climate change, and the lack of budget.
Two bilateral projects are currently being implemented in the Ramsar Sites of Lao PDR to address priority wetland issues. These projects are “Climate Change Adaptation in Wetland Areas in Lao PDR-CAWA Project” supported by FAO, IUCN and the GEF; and “Lower Mekong Basin Wetland Management and Conservation Project” funded by the German Government through the KfW Development Bank.
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6. Malaysia
Wetland Management in Malaysia
Intan Nurul Kamil
Biodiversity Management and Forestry Division Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia
The National Wetland Policy of Malaysia was formulated as a guiding document “to ensure the conservation and wise use of the wetlands in Malaysia in order that the country gets to enjoy the functions and benefits of this natural heritage and fulfill its obligations under the Ramsar Convention.” At the national level, two (2) committees were created: (1) National Wetland Committee, and (2) Technical Wetland Committee.
Malaysia has a total of six (6) Ramsar sites and seven (7) more are in the process of designation. These Ramsar sites are: (1) Tasek Bera, (2) Tanjung Piai, (3) Pulau Kukup, (4) Sungai Pulai, (5) Kuching Wetlands National Park, (6) Lower Kinabatangan –Segama Wetlands.
The direct benefits from the designation of Ramsar sites include: raising the profile ofthe
58 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA wetland as an area of international importance, generating revenue through ecotourism, having the advantage of sharing knowledge and best practices, and attracting research, development and capacity development.
Major challenges facing these Ramsar sites, as summarized by Intan Nurul Kamil are as follows: 1. Tendency to clear land is growing high (for agricultural activities, shifting cultivation and rubber plantation, illegal logging), 2. Intensive fishing including the use of poison, 3. Impact of industries on water quality, hydrological system, plantation and habitat, 4. Oil spills by ships and siltation, 5. Illegal hunting and poaching, 6. Coastal erosion - sea-based water pollution may arise from the development around the area that will directly impact the shores of Sungai Pulai Estuary. Siltation/erosion may occur due to sediment transport and water flow changes. 7. Coastal pollution - being close to Singapore and the international waters, the likelihood of oil spills from ships is high, which are a potential threat to the mangroves of Sungai Pulai, 8. Sewerage – high population density of floating villages, 9. Degradation of some mangrove habitats and disturbance of the waterways, 10. Encroachment by locals to fell trees for timber, 11. In Kuching National Park, the growing population of crocodile itself is a problem.
Recommendations to address the issues are enumerated below: 1. Integrated enforcement actions by various agencies 2. Promote applied research activities 3. Collaborate with universities and research institutions to help study and monitor the effects of development projects 4. Continuous implementation of CEPA programmes with the participation of local communities and other wetland stakeholders 5. Implement rehabilitation and restoration work in degraded areas 6. Engage the private or business sector in wetland management 7. Promote community-based ecotourism
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7. China
Better Wetland, Better City Wetland Conservation and Development Practices in Guangzhou Haizhu National Wetland Park
Fan Cun Xiang
Public Education and Research Center, Haizhu Wetland in Guangzhou China
The Guangzhou Haizhu National Wetland Park, otherwise known simply as Haizhu Wetland, is renowned as the “Green Heart” of Guangzhou. It comprises the Haizhu Lake and 39 rivers. The wetland ecosystem includes a typical urban lake, dike-pond agriculture and river networks. The Park is the largest wetland park in the Chinese mega city.
The park has five special features: 1. Green Core Area (Green area of the city axis)
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2. Tidal River Network (semi-diurnal tide with a tidal range of more than 2 meter every tidal cycle in a half day) 3. Fruit dike-pond ecosystem (fruits are grown in the dike and fruits fall to the pond and then are fed to fish. The fertile pond mud of fish excreta and other decompositions are brought up to manure the trees. This is called ecological farming and it is the traditional wisdom of “working with nature”.) 4. Paradise of birds and fish (suitable foraging ground for 134 species of birds, 66 species of insects and 36 species of fish.) 5. Popular Lingnan folk culture.
The Haizhu Wetland has played an important role in flood storage, climate regulation, water purification, soil and water conservation and biodiversity maintenance. It is also renowned as the back-garden, the parlor or the business card of Guangzhou because of the beautiful scenery and a good harmony between economic prosperity and ecological conservation. It provides social (tourism, environmental education), economic (investment platform and regional linkage) and ecological benefits.
The park is administered by a Management Bureau. Professional research institutions, public associations and relevant departments carry out the research and ecological monitoring of Haizhu Wetland. The Haizhu Wetland Nature School now acts as a bridge between campus and off-campus education on wetland conservation. Various activities such as bird watching course, summer camp, regular course, night observation course and learning tour are carried out regularly. The Haizhu Lake is also a recreation area and tens of millions of people visit the park for relaxation and enjoyment.
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Spartina Control and Habitat Restoration in Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve
Ma Qiang
Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve China
The Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve was established at the provincial level in 1998 and upgraded into a national reserve in 2005. It was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2002 and a Shorebird Site Network in 1999. Spartina was introduced in China during the early 20th century and was first discovered in 1995. It was introduced in Chongming Dongtan to protect the wetland from sedimentation, protect the seawall, and check the speeding up of the inter-tidal expansion. They are fast growing plants and have choked the stream, altered the natural landscape, and displaced native vegetation such as reeds and Scirpus, thereby causing the loss of habitat.
In 2010, the Central Government has granted RMB 5 million to support the experiment on Spartina control and habitat restoration. The project aimed to control the expansion of Spartina effectively, provide high quality habitat for birds, and attract birds to the restoration area. The
62 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA following activities were implemented as part of the experiment: 1. Constructed a closed cofferdam with an artificial river system 2. Mowed the Spartina during summer to avoid the seed spread by wind 3. Flooded the area by pumping water and maintaining the water level above 60 cm 4. Planted reeds to create suitable habitats for certain birds 5. Maintain water level in the area using a water gate and pump station
After regular monitoring, it was discovered that more than 95% of the Spartina in the experimental site was eradicated. Large groups of birds were attracted to the site. An Environmental Education Center was also built to share the achievements of the reserve and to enhance public education functions of the reserve.
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8. Viet Nam
Management of Coastal Wetlands in Thai Binh Province
Vu Hai Dang
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Thai Binh Province Vietnam
Thai Binh is a coastal province located in the Red River Delta region in Northern Vietnam. Its coastal areas contain mangrove forests and harbors about 200 species of birds with some rare species. The mangrove forests act as a coastal barrier at the time of storms and are a valuable means to respond to climate change, salinization and water purification. It plays as sea dikes when flood tide and storms enter.
It is a large homeland to many species and at the same time, it plays a big role in local economic development. It expands about 10 hectares every year. Wetlands helps to gradually form a coastal mangrove forest.
Both national and local governments are preparing a plan to protect the biodiversity of the area. The Government is planning to hand over the forest to local community for their management and conservation. But the danger is that: 1. The area is inhabited by poor people, completely unaware of the values of wetlands.
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2. The improper exploitation such as fishing with electricity, dynamite, or gun power, and fishing during off-season are serious threats to the wetlands in Thai Binh. 3. Moreover, there is much solid waste and wastewater flow into the wetlands from the surrounding lands and ships.
The Government initiated projects to protect the wetlands in Thai Binh as follows. 1. Propaganda activities (meeting, listening and discussing with local people about the problems and wetlands), 2. Building policies that will promote economic development while conserving the wetlands, 3. Support the program that helps local residents develop livelihood activities, 4. Mobilization of resources from individuals or organizations from within and outside Vietnam to provide assistance to the people, and 5. Continuous monitoring with both stick and carrot.
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9. Nepal
Kosi Tappu: The First Ramsar Site of Nepal
Shyam Kumar Shah
Chief Conservation Officer Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Nepal
Koshi Tappu is the first Ramsar Site of Nepal designated in 1987. It was declared as a Wildlife Reserve in 1976. The Reserve’s ecological features include rivers, mud flats, sand banks, grasslands, savannahs, oxbow lakes, marshes, and riverine forests. The grassland consists of Saccharum spp., Phragmites spp., Typha spp., Imperata spp. The riverine forest comprises Bombax ceiba, Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Trewia nudiflora including aquatic vegetation such as Hydrilla, Azola, Lotus, Eichornia, Valisneria.
The Asiatic Wild Water Buffalo is the flagship species of the Reserve and as of now its population is about 432, along with dolphin, wild elephant, deer, crocodile (both gharial and mugger), python, turtle, swamp partridge, Black-necked Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Greater and Lesser Adjutant Storks, Bar-headed Goose and Bengal Florican.
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The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is the only habitat in Nepal for wild water buffaloes. Seepage water forms ideal habitats for residents and migratory waterfowls. It maintains the food chain for wildlife, controls flood and traps sediments. The natural resources of the Reserve also support the livelihood of indigenous communities. Buffer zone communities are privileged to fish, and collect thatch grass for roofing and Typha for making mats.
The Reserve is surrounded by 511 Buffer Zone User’s Groups. It has 9 Buffer Zone User’s Committee under the Buffer Zone Management Committee at the apex. There are some 17 buffer zone community forest groups. Activities such as resisting the translocation ofwater buffaloes, controlling invasive species, increasing trend of water buffalo population, expanding tourism, and the demand from the people to increase the Reserve area suggest the high degree of community concern and ownership of the Reserve and in the conservation of wetland resources in the area.
One of the major challenges of the Reserve is the invasion of alien species such as Mikenia sp., Lantana camara, water hyacinth and Eupatorium sp. Other challenges include siltation, conversion of wetland into grassland, decreasing trend of wetland birds, annual shifting of river course, impact of climate change, cattle grazing, unsettled issues such as the compensation for the displaced people, and displacement of the people because of river flooding.
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Management Practice of Jagadishpur Reservoir in Nepal
Surendra K. Shrestha
Under Secretary (Tech.) District Forest Office Kapilvastu Nepal
The number of Ramsar Sites in Nepal has reached 10, the last one being the Lake Cluster of the Pokhara Valley. The Jagadishpur Reservoir is the first and largest man-made wetland constructed in 1979 for the purpose of irrigation. It covers an area of 225 ha and was listed as a Ramsar Site in 2003 in recognition of the critically endangered species and threatened ecological communities present in the wetland. It comprises three ecosystems: forest, agricultural and wetland.
Nearly 109,572 farmers are benefitting from the Reservoir covering an area of 6,070 ha. of farmland. It is home to many species of migratory waterfowl, including endangered species like the Sarus Crane. The flagship species of the Reservoir is the Sarus Crane.
