The Office of Wetland Conservation and Management, State Forestry Administration

Doug Watkins, Chair Australasian Wader Studies Group A special interest group of BirdLife Australia 99 MacKellar Crescent Cook, ACT, 2614 Mobile: +61 409005795 Email: [email protected]

YAN Chenggao, Deputy Director General, The Office of Wetland Conservation and Management, State Forestry Administration, Beijing, P.R. China

Dear YAN Chengao It is with pleasure that I write to formally invite you and your colleges from the State Forestry Administration (and Provincial Forestry Department in Hunan and Guangxi) to attend a workshop on wetland legislation and policies in early November 2016. I understand that the workshop will be part of a New Zealand – Australia on wetlands linked to a Global Environment Facility project being implemented in China aimed at:  Strengthening the national enabling environment for conserving and sustainably using biodiversity.  Mainstreaming biodiversity into socio-economic plans, planning and investment decision-making.  Protecting biodiversity inside protected areas. The Australasian Wader Studies Group will coordinate the delivery of workshop in Australia to share experience on wetland biodiversity management and conservation approaches in Australia.

The costs in Australia for travel, lodging, meals as well as international travel would be covered by Wetlands International under the support by the project “Training Programme for Improving Wetland PA Management and Addressing Key Deficiencies in Skills” (NP–2014-001) under CBPF-MSL - National Project.

Yours faithfully

Doug Watkins Chair, Australasian Wader Studies Group

Attachments: 1. Participants list 2. Program for November 2016 Attachment 1. Participant List

Mr. Yan Chenggao Deputy Director General, The Office of Wetland Conservation and Management, State Forestry Administration Mr. Wang Longfu Division Chief, The Office of Wetland Conservation and Management, State Forestry Administration Prof. Zhang Xiaoyun Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning,State Forestry Administration Prof. Chen Kangjuan Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning,State Forestry Administration Mr. Chen Hongchang Director, Wildlife Protection Division,Forestry Department of Hunan Province Mr. Huang Yong Director, Guangxi Managing Office of Wildlife and Nature Reserve

Attachment 2. workshop Program

Day 1 Depart Beijing Day 2 Arrive Auckland, New Zealand in the afternoon Day 3 Visit Firth of Thames Ramsar Site, workshop will be delivered by Miranda Shorebird Centre and Living Water Program Day 4 Meeting with New Zealand Wetland Trust, Ramsar Convention implementation by New Zealand, Health and wellbeing of the Waikato River on river basin management policies Day 5 Flight to Melbourne, travel to Port Phillip Island Nature Park, Penguin Parade eco-tourism Day 6 Visit Western Port Ramsar Site and discuss wetland conservationin Victoria Flight to Sydney Day 7 Discussion with relevant stakeholders on wetland conservation legislation and policies in Australia Day 8 Depart for Beijing (evening arrival)