Geum Estuary Project Linking international conservation practitioners with local experts working towards a shared goal - to optimise outcomes for migratory shorebirds in one of our flyway’s most critical habitats.

AUSTRALIA The Australian Government recognises the conservation of migratory The Geum Estuary Project is a conservatoin initiative led shorebird staging habitat in the as the highest priority objective to by BirdLife Australia and BirdLife International in collaboration with reversing population decline for migratory shorebirds. This project addresses local partners Seocheon County and the Ministry of Environment. objectives 1, 3 and 4 of the Australian Government’s Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds and assists in delivering on international treaties This multi-faceted project aspires to demonstrate alternative and and bilateral conventions including Republic of & Australia Migratory sustainable paths for developing coastal wetlands in the Republic Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA) and Convention on Migratory Species. of Korea. The project aims to support conservation efforts in the Geum Estuary/Janghang Coast region for the protection BirdLife is a key stakeholder in development and implementation of the of migratory shorebirds and their habitats, including - habitat plan and has embarked on delivery of its own federally endorsed National restoration, systematic monitoring and the possibility of the Migratory Shorebird Conservation Action Plan (MS CAP). Estuary being listed as a World Heritage Site. The project also aims to explore and implement opportunities for the Estuary to become a world-class eco-tourism attraction. Central to each of the project’s objectives is the importance of sharing information, skills and expertise. a critical link in the chain

The Geum Estuary and adjacent Janhang coast comprise one of the most significant sites in the Yellow Sea ecoregion for shorebirds and the most significant site remaining Migratory shorebirds that use the East Asian Australasian Flyway in Republic of Korea. The area supports (EAAF) traverse the globe on annual migration to and from arctic internationally significant populations of 20 breeding grounds, encountering a wide variety of landscapes species of shorebird including several listed as spanning many administrative boundaries and potential threats. globally threatened like Far Eastern Curlew and Thirty-six of these species, totalling over 2 million birds, spend non- Spoon-billed Sandpiper. breeding period in the wetlands of Australia. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) such as Roebuck Bay on Australia’s Kimberly Coast may support over 100,000 shorebirds each spring and summer. Birds The site is internationally recognised for these that embark on migration, stage in an increasingly limited number populations and is designated as an Important of significant coastal wetlands in the Yellow Sea to rest and refuel. Bird and Biodiversity Area, a Ramsar site, and an Over the last 3 decades an overall trend of decline has been EAAF Partnership Flyway Network Site. The long- detected for shorebird populations throughout the flyway. The term conservation plan for the region includes most significant trends have been evident in populations heavily securing World Heritage Site status for the site. dependent on the Yellow Sea with some species declining at a rate of 8% a year. As joint custodians of these populations Australian government, international non-government oraganisations (NGOs), academic institutes and now the private sector are increasingly collaborating with Yellow Sea stakeholders to stem the rate of habitat loss and degradation that has driven shorebird declines. our major partners Woodside Seocheon county Seocheon locals EAAFP Woodside is a proud and Seocheon County Government Seocheon County’s local fishing Facilitated by the flyway innovative Australian company are the custodians of the community has been coexisting secretariate in Incheon (ROK), who understands that it’s only Geum Estuary. The County with shorebirds populations the EAAFP is a network of by working together that a are committed to protecting for centuries and have been partners within the flway. better future comes to life. the conservation value of the proactive in community The EAAFP aims to protect Estuary and have pursued consultation with land-mangers Woodside led the development migratory waterbirds, their enlightened policies based and scientists investigating of the LNG industry in Australia habitats and the livelihoods around nature-based, and the intertidal habitats they rely and are using the same of people dependent upon sustainable development. In upon. passion and pioneering spirit them. Partners include November 2015, Seocheon as part of Australia’s energy National Governments, Inter- County Government, along with transformation. The company Governmental Organisations, BirdLife International signed a recognise the importance of International Non-governmental Memorandum of Understanding their role in delivering mutual Organisations, and International on the conservation of the and sustainable social outcomes Private Enterprise, which agree Estuary. in the areas where they operate. to endorse the text and support the objectives and actions under this Partnership.