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In 2012, a five-year management plan has been prepared by the Jagadishpur Reservoir Management Multi-Stakeholder Forum (JRMMSF)— a multi-sectoral forum comprised of 17 members from different agencies, organizations and community stakeholders. The major stakeholders are District Development Committee, District Irrigation Office, District Soil Conservation Office and District Forest Office.
About one third of the Jagadishpur Reservoir is covered by invasive species, commonly Ipomea carnea, Eichornia crassipes, Parthenium hysterophorus, Xanthium strumarium, Mimosa pudica and Bidens pilosa. Other threats are listed below. 1. Sedimentation and siltation: Sedimentation and siltation are high in the reservoir, which is altering the composition of vegetation, resulting in growth of terrestrial plant species. 2. Eutrophication: Due to increased dominance of nutrient leaching from local farmland, algae, plankton and other microorganisms are growing which has negative impacts on other plants and wetland-dependent animals. 3. Cattle grazing, 4. Human encroachment, 5. Collection of timber, fuel wood, fodders, non-timber forest products, 6. Indiscriminate killing and poaching of wildlife such as turtles, birds, rabbit, porcupine and wild boar, among others, 7. Water pollution, 8. Human and wildlife conflicts, including the killing of birds, 9. Inadequate scientific research on local fauna.
The Jagadishpur Reservoir offers opportunities for domestic and international tourism, connectivity with other tourism sites, enhanced livelihood of poor families living around the Reservoir, scientific studies, and sustainable irrigation systems. These opportunities may be realized by the following measures: 1. control of invasive alien species 2. reduction of direct dependence on plant resources 3. Soil and water conservation 4. Promotion of commercial cultivation of local landraces 5. Raising conservation awareness 6. Community-based anti-poaching operations 7. Habitat improvement: wetland rehabilitation, community-based forest management, agroforestry, alternative energy technology, plantation activities for providing nesting habitat for birds. 8. Fish farming: community fish farming in existing public ponds, degraded public and private pond renovation to promote fish farming in local areas. 9. Capacity building for government and community institutions 10. Tourism development: targets of around 150-200 international and about 10,000- 12,000 domestic visitors each year. 11. Strengthen coordination among the wetland stakeholders
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10. Mongolia
Mongolian Ramsar and Flyway Sites: Past, Present and Future
Gombobaatar Sundev
National University of Mongolia and Mongolian Ornithological Society Mongolia
Different natural zones and ecosystems can be found in Mongolia, e.g. high mountain ecosystems, forest and desert steppes, and lakes. Mongolia is home to more than 56 million livestock (sheep, goats, camels, cows and horses) whereas human population is only 3 million. Habitat loss due to overgrazing is always a consequence of a large number of livestock in the field.
The total species of birds recorded in Mongolia is 487, of which 419 species are breeders, summer visitors and passage migrants, and 67 species are vagrants. Majority of birds are passage migrants. People used to sprinkle milk to migratory birds wishing them safe journey to the wintering ground. This used to be a very common tradition for Mongols but now it is slowly
70 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA vanishing.
Habitat loss and degradation (38.1%), human disturbance (13.6%), pollution (11%), and changes in native species (10.7%) are the most dominant threats to the birds in Mongolia. Due to overgrazing and climate change, wetlands that support many threatened waterbirds have been extensively drying out for the past decade. Seven (7) breeding pairs of Asian dowitcher used to breed in Mongolia in 2007. At present, it is zero. This fact spurred conservationists to discuss about waterbirds and wetland conservation. The number of bird species decreases from north to the south.
Mongolia became a contracting party of the Ramsar Convention in 1998. If fulfills its commitment to the Convention through the enforcement of policies and legislations related to water, biodiversity and rare wetland species. It currently has 11 Ramsar sites, the first one being designated in 1998. Out of these 11 sites, seven are included in the current protected area network in the country. Mongolia also has six Flyway Sites.
Major threats to the Ramsar Sites and Flyway Sites of Mongolia, as presented by Dr. Sundev, are: fires during spring and autumn, high population of livestock along water bodies, mining and extraction (mainly gold and uranium), extensive use of trees and bushes for livestock shelters, negative consequence of hydro-power stations, drying up of some lakes due to climate change, extensive harvest of fishes for household and commercial purposes, habitat loss, invasive species and lack of capacity of the staff member of the Ramsar site.
To address the threats and constraints to Ramsar and Flyways Sites, Mongolia plans to implement: 1. Conservation of species recorded in Ramsar and Flyway Sites a. Leave the birds without disturbance for a certain period of time b. Build artificial nests and dams c. Build fences or halt nesting grounds 2. Policy issues a. Strengthen cooperation among wetland stakeholders by taking preventive actions against fires b. Support site-based research and conservation activities c. Establish public awareness or information centers 3. Research and monitoring a. Collect updated data b. Establish bird watching towers c. Conduct environmental impact assessments for proposed hydro-power stations d. Carry out monitoring of threatened birds 4. Public awareness a. Improve public perception and awareness on wetland biodiversity b. Publish information materials on each Ramsar site in Mongolia c. Organize Wetland Day-Mongolia and develop Sister Cities 5. Meetings and trainings a. Support the participation of wetland stakeholders to international meetings, trainings, forums b. Update the Ramsar Convention’s National Council database
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Case Studies of Some Ramsar Sites of Mongolia
Delgermurun Myagmarsuren
National University of Mongolia and Mongolian Ornithological Society Mongolia
An interdisciplinary team of four researchers under the leadership of Prof. Gombobaatar Sundev conducted a rapid study of five Ramsar sites in Mongolia: Khurkh-Khuiten, Mongol Daguur, and Buir, Ganga and Ugii Lakes. The team counted waterbirds during autumn migration and gathered data and information. The main objective is to update the Ramsar Information Sheets. However, the presentation summarizes only the practical problems faced by these sites and recommended solutions to these problems:
Problem 1. Steppe and forest fire (Khurkh-Huiten, Mongol Daguur, Buir Lake) Solution: Engage local communities and obtain their confidence.
Problem 2. Overgrazing and habitat degradation and loss (all sites) Solution: Improve pasture management and provide livelihood options
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Problem 3: Waste pollution in wetlands (Ganga and Ugii Lakes) Solution: Develop community-based garbage management system
Problem 4: Lack of finance of long term monitoring and conservation (all sites) Solution: Develop a mechanism for raising funds.
Problem 5. Lack and bad quality of equipment (all sites) Solution: Explore resources for their replacement
Problem 6. Illegal hunting of fish and birds (only Buir and Ugii lakes) Solution: Enforcement of laws along with public awareness
Problem 7. Conflict between human and wildlife in wetlands (all sites) Solution: Provide compensation and insurance system
Problem 8. Wetland degradation and loss (all sites) Solution: Find out the causes and their collaborative solution
Problem 9. Lack of correspondence between departments and agencies (all sites) Solution: Signing an MOU with relevant agencies
Problem 10. Lack of action and work plans on Ramsar and Flyway Sites (all sites) Solution: Provide incentives for management plan
Problem 11. Lack of information on Ramsar Convention and Flyway at decision making level (all sites) Solution: Provide educational materials
Problem 12. Forgotten tradition and custom of nature conservation (all sites) Solution: Reactivate, introduce and promote forgotten customs and traditions
Difficulties and challenges in filling out the Ramsar Information Sheet are lack ofbudget, coordination between stakeholders and time-series data on chemical and physical characteristics, ambiguity on waterbirds census and difficulty in determining sediment region and dissolved or suspended nutrients in water.
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11. Philippines
Ramsar Implementation in the Philippines
Zoisane Lumbres
Biodiversity Management Bureau Department of Environment and Natural Resources Philippines
The Philippines has a total of six Ramsar Sites. The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary and Naujan Lake National Park are Flyway Sites. The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary promotes to major activities: (1) ecotourism including bird watching, and (2) biodiversity conservation, monitoring and protection. One major issue are the structures that do not blend with natural landscape of the wetland. Naujan Lake National Park runs “Bangklase”, an educational shipboard program that aims to promote biodiversity conservation and ecotourism for additional source of revenue. It is facing a major issue on the Montelago Geothermal Plant that is operating within the protected area.
Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary holds the remaining unique and intact Peat Swamp Forest
74 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA in the country. Two concerned municipalities in the Philippines passed a Unified Ordinance or local law for the protection of the peat swamp forest. Major issues of the protected area are land use change, peat fires and unsustainable agriculture.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park contains 90% of all coral species in the Philippines and 72% of all coral genera in the world. It plays a key role in the reproduction and dispersal of fish, coral, and invertebrate larvae in the whole Sulu Sea system. Major concerns of the Park are illegal fish and shell collection, marine debris, coral bleaching and shipping activities.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park contains one of the most complex cave systems. An estimated maximum of 920 tourists visit the park per day but the park management has limited the number up to 700 visitors per day. This is because bats and swiftlets living inside the cave are disturbed by the noise and lights that the tours create. Pollution is also an issue.
The Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area serves as a feeding, breeding and nesting ground for birds using the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. It has been nominated to be the third Flyway Site in the Philippines. The main issues of the wetland are the proposed reclamation project and solid wastes that are deposited along the banks of the islands.
An Atlas of Inland Wetlands in Mainland Luzon has been published with assistance from the RRC-EA Wetland Fund. The Philippines is in the process of standardizing methods on the assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems. A National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use and Protection of Philippine Peatlands has been prepared as well as learning modules on “Mainstreaming Ecosystem-based Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation” and “Fundamentals of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change”.
The Philippines is very active in the implementation of its CEPA Program for wetlands. It regularly celebrates the World Wetlands Day and the International Coastal Clean-up. The Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area, Apo Reef, Vitali Wetland and Talon- Talon Wetland are proposed new Ramsar Sites.
In general, major wetland issues include peat fires, land conversion, coral bleaching, marine debris, illegal fishing and shell collection, unsustainable resource use, pollution, reclamation of coastal areas, solid wastes, illegal trade of wildlife, and invasive alien species, among others.
Immediate plans for the Philippines will focus on the implementation of the new RRC-EA-funded project “ Mapping of Wetland Priorities for Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (EbA) in the Philippines”, updating of the Wetlands Conservation Plan and Ramsar Information Sheets, drafting of the wetland policy, and developing a monitoring system.
