MALAYSIAMALAYSIA ANDAND EASTEAST ASIANASIAN –– AUSTRALASIANAUSTRALASIAN FLYWAYFLYWAY PARTNERSHIP:PARTNERSHIP: BakoBako---BuntalBuntalBuntal BayBay FlywayFlyway SiteSite MALAYSIAMALAYSIA JOINING JOINING THE THE FLYWAY FLYWAY NETWORKNETWORK

• The idea of joining EAAFP was proposed to Cabinet on 29 June 2012 and was MALAYSIA approved. • In 20 November 2012,

Malaysia received ` notification from EAAFP Secretariat of being it’s 28 th Partner. BAKOBAKO BUNTAL BUNTAL BAY: BAY: MALAYSIA MALAYSIA 1 1ST FLYWAYFLYWAY SITESITE

• State Government has nominated Bako Buntal Bay (BBB) as flyway site. • The proposed nomination was approved by Malaysia Cabinet in it’s meeting on 29 June 2012. • Stakeholders consultation involving local communities was conducted in December 2012. • In May 2013, BBB was accepted as flyway site. Bako-Buntal Bay – Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo Bay

P. Bruit

BBB 1985/86 Survey •Carried out by INTERWADER •Southern coastline of Sarawak (Plus Brunei Bay in Limbang/Lawas) •Land and Aerial (mainly aerial) •Approximately 330 km (33% of Sarawak coastline) P. Bruit

BBB

2006 Survey •Carried out by SFC/JICA, part funded by Wetland International •Southern coastline of Sarawak •Survey by Land only •Approximately 270km 2011 Survey •1st attempt to cover whole coastline of Sarawak •SFC/MNS/UMS/Unimas and other volunteers •Survey by Land and Aerial •Approximately 1,000km of coastline •40 sectors identified (compatible with 1986 & 2006 surveys) •Oct 2010 to Sept 2011

At a nearby Sejingkat Power Station Ash Pond • Santubong National Park in the background • Sharing resources with local communities, shown here harvesting bamboo clams Popular tourist spots and seaside restaurants. • Important wintering site for 32 shorebird spp. • Estimated population of 10,000-15,000 waterbirds • Supports several globally threatened and near-threatened migratory waterbirds (Chinese , Nordmann’s Greenshank, Asian Dowitcher, Far Eastern Curlew.) • Highest numbers of Red and Great Knots in Malaysia. • > 1% of flyway population (Chinese Egret, Mongolian and Greater Sand-plovers) Chinese Egret – ‘Iconic ’ and star attraction of BBB ‹400 individuals or > 10% of world population ‹Sarawak / tie-up Far Eastern and Eurasian Curlews resting in the ash pond during high tides Far Eastern and Eurasian Curlews in flight One never knows what will turn up at the bay if we look often!

Two new records for Borneo. Kentish Plover ( Charadrius alexandrinus ) Malaysian Plover ( Charadrius peronii ) - Male Malaysian Plover ( Charadrius peronii ) - Female Little Ringed Plover ( Charadrius dubius ) Common Sandpiper ( Actitis hypoleucos ) Wood Sandpiper ( Tringa glareola ) Grey-tailed Tattler ( Heteroscelus brevipes ) Marsh Sandpiper ( Tringa stagnatilis ) Marsh Sandpiper ( Tringa stagnatilis ) Sanderling ( Calidris alba ) Terek Sandpiper ( Xenus cinereus ) Nordmann's Greenshank ( Tringa guttifer ) Asian Dowitcher ( Limnodromus semipalmatus ) Bar-tailed Godwit ( Limosa lapponica ) & Asian Dowitcher ( Limnodromus semipalmatus ) Red-necked Stint ( Calidris ruficollis ) Long-toed Stint ( Calidris subminuta ) Snipe ( Gallinago ) sp. Greater Painted-snipe ( Rostratula benghalensis ) - Male Black-winged Stilt ( Himantopus himantopus ) ( garzetta ) Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon nilotica ) Pacific Reef Egret ( Egretta sacra ) – Dark Morph Greater Crested Tern ( Sterna bergii ) WHATWHAT ’’SS NEXT?NEXT?

• Nominate a site is easy but to sustain the site pose greater challenges. • Continuous support from stakeholders are critical in the ways of protecting the site, provide sustainable financing to site management and conservation programs. • Enhance public awareness to appreciate migratory and its’ habitat. WAYWAY FORWARDFORWARD

• Preparation of site management plan. • Enhance visibility / put values on site through promotion as ecotourism site and educational/ research centre on water birds. • Involve local communities in site management or activities. THANK YOU . . . .