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Important Wetlands in Zamboanga City
Georgina L. Fernandez
Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Region 9 Zamboanga Sibugay Philippines
The Zamboanga Peninsula has two wetlands: the Vitali Wetland and the Talon-Talon Wetland. The Vitali Wetland has a total area of 1,600 ha that encompasses the Barangays of Tictapul and Licomo. The Talon-Talon Wetland measures 3,485 ha and occupies areas within the Barangays of Talon-Talon, Kasanyangan, Sta. Catalina, and Rio Hondo, and the Great and Little Sta. Cruz Islands. The area is the breeding ground for the Giant Flying Fox and Common Island Flying Fox and turtle. The population of bats is about 1,100 individuals. The area is the roosting site for many vulnerable species of birds as well. The first Bird Festivals were organized in 2015 to raise public awareness in the city.
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12. Bhutan
Integrated Wetlands Management in Bhutan
Sonam Choden
Department of Forests and Park Services Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Bhutan
Bhutan is a biodiversity hotspot. Wetlands in Bhutan are classified into lakes, rivers/streams, marshes and peat bogs. In the north, Glacial lakes are receding very quickly exposing the whole area to a phenomenon called Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, in short GLOF, whereas, mid-hill lakes are highly vulnerable to the growing population. Thus, natural disaster is at the door steps. So, Bhutan has to be extra careful.
The idea of wetland conservation in Bhutan began in 2010, prior to Bhutan becoming the 161st contracting party of the Ramsar Convention in 2012. In 2014, Water Regulations mandate the preparation of wetland management plans. Now, there are three Ramsar Sites in Bhutan: Bumdeling, Gangtey-Phobji, and Khotokha. Gangtey-Phobji is a wintering ground for the Black-
77 RRC-EA Part III necked Crane. Wetland conservation is incorporated in the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of 2016. Any plan needs forest clearance, if the site is within the forest area.
An interdisciplinary approach is adopted in wetland conservation and planning. This means that local government is empowered, wetlands are integrated in the Forest and Nature Conservation Rule (2010), and payment for ecosystem services is incorporated in river basin management. Paddy fields cannot be changed in Bhutan as they are already protected by laws.
The planning cycle takes into consideration the middle path that is to: (1) identify stakeholders, (2) identify interests and objectives, (3) conduct inventory and assessment, (4) develop management plan, (5) carry out the plan, and (6) reflect and adjust.
Major challenges include the knowledge gap on wetland ecosystems and functions, misunderstanding about wetland benefits, lack of data and information for databases, and development and gradual change in values.
The challenges in implementation comprise limited technical capacity and financial resources, difficult physical terrain and extreme weather conditions, and scarce baseline data.
Now, Bhutan is determined to improve its advocacy on wetlands and their benefits, develop and implement integrated management plans for designated Ramsar Sites, continue wetland inventory and mapping, improve knowledge base on wetland science, strengthen collaboration with field offices, upscale the Forestry Clearance, and further implement the Ramsar Convention effectively.
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13. Thailand
Wetland Management in Thailand
Tossapon Piantanakulchai
Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Thailand
Wetlands comprise 36,616 sq km or 6.75% of the total area of Thailand. It has 14 Ramsar Sites, 61 wetlands of international importance, and 48 wetlands of national importance. Wetland conservation measures in Thailand focus on protecting and preserving wetlands for public purposes, supporting research and studies of wetland ecosystems, supporting the management of wetland ecosystems, and reducing the threats to wetland ecosystems.
Songkhla Lake is the biggest lake in Thailand with a total area of 1,040 sq km and harbors a unique water system of fresh to brackish to salty. That is why it is a unique wetland or lake. But it is highly vulnerable to land use change due to the encroachment of oil palm plantations on peat
79 RRC-EA Part III swamp forests. It also experiences forest fires. To address these problems, illegal residents must be identified and differentiated from those legal residents, peat swamp water level must be maintained at an acceptable level to prevent forest fires, and regular patrolling should be enforced to stop encroachment activities.
Intensive or overfishing is another big issue in Songkhla Lake. This threatens the already small population of the rare species, Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). Annually, about 5-6 dolphins get entangled accidently in giant catfish gillnets and die instantly because of drowning. On the other hand, the lake is controlled by the “Lake Mafia” and the only way to increase fish harvest is to release more fingerlings into the lake. Sometimes, gill nets are collected and burnt in public places but this practice does not solve the problem.
Now, law enforcement alone is not enough and the strategy has been changed to engaging the local community– making local community aware of the issue, initiating dialogues between relevant stakeholders and government agencies, and developing a common vision and mission on the issue (from getting their cooperation to even compensation).
Sam Roi Yod Wetland, another Ramsar site, is rich in birds, fishes, amphibians including flora such as sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) and water lily (Nymphaea pubescens Willd). But, since September 2016, this wetland has dried up because of drought for the past six months, diversion of water for agriculture, shrimp farming around the site, and intensive human activity. The wetland is in crisis, meaning the livelihood of the people is at stake.
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Kuan Ki Sian of the Thale Noi Non- Hunting Area Wetlands in Thailand
Ploenchit Piant Anakkulchai
Thale Noi Wildlife and Nature Education Center Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Thailand
Kuan Ki Sian of the Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area Wetlands is one of the 14 Ramsar Sites in Thailand. The wetland is at the intersection of the three southern provinces: Phatthalung, Songkhla and Nakhon Srithammarat. It is about 22 km away from the Gulf of Thailand. It covers an area of 494 ha inside the Thale Noi Wetland.
Mostly the area is characterized by inundation, permanent or annual. Kuans are islands free of water most of the year and they are located in the Melaleuca swamp forest. The protected area offers a diversity of freshwater habitats. Its unique feature is the large and diverse aggregation of waterbirds in the lake and surrounding forest swamps and fields, which indicates one of the few remaining intact freshwater wetland ecosystems in Thailand.
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Two nesting areas are found in this protected area, one of which may contain up to ten thousand birds. The common birds of the area are Purple Swamphen (Purple Gallinue), Bronze-winged Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Purple Heron, Little Cormorant, Lesser Whistling Duck, and Lesser Tree Duck. It is also host to a considerable number of migratory bird species.
The area is rich in fauna and flora. There are at least 250 wildlife species found within the site. Certain areas of the wetland are being utilized for fishing, cattle raising, rice, oil palm plantation, and Acacia (Acacia mangium) and krajoot (Lepironia articulata) cultivation. Handicrafts are made from krajoot. Ecotourism is also an important occupation for specific localities. In the northern part, there are limestone outcrops rising covered with bamboo and evergreen forest, partly replanted with Acacia.
Major problems include: aquatic weeds like water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, common susum (Hanguana malayana), and Salvinia cucullata; pollution from nearby cities; and poaching.
In the Thale Noi Wetlands, there is an education center called Thale Noi Wildlife and Nature Education Center, which is engaged in generating data and information on waterbirds, publicity on radio, organizing camps, conservation education and training, and managing ecotourism.
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14. Sri Lanka
Wetland Management System of Sri Lanka
Sisira Rathnayake
Kumana National Park Department of Wildlife Conservation Sri Lanka
The historical evidences such as inscription, tanks, sluice and anicuts show that water resources used to be managed judiciously in Sri Lanka from time immemorial. There are several protected areas such as strict nature reserve (only for research), nature reserve (permission needed), national parks (protected), and sanctuaries (belonging to the public).
Sri Lanka became a Contracting Party of the Ramsar Convention in 1990. At present, there are six Ramsar Sites in Sri Lanka covering a total area of 198,172 ha. Only Kumana National Park drains to the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka has the highest species density in Asia. The country has 500 elephants, causing a big conflict between human and elephants. This is a big and serious problem.
Wetland types in Sri Lanka include man-made tanks, reservoirs, rivers, streams, marshy lands, mangroves, and lagoons. Wetland management in Sri Lanka promotes biodiversity conservation, sustainable fishing, flood control, hydropower, and tourism. Fishing and tourism are the major sources of income in wetlands.
However, on the other hand, failures in wetland management are due to poor garbage disposal and drainage, sedimentation, eutrophication, encroachment, ethnic war, protection of tribal rights, lack of awareness, human-animal conflicts, uncontrolled growth of invasive species, impacts of climate change, poverty, and stringent government rules and regulations.
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15. Cambodia
The Management of Prek Toal Ramsar Site
Sun Visal
Department of Freshwater Wetland Conservation Ministry of Environment Cambodia
Prek Toal is one of the four Ramsar Sites in Cambodia. It has been recognized as a Ramsar Site in 2015. It has a total area of 21,342 ha and is part of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, together with Boeng Chhmar and Stung Sen. Prek Toal is affected by seasonal flooding– six (6) months flooding and six (6) months dry. Water flows to the Tonle Sap during the monsoon season and retreats back to the river in the winter.
Prek Toal is blessed with a flooded forest and diverse species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and fish. It is home to the largest remaining colonies of five (5) globally threatened and near-threatened species of birds (Oriental Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant) and two (2) globally threatened species (Spot-billed Pelican, Milky Stork) in Southeast Asia. It supports 10-30% of the global population of six (6) threatened waterbirds.
Following the Prek Toal Ramsar Site Management Model, a project was implemented starting in 2001 which intended to protect the waterbird colonies and other forms of wildlife, design a population monitoring program, gather baseline data for the wetland management plan, and educate the local people. Activities implemented in Prek Toal include aerial and boat surveys
84 First-Hand Experiences in the Region RRC-EA of bird nests and colonies, formation and training of a local conservation team, construction of tree platforms, indoor and outdoor education for village children, community education including the annual celebration of World Wetlands Day, ecotourism and community development, SMART patrolling, boundary demarcation, alternate jobs (home gardening and fish raising), fire prevention, and regular monitoring of colonies and nesting trees.
The Prek Toal management office has been successful in monitoring the major bird species in the area. They are able to generate accurate population estimates for species such as Spot- billed Pelican, Greater Adjutant, Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork, Milky Stork, Oriental Darter, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and Asian Openbill. As a result, it was determined that the Oriental Darter, Painted Stork, and Lesser Adjutant have the largest colony in Southeast Asia. Asian Openbill breeds on trees and scrub. Its population has rapidly increased but stabilized gradually. Greater Adjutant has the second largest colony in the world.
Major challenges comprise lack of financial resources; illegal fishing; disturbance and hunting of birds; habitat degradation due to the clearing of land for agriculture, burning for hunting, cutting for fishing gears; inaccessibility of the area during dry seasons; complex institutional arrangements, e.g. the Prek Toal Core Area (21,342 ha) managed by the Ministry of Environment overlaps with the Fishery Conservation Area (55,000 ha) managed by the Fisheries Administration and local administrative authorities.
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16. Indonesia
Danau Sentarum National Park Management
Ir. Arief Mahmud
Director Betung Kerihun and Danau Sentarum National Park Indonesia
Danau Sentarum was first declared as a Natural Reserve in 1981 and later into aWildlife Sanctuary in 1982. It was designated as the second Ramsar Site of Indonesia in 1994. In 1999, the Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as a National Park. It merged with Betung Kerihun National Park in 2016 and is now recognized as Betung Kerihun and Danau Sentarum National Park (BKDSNP). This presentation is about the one half of the BKDSNP, that is, Danau Sentarum National Park.
Danau Sentarum is part of the conservation areas and a national strategic area of the Heart of Borneo. It serves as a giant reservoir for the Kapuas River and is among the 15 lakes in Indonesia prioritized for conservation. It functions as catchment area and mitigates floods during the rainy season and buffers water during the dry season. Danau Sentarum has vegetation types ranging from dwarf swam forests to heath forests.
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Key species of the park are (1) Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus), (2) Bekantan or proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), (3) Arwana Super Red (Scleropages formosus), and (4) Buaya Senyulong or Senyulong crocodiles (Tomistoma Schgelii). The Danau Sentarum National Park is home to two important highly popular aquarium fish species: Asian Arowana (Scleropages legendri) and Clown Loach Botia or Tiger Botia (Chromobotia macracanthus).
Wild honey, harvested from the park and branded as Danau Sentarum honey, is an international organic honey certified by the Indonesia Organic Association. The park has a high potential for ecotourism that will focus on the natural and socio-cultural aspects of the area.
With regard to management, the park implements its management plan (2007-2022) which defines the park zones. Danau Sentarum has been divided into (1) Land Traditional Zone and (2) Water Traditional Zone. Its programs and activities include security, biodiversity conservation, environmental services, forest fire control, and capacity strengthening. The Park has initiated cooperation based on shared learning for the utilization of the traditional zone. It has carried out the following nine (9) stages: 1. Facilitate understanding on the cooperation strategy, 2. Identification of local/indigenous products (77 types such as fishery products, forest, honey, handicrafts, shifting cultivation), 3. Identification of type of events or activities, 4. Selection of qualified community groups 5. Socialization of the stakeholders for the cooperation, 6. Orientation about policy for the utilization of the traditional zone, 7. Signing of agreement between the BKDSNP and the Association of Periau Danau Sentarum (APDS) 8. Capacity building of the communities, 9. Development of the marketing network.
Challenges of the park management are forest fire, illegal logging, overfishing, illegal hunting, water pollution, farming, increase of population, and impact of oil palm plantation.
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Berbak and Sembilang National Parks
Agustinus Rante Lembang
Ministry of Environment and Forestry Indonesia
The Berbak National Park and Sembilang National Park are located in the Island of Sumatra covering areas of 141,262 ha and 202,896 ha, respectively. Both parks are Ramsar Sites and are rich in flora and fauna such as palms, Sumatran tiger, and tapir. Major activities inside the parks focus on conservation of ecosystem, sustainable use, benefits sharing, and public awareness. Features of each park are enumerated below:
In Berbak National Park 1. A unique peat swamp and breeding ground and nursery for sea fauna 2. There are eight (8) Sumatran tigers 3. Challenges include encroachment, illegal poaching, illegal logging, forest fire, over- drainage, lack of human resources (quantity and quality)
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In Sembilang National Park 1. A unique estuarine and breeding and spawning ground for sea fauna 2. Designated as a Flyway Site in 2012 3. There are 17 Sumatran tigers 4. Challenges are encroachment, illegal fishing, fishnet in seashore line, illegal logging, and forest fire
With assistance from international and national organizations, the management offices of the parks implement measures to address the challenges. These include tiger protection patrolling, extinguishing forest fires, establishing forest fire brigades, rehabilitation of forests and mangroves, demonstration activities for REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), ecotourism, canal blocking, community development, and stakeholder collaboration.
The strategy in managing two Ramsar Sites comprises the application of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis, coordination and socialization with all stakeholders, establishing a Wetland Information Center, in-house training of staff members, and development of infrastructure for ecotourism and wise use.
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17. Brunei Darussalam
Peatland Forest Management, Administration and Conservation Strategy in the Heart of Borneo Initiative
Mahmud Yussof
Chief Executive Officer Heart of Borneo Centre Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam has seven (7) forest types and 32 bio-ecotypes. These forest types are: (1) Montane Forest, (2) Mixed Dipterocarp Forest, (3) Peat Swamp forest, (4) Freshwater Swamp Forest, (5) Kerangas Forest, (6) Mangrove Forest, and (7) Beach Forest. Freshwater swamp forests cover an area of 12,668 ha and are important as feeding, nursery, and spawning grounds for riverine fish species. Peat swamp forests cover about 90,000 ha or 15.6% of the total land area of Brunei Darussalam. Shorea albida is found in these forests and has been recently designated as an endangered species.
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Land in Brunei Darussalam are legally classified either as state land, forest reserve, or private land (for small areas). The management framework of wetland conservation in Brunei Darussalam is as follows: 1. Brunei Heart of Borneo Initiative (HoB) 2. Peatland National Action Plan 3. TCP Master Plan / District 4. Forestry Strategic Planning
The Heart of Borneo Initiative (commonly called HOB Initiative) includes Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. The wetlands in the HOB area are protected for economic, ecological, environmental, and ethnic benefits, and for purposes of food security, carbon sink and protection from the impacts of climate change. As part of CEPA, royals led educational rehabilitation activities.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam reiterated, “Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to the protection of Brunei Darussalam’s environment and to promote the sustainability of its forests through the Heart of Borneo Project where 58 percent of Brunei Darussalam landmass has been committed to the Initiative.”
Ongoing activities include timber logging, sand mining, agriculture, research and development, education, ecotourism, and development projects. To maximize the potential of wetlands, ways to move forward include plans for ecotourism, botanical paradise, join research and education, environmental assets for related industries, promotion of conservation forests as research and development sites, and identification of additional Ramsar Sites in the country.
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92 Part I. Opening Ceremony
Part II. Keynote Speech
Part III. First-Hand Experiences
Part IV. Strategic Plan, Tracking and Management
Part V. Flyway Partnership RRC-EA Part IV
The Fourth Ramsar Strategic Plan (2016-2024)
Llewellyn Young
Senior Advisor for Asia-Oceania Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Wetlands cover a diversity of water related ecosystems that provide a range of services and benefits for people and the environment 1. Provisioning: Food, freshwater, fibre, fuel, medicines. 2. Regulating: climate change mitigation and adaptation. 3. Cultural: heritage, spiritual + artistic inspiration, recreation, education. 4. Supporting: Biodiversity, soil formation, nutrient cycling.
Wetland Loss and Degradation: Wetlands are being lost at a faster rate than any other ecosystem. About 64-71% of wetlands have been lost since 1900 (Davidson, 2014). Globally, the costs of the loss of wetland ecosystem services from 1997 to 2011 is estimated to be between US$4.3–20.2 trillion/year (Costanza et al. 2014).
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Threats: 1. Natural system modification (55%) - fires, dams, water management, reclamation 2. Pollution (54%) 3. Biological resource use (53%) - illegal hunting, overharvesting, plant collection, logging, overfishing
Priority Area and Focus of the Plan
Policy Communication and engagement 1. Wise use of wetlands 1. Collecting and communicating information 2. Preventing, stopping and reversing the loss and about wetland ecosystem services and the degradation of wetlands benefits they provide to people and nature 3. Science-based advice and guidance 2. Synergies and enhancing cooperation 4. Climate change and wetlands 3. Strengthen and support the full and effective participation by stakeholders Site designation and management 4. Financing 1. Designation of national and transboundary Ramsar Sites 2. Basin perspective 3. Invasive alien species
Goals of the Strategic Plan
The goal of the Strategic Plan adopted at Ramsar COP12 (2015) are as follows: Goal 1: Addressing the drivers of wetland loss and degradation (4 Targets) Goal 2: Effectively conserving and managing the Ramsar Site Network (3 Targets) Goal 3: Wise use of all wetlands (6 Targets) Goal 4: Enhancing implementation (6 Targets)
Strategic Goal 1: Addressing the drivers of wetland loss and degradation Target 1: Wetland benefits are featured in national/local policy strategies and plans relating to key sectors such as water, agriculture, development Target 2: Water use respects wetland ecosystem needs for them to fulfil their functions and provide services at the appropriate scale inter alia at the basin level or along a coastal zone. Target 3: The public and private sectors have increased their efforts to apply guidelines and good practices for the wise use of water and wetlands. Target 4: Invasive alien species and pathways of introduction and expansion are identified and prioritized, priority invasive alien species are controlled or eradicated, and management responses are prepared and implemented to prevent their introduction and establishment.
Strategic Goal 2: Effectively conserving and managing the Ramsar Site Network
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Target 5: The ecological character of Ramsar sites is maintained or restored, through effective planning and integrated management Target 6: There is a significant increase in area, numbers and ecological connectivity in the Ramsar Site network, in particular under-represented types of wetlands including in under-represented ecoregions and Transboundary Sites. Target 7: Sites that are at risk of change of ecological character have threats addressed.
Strategic Goal 3: Wisely using all wetlands Target 8: Updated national wetland inventories are available and used for promoting the conservation and effective management of all wetlands. Target 9: The wise use of wetlands is strengthened through integrated resource management at the appropriate scale. Target 10: Participation by indigenous peoples and local communities is fully integrated into the work of the Convention at all relevant levels. Target 11: Wetland functions, services and benefits are widely demonstrated, documented and disseminated. Target 12: Degraded wetlands are restored, with priority to those that are relevant for biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and/or climate change mitigation and adaptation. Target 13: Enhanced sustainability of key sectors such as agriculture, water, urban development, when they affect wetlands, contributing to biodiversity conservation and human livelihoods.
Operational Goal 4: Enhancing implementation Target 14: Scientific guidance and technical methodologies are developed on relevant topics and are available to policy makers and practitioners in an appropriate format and language. Target 15: Ramsar Regional Initiatives with the active involvement and support of the Parties in each region are reinforced and developed into effective tools to assist in the full implementation of the Convention. Target 16: Wetlands conservation and wise use are mainstreamed through appropriate CEPA programmes. Target 17: Financial and other resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan 2016 – 2024 from all sources are made available. Target 18: International cooperation is strengthened at all levels. Target 19: Capacity building for implementation of the Convention and the 4th Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016 – 2024 is enhanced.
Monitoring implementation: Encourage Contracting Parties to develop and send to the Secretariat by 30 November 2016, their own quantifiable and time-bound national and regional targets for implementation of the Strategic Plan
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Ramsar Sites Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool
Raphael Glemet
Senior Programme Officer IUCN- Asia Regional Office
1. Assessing the efficiency of management of protected areas a. Why? : growing concern that many protected areas are not achieving the objectives for which they were established. b. The WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas) developed a framework for assessment to provide overall guidance in the development of assesment systems. c. The WCPA framework is based on the idea that good management follows a process with 6 different stages.
2. The WCPA framework aims to: a. Assess management effectiveness of protected areas and protected areas systems. b. Give guidance to managers. c. Help harmonize assessments around the world.
3. The METT (Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool) a. The METT is one of a series of management tools based around the WCPA framework. b. Applied to more than 85 countries c. Used in WWF’s PA portfolio; World Bank’s PA portfolio; Global Environmental Facility PA funded projects d. Adopted officially by several states as part of the national protected area monitoring system (China, Namibia, Central Africa) e. Used to enable park managers and donors to identify needs, constraints and priority actions to improve the effectiveness of protected area management
4. The Ramsar METT a. Developed through a working group in 2014, adapted from the original METT, b. Supported through Ramsar Resolution XII.15 “Evaluation of the management and
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conservation effectiveness of Ramsar Sites” at Ramsar COP12 (led by Thailand, with support from the Republic of Korea, Gyeongnam Province of the Republic of Korea and the Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia)
5. Application of the R-METT a. The methodology is a rapid assessment based on a scorecard questionnaire. b. From measuring one project’s targets to use over whole protected area systems c. This includes all six elements of management identified in the IUCN/WCPA Framework (context, planning, inputs, process, outputs, and outcomes) and has an emphasis on context, planning, inputs and processes.
6. Objectives of the R-METT The tool’s objectives are stated as: a. Capable of providing a harmonized reporting system for all protected area assessments b. Suitable for replication c. Relatively quick and easy to complete by protected area staff, and thus not reliant on high levels of funding or other resources d. Easily understood by non-specialists
7. What the tool isn't... a. The tracking tool should not be regarded as an independent assessment, or as the sole basis for adaptive management. b. The tracking tool has strict limitations in terms of allowing comparisons between sites (different expectations, different resources and needs): the scoring system is more useful for tracking progress over time in one site or for a closely related group of sites. c. The tracking tool is too limited to allow a detailed evaluation of outcomes.
8. Structure and content of the R-METT (5 sections/data sheets) DS1 : Record details of the assesment and basic information about the site (name, size, location) DS2 : National and international designations DS3 : Generic list of threats with a ranking of their impact on the site DS4 : Core sheet of the METT, 35 questions to assess the effectiveness of the management organization/structure DS5: Trends in Ramsar Ecological Character
9. Threats analysis a. Residential and commercial development b. Agriculture and aquaculture
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c. Energy production and mining d. Transportation and service corridors e. Biological resource use and harm f. Human intrusions and disturbance g. Natural system modifications h. Invasive and other problematic species and genes i. Pollution entering or generated within protected area j. Geological events k. Climate change and severe weather l. Specific cultural and social threats
10. Scoring a. Questions not relevant to the site should be ommitted giving the reason in comment/ explanation section b. Maximum score is 108 (3 points to all 33 questions + answer yes to all 9 “bonus” questions), (less if some question are ommited) c. Final score is the percentage represented by the your total score from the potential maximum score (108)
11. Scoring (Example) a. You answered 25 questions ( 8 not relevant to your site, not answered) b. Your maximum total could be (25 x 3) + 9 = 84 points c. But you obtained 45 points d. Your score is : 45/84 = 53 %
12. Group a. Fill in the DS4 of the METT form based on your knowledge of your site (1 hour/ 1 form per site) b. What is your score? c. How many questions were not relevant to your site and why? d. What do you feel are key strengths and weaknesses of your management?
13. Scoring: Alternative Version a. Score is subject to distortion. b. Bias is that all questions cover issues of equal weight. c. A better assessment is to calculate it as percentages for each of the 6 components. d. 6 scores per site, support to discussion
14. Group Work a. What is your score per component? b. What were your strengths (high scores) and weaknesses (low score)?
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15. Process for R-METT completion a. Create a working group with staff from the protected site/Ramsar site, government agencies, external experts, and community representatives b. Review the results of existing specific monitoring projects/programs c. Leave time for discussion to reach a common judgement/agreement
Note: Datasheets are not included here. Please Refer to METT Handbook: A Guide to Using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool for complete datasheets.
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Steps in the Designation and Management of Ramsar Sites
Bena Smith
WWT Consulting
Key steps in the designation and management of Ramsar sites
1. Steps in Designation 2. Steps in Management 1. Identification of site of importance 1. Site description 2. Assessment of ecosystem services (Rapid) 2. Planning (Setting up) 3. Site designation 3. Implementation 4. Monitoring effectiveness 5. Audit and review 6. Capacity building of staff
1. Steps in Designation
Detailed steps and tasks in designation are presented below.
Steps Tasks 1. Identification of site of importance Often, the site is recognized as being important because of a single character, e.g. for birds or a particular kind of habitat. 2. Assessment of ecosystem services (Rapid) This should be done to identify whether the site is of importance for other services, e.g. provisioning, supporting, regulating or, culture. This assessment should be done with the involvement of stakeholders, administered by relevant government department. 3. Site designation If through the process the site qualifies to be designated as an area for conservation or wise use, then the formal designation process should be done with the involvement of the local stakeholders. Some form of committee or working group could be formed for this purpose, and all the relevant stakeholders should be brought together. Countries often have their own internal procedures.
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2. Steps in the Management
Detailed steps and tasks in designation are presented below.
1. Site description
i. Prepare an ‘Ecological Character Description’ ii. Assess the threats to the site iii. Assess the values/importance i. Prepare an ‘Ecological Character Description’
Why prepare an Ecological Character Description (ECD)?
Understanding and documenting ecological character is central to maintaining and protecting the values of important wetlands. Changes to the ecological character may signal that uses of the site or externally derived impacts on the site are unsustainable and may lead to the degradation of natural processes (Ramsar Convention 1996, Resolution VI.1).
Contracting parties are expected to manage their Ramsar sites so as to maintain the ecological character of each site.
Ramsar Information Sheet (updated every 6 years). Note if ECD is too complex or you do not enough resources to complete the full process, gather sufficient information to complete the RIS.
Definition The Ramsar Convention defines ecological character as the combination of the ecosystem components, processes, benefits and services that characterise the wetland at a given point in time (Resolution IX.1 Annex A).
Key steps in preparing an Ecological Character Description 1. Introduction to the description 2. Describe the site 3. Identify and describe critical components, processes and services 4. Develop a conceptual model for the wetlands 5. Set limits of acceptable change 6. Identify threats to the ecological character of the site 7. Describe changes to ecological character 8. Summarize the knowledge gaps 9. Identify the site monitoring needs 10. Identify communication and education message 11. Compile the descriptions of ecological character 12. Prepare/update the Ramsar information sheets
102 Strategic Plan, Tracking and Management RRC-EA ii. Assess the threats to the site Identify the actual or likely threats to the ecological character of the wetland, the likely impacts or potential effects of those threats on the ecological character, and the likelihood and likely timing of the threats (if possible).
Or Major threats? iii. Assess the values/importance
Why is wetland valuation important? Because of the many services and multiple values of wetlands, many different stakeholders are involved in wetland use, often leading to conflicting interests and the over-exploitation of some services (e.g., fisheries or waste disposal) at the expense of others (e.g., biodiversity conservation and flood control).
2. Planning (setting up)
i. Promote local stakeholder participation in decision-making, especially with the designation and management of the Ramsar Site ii. Establish a cross-sectoral site management committee iii. Drafting and implementation of a site management plan iv. Establish a long-term financing mechanism for the site v. Establish a CEPA programme at the Ramsar Site i. Promote local stakeholder participation in decision-making, especially with the designation and management of the Ramsar Site (Workshop, discussion, sharing, interaction) ii. Establish a cross-sectoral site management committee
▶ Put in place mechanisms for the National Administrative Authority to be informed of negative changes or likely negative changes in the ecological character of the Ramsar Site ▶ Report all cases of changes or likely negative changes in the ecological character of the Ramsar Site to the Ramsar Secretariat ▶ Communication mechanism established to share information between the Ramsar Administrative Authority and the Ramsar Site manager
Considerations: ▶ Nature of the committee? Advisory, oversight? ▶ Member composition ▶ Meeting frequency? ▶ Terms of Reference iii. Drafting and implementation of a site management plan
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What is a site management plan? A management plan is a document that guides all aspects of the reserve operation, administration, and use. Although a management plan can become a lengthy and complex document, its purpose is to capture the current status of the reserve, to establish goals and objectives for the future, and to articulate how those goals and objectives are prioritized and how they will be met.
Why draft a site management plan? ▶ Improved management of the reserve ▶ Facilitates prioritization of management actions ▶ Improved use of financial and staff resources ▶ Increased accountability ▶ Improved communication (e.g. the management plan provides a means of communication with the public, to explain policies and proposals and to promote and publicize the reserve to a wide range of stakeholders) ▶ Ensures continuity of site operations during management change
Qualities of a good management plan ▶ Clear and accessible: Easy to read, jargon-free and well presented ▶ Concise and comprehensive: No longer than absolutely necessary, but with enough information to fulfill its functions ▶ Accurate and objective: Without statements likely to date the document and with rationale provided for all judgements made ▶ Systematic and logical: With management goals and objectives derived from an assessment of the site and with a clear rationale for all proposals ▶ Precise, practical and prescriptive: Action-oriented with clear objectives, realistic methods for achieving them and within resources, resulting in desired outcomes that can be assessed ▶ Living document: Plan is adaptive in nature ▶ Build in a review and renewal mechanism, ▶ Lifespan of 5 years, need vision for at least 10 years. (Adapted from UCNRS, 2013)
Considerations ▶ Build on the information collected for the Ecological Character Description ▶ Is a Master Plan / Strategic Plan needed? i.e. a higher level plan? ▶ Include in the site management process the full range of the functions and services that wetlands provide, e.g. socio-economic and cultural values, as well as for maintaining human health, livelihood, poverty eradication, biodiversity conservation etc. ▶ Consider zoning the Ramsar Site to take into account the different habitats, landscapes and activities taking place inside, and that the management of each zone is clear to each stakeholder
iv. Establish a long-term financing mechanism for the site
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Considerations ▶ Develop a business plan? (aim to be financially standalone), ▶ Diversity of funding sources (grants, trusts and foundations, sponsorship, fundraising events, donations; legacies, business / commercial sector), ▶ Entrance fees ▶ Merchandise or promotional materials v. Establish a CEPA programme at the Ramsar Site
CEPA (Communication, Education, Participation, and Awareness) ▶ Utilize the information collected for the Ecological Character Description and / or RIS ▶ Draw up CEPA action plans to engage site users, stakeholders, persons/organizations who have an influence on the site: - Establish stakeholder networks - Schools/teachers/students - Public engagement tours - NGO’s, local interest groups - Private sector and government
3. Implementation
i. Management of the Ramsar Site ii. CEPA activities iii. Monitoring effectiveness iv. Assess the management effectiveness of the Ramsar Site v. Audit and review vi. Staff capacity building i. Management of the Ramsar Site a. Restore degraded wetlands and their functions (manage the habitats) b. Manage priority invasive alien species c. Install site infrastructure (Wetland education centre, access, viewing, educational facilities, universal access) ii. CEPA activities a. Awareness raising events (World Wetlands Day, Education programme, Themed activity day, etc.), b. Information sharing (e.g. WLI Asia).
4. Monitoring effectiveness
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a. Assess the management effectiveness of the Ramsar Site - Monitor baseline condition / ecological character of the site - Conduct regular monitoring of the progress of habitat management works
5. Audit and review
a. Carry out regular reviews of the site b. Report and review indicators and results of monitoring (early warning system) c. Management evaluation d. Suggestions for revision of management activities, biannual report to Administrative Authority e. Regular reporting to the site management committee and the AA (Ramsar Convention 1987, Article 3.2 and further clarified by the Parties in Resolution VIII.8, 2002; Ramsar Convention 2005, Resolution IX.1 Annex B)
6. Staff capacity building
a. Capacity building of site staff b. Regular training for manager, rangers and other stakeholders as appropriate (Article 4.5 of the Convention text), c. Twinning arrangements or MOU for knowledge sharing and training, including staff exchanges d. Ramsar Site manager networks have been set up in France, USA, Australia (New South Wales) and Japan (Hokkaido), to share experiences and discuss issues of common concern
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Part II. Keynote Speech
Part III. First-Hand Experiences
Part IV. Strategic Plan, Tracking and Management
Part V. Flyway Partnership RRC-EA Part V
EAAFP A Brief Introduction
Spike Millington
Chief Executive East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
Background
1. Minimum 50 million individuals of 200 waterbird species shuttle back and forth along the EAA Flyway each year. About 33 species of them fall in the IUCN threatened list. 2. Some shorebirds are declining annually at the rate of 9%. This is the highest declining rate. The status of shorebirds is declining more than of any other taxa. Major threats occur during their migration. 3. Projected population losses of three shorebird species (Red Knot, Great Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit) ranges, given current rates of decline, from 5-9% per year. 4. Population time to extinction in Spoon-billed Sandpiper, given current rate of decline of 26.4% per year is 2020 if no action is taken.
Why are the birds declining?
1. Threats are often poorly understood and are different for different species. Threats often act at breeding, wintering and staging grounds. The factors responsible for bird decline are: a. Habitat loss and degradation b. Hunting/killing c. Human disturbance d. Pesticide use and pollution e. Climate change including natural disasters
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2. Habitat loss and degradation is the major factor responsible for waterbird decline in the EAA Flyway. 3. The EAA Flyway has 16 key intertidal waterbird biodiversity ; (1)North Bay of Bengal coast, (2) Red Estuary, (3) Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay, (4) Gulf of Mottama, (5) Inner Gulf of Thailand, (6) Mekong Delta, (7) North-Central Selangor Coast, (8) West Sarawak Coast, (9) Banyuasin Delta from Southeast Asia and (10) Liaodong Bay, (11) Bohai Bay, (12) Yalu Siang Estuary and DPRK Estuaries, (13) Yellow Sea Coast of South Korea, (14) Liazhou Bay, (15) Nakdong-gang Estuary, (16) Jiangsu and Shanghai Coast. 4. The issue of migratory birds is transboundary in nature and requires international responses.
The East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP)
The EAAFP was launched in Indonesia in November 2006. The Partnership is: a. Voluntary (non-binding arrangement) b. Open to Governments, international non-government and intergovernmental organizations, private sector c. Based on 5 Objectives, 5-year Strategic Plan statements d. Secretariat is based in Incheon, South Korea and supported by the Government of Korea and Incheon City Government
Objectives
1. Develop the Flyway Network of Sites of international importance for migratory waterbirds 2. Enhance communication, education and public awareness of the values of migratory waterbirds and their habitats 3. Enhance flyway research and monitoring activities, build knowledge and promote exchange of information on waterbirds and their habitats 4. Build the habitat and waterbird management capacity of natural resource managers, decision makers and local stakeholders 5. Develop flyway-wide approaches to enhance the conservation status of migratory waterbirds
In the EAA Flyway Region, there are 109 Flyway Network Sites and approximately 700 important potential sites. Some examples are (1) Cheonsu (South Korea), (2) Yukan Delta (Alaska), (3) Bako Buntal Bay (Malaysia), (4) Roebuck Bay, (5) Sonadia (Bangladesh), (6) Suncheon Bay (South Korea) and (7) Tokyo (Japan).
Role of Network
1. Collaboration between partners 2. Optimize actions within the migratory network 3. Site level conservation 4. Flyway level conservation 5. International conservation policy/advocacy
Science: Interdisciplinary sharing – important to understand the ecosystem
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Policy: Best use of existing conservation strategies 1. Network of listed sites 2. Increased multilateral cooperation 3. Enhanced conservation and wise use of intertidal wetlands
Major Challenges and Some Responses
1. Challenge: Government personnel turnover Response: Build national partnerships 2. Challenge: Low profile and priority of the issue Response: Advocacy and awareness-raising 3. Challenge: Size of the Flyway Site Network Response: Prioritize the most important sites 4. Challenge: Engaging with site managers Response: Recommendations from this workshop 5. Challenge: Communication (17 languages) Response: Let’s all learn Korean!
For Great Knot species, 7.4% of breeding grounds are protected as opposed to 11.5% for non- breeding purposes. But only 0.03 % stop over sites are protected.
The paper concludes with the recognition that saving Arctic-breeding migratory birds requires action outside the Arctic region. Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative (AMBI) was approved by the Arctic Council in 2015.
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Flyway Site Network For the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and Their Habitats in the EAAFP
Minseon Kim
Programme Officer East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
As has been mentioned in the earlier section, across the EAA Flyway Region, there are 109 Flyway Network Sites and 700 important potential sites. The process of nominating a site is the topic of discussion in this section.
Agency Tasks Local Government/Management Authority/NGO/ 1. Identification of potential sites for the Network Non-governmental Partner/Government Partner by reviewing available data and determining which sites meet the Criteria
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Local Government/Management Authority/NGO/ 2. For the selected site, preparation of a Site Non-governmental Partner/Government Partner Information Sheet (SIS) including a boundary map Local Government/Management Authority 3. Consultation on site nomination at the local scale with stakeholders including site managers, management authorities and relevant organizations Government Partner 4. Consultation on site nomination at the state/ national scale with stakeholders including scholars and relevant authorities
Finalizing the SIS and boundary map for the site nomination
Submission of SIS and Map to the EAAFP Secretariat with a letter requesting that the site be included in the Network EAAFP Secretariat 5. Science Officer conducts an in-house review, then refers the nomination to the Working Group chairs and/or at least three relevant experts (14 days) to seek comments on the provided justification of the criteria met and other scientific aspects of the nomination. EAAFP Secretariat and Nominating Government 6. Communication to finalize the SIS with further Partner clarification or additional information as dictated by outcomes of the referral. EAAFP Chair 7. The Secretariat advises the Chair of the Partnership on the nomination showing the result of the review process and request the Chair to endorse the nomination by writing formally to the nomination partner about the official inclusion of the site in the Network. EAAFP Secretariat 8. The Certification of Participation for the new network site is prepared and delivered to the nominating partner at around the same time as the notification.
Nomination to all partners about the inclusion of the site in the network. Government Partner and Local Government/ 9. Announcement of the inclusion of the site in the Management Authority network
Delivery of the Certificate to the local government and/or management authority with a small presentation ceremony where possible
Benefits of joining the Flyway Site Network (FSN)
1. International and national recognition as important sites for migratory waterbirds
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(FSN certification) 2. Provision of a mechanism to engage with other site managers in delivering flyway conservation outcomes 3. Increased opportunity to develop local awareness about the importance of the site 4. Access to a broader base of information and knowledge on migratory waterbirds conservation 5. Access to capacity development opportunities
National Training Workshops were held in Mongolia as well as in Indonesia to train the people about FSN.
Flyway Sister Site
(1) Yubudo Tidal Flat, Republic of Korea and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore On 20th September 2012, Seocheon County, South Korea and the National Parks Board of Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Yubudo Tidal Flat and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Both are Network sites of EAAFP. The authorities agree to collaborate in joint research on migratory shorebirds and sharing knowledge and expertise on the wetland habitat conservation and management. This will promote better understanding of habitat management for the shared species as sister sites under the East Asian –Australasian Flyway. Major focus: Shorebirds
(2) Kushiro Wetlands of Japan and Hunter River Estuary of Australia are flyway sister sites. Expectations from the management of Flyway Network Sites 1. Updating of the Information Sheet for each EAA Flyway Site Network 2. Managing the site to maintain its waterbird and ecosystem functions 3. Promoting local recognition of the importance of the site for migratory waterbirds 4. Strengthening community support for the management of the site 5. Exchanging information and expertise on site management with other Flyway Site Network managers 6. Promoting the nomination of other internationally important sites to enhance the Flyway Site Network
The EAAFP has developed its own Information Sheet on EAA Flyway Site Network. The latest version can be downloaded from its Website. This was filled out by the participants of the workshop.
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Dashinchilen Tsagaan Lake
Gombobaatar Sundev
National University of Mongolia and Mongolian Ornithological Society Mongolia
1. We know EAAFP is a voluntary programme. In order to fill in the site information sheet, we should have a baseline survey and monitoring data. If we do not have, we would gather the field data in accordance with the site information sheet of the partnership. It means basically we would count and record all bird species and mammal species at our site. 2. Example from Dashinchilen Tsagaan Wetlands, Mongolia. The wetland is a lake situated at an elevation of 920 masl. Cranes are found at the site. 3. We monitored the site for three (3) years. Thanks to Bena and his team of the Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund for their financial help. We had wonderful field works on bird counts, bird ringing training and others. Few stakeholders were engaged in our field activities including the local governor, local country ranger, University researchers, some members of the Mongolian Ornithological Society, photographers, private birding company representatives, school children and local herders. 4. During the field works, we discussed on most current and potential problems and found out the following challenges:
114 Flyway Partnership RRC-EA a. Discussion on the site (why it is important, what benefits the site is to get, what is their involvement in it) and getting the support letter from local governor is important. In order to do it, we took the local governor to the lake for bird counting in a short period and he enjoyed it. If a committee is set up, then it will help collect information. But in our case we could not do it. b. Support letter from the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism is another challenge. Because this site is not a protected area at the state and local levels. But, the focal point of the Partnership, D. Batbold knew the site and he was also involved in field study. c. Drawing the boundary line is a tricky part. In this case, the border line was drawn along the wetland edge. The buffer zone should also be considered. Another tricky thing was to link and embed the file to google earth/google map. d. We filled in the form and sent to EAAFP. It is under review procedures. e. The periodic update of the SIS is essential.
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Why #EAAFP CEPA?
Tomoko Ichikawa
Communication Officer East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
Objectives of the session: • To introduce EAAFP CEPA • To recall the importance of wetland centers and their network for the migratory waterbirds conservation • To ask for cooperation and find out what is useful for wetland centres in respect to CEPA materials and campaigns for EAAF
1. The EAAFP supports major migratory birds – ducks, geese, swans, cranes, storks, spoonbills, egrets, gulls and shorebirds.
2. Major challenges of the EAAFP are: (1) awareness raising and capacity building at various levels and (2) 22 countries with different languages, cultures, and social conditions.
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3. The CEPA objective of the EAAFP is to “enhance CEPA of the values of migratory waterbirds and their habitats”. In order to meet this objective, the following activities are undertaken: a. Maintain and update website and social media b. Produce CEPA materials c. Promote global campaigns (World Migratory Bird Day) in EAAF countries d. Participate in international forums for CEPA promotion
4. The EAAFP along with its focal points uses the following methods to communicate information: Website, Social Network Service (SNS) (Facebook, Twitter, Weibo and Blog), Flickr, e-Newsletter (monthly), flyers, promotional materials, banners, posters, talk program, and International Youth Skype Meeting (on Black-faced Spoonbill).
5. World Migratory Birds Day – Celebrated on 10 March every year. The EAAFP provides support through educational materials and small grants for this day. It was celebrated in 85 countries.
6. #WelcomeWaterbirds: People join in welcoming or bidding farewell to migratory birds to wish for their safe journey and successful breeding. It was done in 22 countries.
7. To Our Winged Travelers: Write down or draw messages for migratory birds on bird-shaped papers and send the collected messages to other countries in the Flyway region.
8. Base Camp: Also called Visitor Center, a place for raising awareness, developing capacity, engaging stakeholders, sharing experience, and initiating some conservation.
9. Hatch Wall: Messages are written on the wall. These places are provided by the EAAFP.
10. Wetland Center: People gather, learn together, develop capacity, make visual impact, share knowledge and experience.
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World Migratory Bird Day in Mongolia
Gombobaatar Sundev
National University of Mongolia and Mongolian Ornithological Society Mongolia
1. Migratory birds are passengers without visa across all countries. Therefore, research and conservation activities for migratory birds should be run by cooperative initiatives between countries.
2. Of 491 known species of birds in Mongolia, 390 species are migratory. This shows that Mongolia is one of the significant countries for these breeding, migrating, and summering species of birds in Asia.
3. Many countries around the world have been celebrating the World Migratory Bird Day since 14 May 2006. Each celebrating country organizes this event in order to give and promote data and information on migratory bird research and conservation actions.
4. Since 2011, the Mongolian Ornithological Society; National University of Mongolia; Ministry of Environment and Green Development; Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Tourism; Primary and Secondary Schools; and other NGOs have been celebrating the event in Mongolia.
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5. With slogan “Save Migratory Birds and the Place They Need”, this year the World Migratory Bird Day was celebrated by the Mongolian Ornithological Society and Ministry of Environment, Green Development, and Tourism of Mongolia with financial support from EAAFP and Mongolica Co. Ltd. on 9-10 May 2015.
6. An art contest “Migratory Birds” was announced between 6th grade children from 4th and 50th schools in Ulaanbaatar. A bird watching trip to Nogoon Nuur in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar was organized with a group of about 80 participants from secondary schools, universities, local NGOs, tour companies and government. It is estimated that more than 200 people were involved.
7. The WMBD was celebrated in another site by MOS, MNET, and NUM with financial support from EAAFP, Selenge bagsh and Mongolica Co. Ltd on 14 May 2016. The event consisted of several contents including bird identification training, birding activities, lectures and art contest. We gave introductory presentations on migratory birds at each school (once for each group at each school, twice total at each school) before announcing the competition criteria on 9-11 May. A bird watching trip was organized to Nogoon Lake near Ulaanbaatar City with a group of about 110 participants from secondary schools, universities, local NGOs, tour companies and government. Altogether, more than 600 people participated.
8. Recommendations: Long term survival of the event in Asia depends on: a. Long-term financial support b. Willingness of the organization and person in a country to continue the event c. Finding the way of involvement in the event for different stakeholders (corporate social responsibility) d. Encouragement and “award” to people and organizations that were involved in the event for a long time e. Encourage more participation from local schools and university students f. Officially include the event in the annual EAAFP and Ramsar Focal Point work plan of each country
9. Benefit to you and your Ramsar Site: a. No financial benefit to personal. Remember: Money is just paper b. It is one of the best ways to educate your kids and other children about nature and wetland conservation. You can easily change the understanding, attitude and mentality of your child. Remember: Changing your mind, understanding and attitude is more difficult than flying to the moon. c. Create friendships between different groups and get new ideas for your work in wetland conservation. Remember: Your life is a non-stop learning process from others. If you stop the learning, you will be dead. d. Birds are travelers without visa and speechless in our language. Then who will be the translator. Remember: You should be a useful translator to someone. e. CEPA/WMBD is a tool for bird conservation. Remember: Ecosystem evolution is not from yesterday. f. Most likely a starting point for the development of Sustainable Ecotourism. Remember: Respect every one and create the unique wealth.
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How to Monitor Waterbirds and Their Habitats
Spike Millington
Chief Executive East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
What is monitoring?
1. Monitoring is the repeated collection of information over time in order to detect change. a. What should we monitor? Birds, their habitats and threats b. Why should we monitor? – To detect changes and their threats c. How should we monitor?
2. Why monitor birds? At the site level: To evaluate the importance of the site. a. What bird species are at a site, how many of them and what is their distribution? b. How many birds of each species the site can hold, and how does this vary – fluctuations in total and species-specific numbers –by season, during migration periods, due to changes in water levels, human disturbance, changes in food supply, etc.
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c. To get information to support ecological investigations, e.g. effects of habitat change, etc.
3. Why monitor birds? At a site level. To detect change a. Is there a change in numbers of birds and species composition? b. What are the reasons for these changes? Do we need to implement conservation measures? c. What are the impacts of various activities/effect of threats? What kind of activities?
4. Possible activities a. Disturbance (e.g., human activity, development or mines) b. The effect of contaminants on food abundance c. Placement of communication and wind power development d. Habitat loss or deterioration Can you monitor these threats directly?
Why monitor birds? At a Site Level.
1. To act a. to regularly check if the use and/or management of the wetland is effective and sustainable b. to priorities measures to be taken for threatened species c. to identify, prioritize and address threats
2. To feed into national level monitoring a. Compare census results from different sites in the region or the country and assess each wetland’s relative importance for waterbirds
Why monitor birds? At National Level.
1. To know the role and importance of the country’s wetlands for different species of waterbirds throughout their annual cycle 2. To provide information for implementing conservation measures and steps towards the sustainable use of natural resources 3. To provide information for nature protection laws (e.g. species and areas to protect, and threatened species) and national policy for wetland conservation 4. To provide information to compile data
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Why monitor birds? At the international level.
1. To improve the understanding of species in their distribution range (including population sizes, annual cycle, movements and migrations) and to monitor change in certain parameters such as population size 2. To provide information necessary for international conventions and agreements, and for producing strategic documents
Why monitor birds? At all levels.
1. To increase knowledge of species and their biology Populations of all migratory waterbirds should be monitored on a continuous basis to determine population trends and to provide an early-warning system for species in difficulty. This will enable appropriate measures to be implemented before the populations fall to dangerously low levels.
Which species to monitor? Priority species for monitoring are:
1. Globally threatened species 2. At national level, species for which the country holds a large proportion of the population at some point in their annual cycle
Which habitats to monitor?
1. Feeding areas – mudflats (shorebirds), lakes and marshes, grasslands, agricultural lands (cranes, geese) 2. Roosting areas – sandbars, fishponds (shorebirds), lakes (ducks, cranes), trees (egrets, herons, storks)
What to monitor in habitats
1. Physical extent and distribution of different habitats 2. Change in character (e.g. Spartina invasion of mudflats) and quality (e.g. polluted lakes) 3. Use of different habitats by migratory waterbirds
How to monitor habitats
1. Satellite imagery (Google earth)
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2. Physical surveys (e.g. using maps) 3. Fixed site repeat photography 4. Documenting key vegetation features (e.g. reedbeds, saltmarsh) 5. Local community surveys Need to determine periodicity of monitoring
How to use results of habitat monitoring
1. To evaluate management actions (or lack thereof) 2. To identify external threats (climate change, impacts from outside the site) 3. To identify and move towards a “desired state” 4. To refine and adopt improved monitoring methods (these may be simpler)
What sites to monitor?
1. All waterbirds require a network of high quality sites for nesting, for moulting, for ‘refuelling’ during migration, and for surviving the non-breeding season 2. The best way to assess the importance of a site for waterbirds is to regularly count waterbirds that use it 3. The overall numbers of birds and the proportions of each population at a site revealed by counting can then be used as an objective basis for assessing its importance
Exercise
1. What species would you monitor at your site? 2. When would you monitor them? 3. How would you monitor them? 4. What is the habitat? 5. How would you monitor habitat change? 6. What threats are there? 7. How would you monitor threats? 8. What conservation actions are at your site? 9. How would you monitor the effectiveness of your actions?
Monitoring Questions
1. What do we need to monitor? 2. How should we do it? 3. Who can do it? (capacity)
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4. How often? 5. How to sustain? 6. How can we use and present the results at different levels (site / national / international)?
Finally
1. Count or Estimate?
2. Counting a multi-species group
3. Estimating a single-species group
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Development of Work Plan for Migratory Waterbird Conservation and Management
Spike Millington
Chief Executive East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
Five Objectives:
1. Develop the Flyway Network of Sites of international importance for migratory waterbirds
2. Enhance communication, education and public awareness of the values of migratory waterbirds and their habitats
3. Enhance flyway research and monitoring activities, build knowledge and promote exchange of information on waterbirds and their habitats
4. Build the habitat and waterbird management capacity of natural resource managers, decision makers and local stakeholders
5. Develop flyway-wide approaches to enhance the conservation status of migratory waterbirds
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126 Annex
Annex I : Ramsar Sites in Suncheon City
Annex II : List of Participants RRC-EA Annex
Annex I : Ramsar Sites in Suncheon City
1. Suncheon Bay
1. National Legal Designation: National Eco-park and Wetland Protected Area 2. Suncheon Bay is one of the most diverse and beautiful coastal ecosystem in South Korea. Dong-Chun (river) and Yisa-Chun flow through Suncheon City and rice fields into the northern part of the Bay. The northern part of Suncheon Bay has over 500 ha of reed bed and extensive areas of Suaeda japonica salt marsh. Tidal-flats, largely muddy, shallow salt marshes and rice fields support a large number of birds and benthos. 3. Suncheon Bay is Korea's only wintering site for Hooded Crane (Grus monacha). According to surveys conducted by Ministry of Environment and National Institute of Environment Research from 1999 through 2004, the number of Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) observed in Suncheon Bay ranged from as low as 79 to as high as 201.
Suncheon Bay. 20/01/06; Jeollanam-do; 3,550 ha; 34°48'N 127°24'E. Wetland Protected Area. A wide estuarine tidal flat and intertidal marshes, creating one of the most diverse and beautiful coastal ecosystems in the country. Two rivers flow through the city and surrounding rice fields at the northern part of the bay, and numerous streams flow through the site, sustaining clean water quality and influx quantity. The tidal flats are largely muddy with shallow salt marshes supporting a wide-range of species, including at least 25 threatened birds, e.g. Black-faced Spoonbill, Nordmann's Greenshank, Spoonbill Sandpiper, and Relict Gull. It is the only wintering site for Grus monacha and supports over 1% of the population of Common Shelduck, Hooded Crane, Eurasian Curlew, Saunder's Gull and Kentish Plover. It has important scenic, tourist, and cultural heritage values, and the annual production of fish, seaweed, and mollusks, mainly harvested using traditional techniques, is substantial. Rapid urban expansion is noted as a potential threat. The Suncheon Bay Natural Eco-park was established in 2004 and a management plan is underway which focuses on protection of biological resources, pollution abatement, institutional improvement, and public awareness. Ramsar site no. 1594. Most recent RIS information: 2006. Overview of Suncheon Bay available at htpp://rsis.ramsar.org/RIS/1954 retrieved on 7 December 2016.
2. Dongcheon Estuary
1. Managed by Suncheon City Government, Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office 2. Dongcheon Estuary serves as vital wintering and stopover habitats for 238 species of birds
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that often occur in the large brackish zone and surrounding rice paddies. This includes 13 globally threatened species of migratory waterbirds, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus). The site also serves as one of the largest wintering grounds for Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) with approximately 1,000 individuals of the entire population of the species globally (12,000 individuals). 3. There are two large rivers flowing from the inland into Dongcheon Estuary: Dongcheon and Yisacheon rivers. 4. Social and cultural values: Local communities near Dongcheon Estuary make various eco-friendly products from the reeds that occur in the surrounding fields. These products include tourist souvenirs such as reed brooms, organic compost, reed tea and snack, and reed fences built along bird-watching sites and tourist trails. Reed fences prevent tourists from disturbing migratory birds. Reeds are also used to craft roofs for buildings such as those in Suncheon Bay Ecological Park, to make the buildings more appealing to environmentally-conscious tourists. 5. The site is a paddy production field. During the fallow period from late fall to spring, there are no agricultural activities carried out providing safe and undisturbed habitat for migratory waterfowls. In 2009, 80 rice farmers founded a local farmers' group for saving hooded cranes, and since then, the group has provided migratory waterbirds with about 50 tonnes of rice a year, which is harvested in the rice paddies within the boundary of the site in an eco-friendly manner. The efforts are considered to have contributed to a spike in the number of the bird population migrating to the site, from 350 in 2009 to more than 1000 as of 2015.
Located in the southeast part of Suncheon City, Dongcheon Estuary is an open estuary with no banks or other constructions built in its mouth to the sea which helps to keep the Site's natural brackish zone intact. Dongcheon River, the core component of the estuary's ecosystem, flows through the site from the northeast inland out into the Suncheon Bay Ramsar Site in the southwest. In the part of the river within the estuary, marine input exceeds river output. At about 6.5 kilometres from the river mouth to its upper reach, there is the city centre of Suncheon with population of about 280,000. At about 3.5 kilometres to the south, the main stem of Dongcheon River is joined by Yisacheon River. Due to a high level of nutrients and organic detritus in its sediment as well as varying degrees of salinity, the estuary supports a high level of aquatic biodiversity, as it forms habitats for aquatic species, including benthic invertebrates, such as crustaceans and marine lugworm species. Large patches of reed and rice fields along the both sides of the Dongcheon River provide habitats for a wide range of wild mammals, aquatic insects and amphibians. The rice paddies are sustainably managed with measures taken to minimize the agricultural impacts and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. The rice fields also play a key role in providing important habitats for wild species, particularly for migratory waterbirds, such as hooded cranes and white-naped cranes, that use the site as a wintering ground or a stopover site. Overview available at htpp://rsis.ramsar.org/RIS/2269 Retrieved on 7 December 2016.
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Annex II : List of Participants
No. Country Name Affiliation Email The Heart of Borneo center, Ministry mahmudyussof@ 1 Brunei Mahmud Yussof of primary resources and toourism yahoo.com Wangdue Forest Division, Dept of 2 Bhutan Tashi Dendup [email protected] forest and park services, MOE-Bhutan Watershed management Division, Dept sonamchoden@ 3 Bhutan Sonam Choden of forest and park services, MOE-Bhutan moaf.gov.bt Watershed management Division, Dept tsheringdendup@ 4 Bhutan Tshering Dendup of forest and park services, MOE-Bhutan moaf.gov.bt Dept. of Freshwater Wetland 5 Cambodia Pech Moran [email protected] Conservation, MOE-Cambodia Dept. of Freshwater Wetland 6 Cambodia Sun Visal [email protected] Conservation, MOE-Cambodia Dept. of Freshwater Wetland 7 Cambodia Meas Somonika Conservation, MOE-Cambodia Wetland Conservation and 8 China Fan Cunxiang Development Practice of Guangzhou [email protected] Haizhu National Wetland Park Shanghai Chongming Dongtan 9 China Ma Qiang [email protected] National Nature Reserve Ministry of Environment and agustinusrantelembang@ 10 Indonesia Augustinus Rante Forestry Republic of Indonesia yahoo.com Betung Kerihun and Danau 11 Indonesia Arief Mahmud [email protected] Sentarum National Park Ariake Sea, Kashima City office, 12 Japan Sayaka Nakamura [email protected] Ramsar promotion room Yatsui higata, Narita ranger office, Kanto 13 Japan Genseki Aya [email protected] regional environment office, MOE-Japan Khonesavanh Dept. of environment quality promotion, 14 Lao PDR [email protected] Louangraj Lao Ramsar Secretariat,MONRE Souksakhone 15 Lao PDR Dept. of water resources Phouthaamath Biodiversity management and Intan Nurul Azlina 16 Malaysia forestry division, Ministry of natural [email protected] Ahmad Kamil resources and environment Delgermurun National university of Mongolia and 17 Mongolia Myagmarsuren Mongolian Ornithological Society Gombobaatar National university of Mongolia and 18 Mongolia [email protected] Sundev Mongolian Ornithological Society
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Moeyungyi wetland, Forest 19 Myanmar Thin Thin Yu [email protected] Dept. MONREC Indawgyi wetland, Forest 20 Myanmar Kyi Oo [email protected] Dept. MONREC Shyam Kumar shyamkumar_shah@ 21 Nepal Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Shah yahoo.com Surendra Kumar 22 Nepal District forest office Kapilvastu [email protected] Shrestha Georgina Dept. of Environment and 23 Philippines [email protected] Fernandez Natural resources region -9 24 Philippines Zoisane Lumbres Biodiversity management Bureau, DENR [email protected] Rep. of 25 Lee Hyun Ju National Wetland Center, MOE-Korea [email protected] Korea Rep. of Suncheon bay conservation 26 Shim Sun Seop [email protected] Korea Division, Suncheon City Park Waden, KUMANA upaligalagedara@ 27 Sri Lanka G.U.Saranga National Park, DWLC gmail.com R.M.Sisira Kumara Park Waden, KUMANA 28 Sri Lanka [email protected] Rathnayake National Park, DWLC Ploenchit Thale Noi wildlife and nature 29 Thailand [email protected] Pawangsawat education center Tossapon Office of natural resources and 30 Thailand [email protected] Piantanakulchai environmental policy and planning Dept. of Natural resources 31 Vietnam Vu Hai Dang [email protected] and environment Wild bird society of Taipei Guandu 32 Taiwan Lisa Chou [email protected] Nature Park Administrate office Wild bird society of Taipei Guandu 33 Taiwan Jeff Yeh [email protected] Nature Park Administrate office
No. Affiliation Name Title Email 34 Ramsar Secretariat Llewellyn Young Senior Advisor for [email protected] Asia-Oceania 35 Ramsar Secretariat Solongo Khurelbaatar Regional Officer-Oceania [email protected] 36 IUCN Asia Raphael Glemet Senior Programme officer, [email protected] Regional Office water and wetlands 37 WWT Consulting Bena Smith Principal Consultant [email protected] 38 Hans Seidel Felix Glenk Project Manager [email protected] Foundation 39 EAAFP Spike Millington Chief Executive [email protected] 40 EAAFP Minseon KIM Programme officer [email protected] 41 EAAFP Tomoko Ichikawa Communication officer [email protected] 42 EAAFP Eugene Cheah Contributing Photographer [email protected]
131 비매품 03060
9 788964 611616 ISBN 978-89-6461-161-6
2nd FL. Suncheon Bay International Wetland Center 47, Gukgajeongwon 1ho-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, Rep. of Korea
■ Tel +82-61-746-1160~4 ■ Fax +82-61-746-1165 ■ Website www.rrcea.org