Woodside proudly support BirdLife International and BirdLife Australia to work together with Seocheon County Government, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Secretariat and other stakeholders including local communities and NGOs, national government and international agencies to support and enable the long-term, participatory conservation of Geum Estuary. 3. Promote shorebird conservation awareness and the significance of the Geum Estuary and support designation of the World Heritage Site The project seeks to showcase the international biodiversity value of the Geum Estuary objectives and its shorebird population to elicit ongoing support for local managers in their conservation endeavours from the national and international community. These efforts 1. Conservation and management of intertidal wetland habitats in Seocheon County include public support for local endeavours to have the site listed in as a United Nations Shorebirds straddle judicial boundaries and compete for use of highly exploited but underappreciated Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. intertidal habits. The compounding threats to their conservation can often be complex and interrelated. Since the closure of the infamous seawall in 2006 and subsequent loss of 283km2 of shorebird habitat, Seocheon County has hosted the remaining “development refugees”. Resisting economic 4. Information available on waterbird populations and the impacts pressure for similar coastal development Seocheon now have bravely taken on the task of managing the most significant shorebird habitat in the country. of human activities at the Geum Estuary Through stakeholder consultation and site assessments, the project sought to identify where external Conservation policies and initiatives are best informed by consistent and robust expertise and/or capacity would best aid local conservation efforts in the Geum Estuary and Janhang coast. science. In particular, management activities should work adaptively to meet objectives which are identified and measured by targeted monitoring projects. However, managers and policy makers often face the dilemma of identifying conservation priorities and assessing the impact of potential stressors based on inadequate information. With growing evidence that drastic declines in shorebird numbers 2. Knowledge exchange and development of nature based tourism throughout the flyway are being driven by habitat change at staging areas the need for improved information has become apparent. The project supports Seocheon County in its endeavours to pursue the economic benefits of maintaining its significant natural values by promoting sustainable bird-based tourism. Given this is a market that has Given the transitory nature and wide geographic distribution of EAAF shorebird not been explored in Korea, a series of exchange visits sought to expose local managers to international populations, effective monitoring can be significantly challenged by capacity and case studies and invite international experts to contribute to local initiatives to entice visitors while resourcing needs. Unlike terminal non-breeding habitats in Australia, staging sites, like reducing impacts on birds. Geum Estuary, are relied upon at several critical periods during the year and the shorebird population using any one site may be vastly different from week to week, increasing the necessity for multiple counts each season. For this reason, a collaborative approach is required to increase capacity and accountability amongst central government, counties and NGOs in ROK. GEUM RAN-DO ISLAND (DREDGE SPILL) outcomes GeumGEUM Estuary ESTUARY RAIN WATER

AERIAL MIGRATORY BIRD DREDGED SKYBRIDGE CENTRE TIDAL MUDFLAT 1. Conservation and management of roosting areas, use sub-optimal roosts or remain in the sky (Seocheon County) SHIPPING CHANNEL WALLS WALLS intertidal wetland habitats in Seocheon until the tide recedes – known as aerial roosting. RICE PADDIES County Consultation OPPORTUNITIES A number of cross-sectoral, workshops explored SEOCHEON MABIK T HL R Through an iterative process of fact finding and adaptive (MOF) feedback the project has worked with local land managers opportunities to not only mitigate threats but optimise D T TOURISMTHREATS habitat value in the region. International wetland STILTED BIRD SALT PANS R RESTORATION to demonstrate how international case studies may HIDE R (private practitioners joined local NGOs, Ministry of Environment, ownership) THREATS compliment conservation planning in the region. T P R Seocheon County and the EAAFP to discuss how case studies D DISTURBANCE Consecutive years of mapping shorebird habitat extent road from the flyway and beyond could be applied locally. HL HABITAT LOSS and use identified a number of key threats facing HL Through this process the project identified long and short- T MOF no access P POLLUTION shorebirds staging in the region. x P term goals for the region including the restoration of D T D A roost site survey confirmed that suitability of high tide Yubu Island salt pans and the deployment of emergency MOE roosts (resting areas) in the region is likely to be a major SHELL FISH YUBUDO intervention artificial roosts. This work has culminated in FARMING limiting factor to staging shorebirds maintaining a positive R the Floating Roost Trial. only access HL T T energy balance let alone achieving the surplus necessary for P HL migration and successful breeding. Limited roost availability on spring tide, and for several days surrounding spring tide, forces birds to expend energy in search of appropriate

NEST SITE Seocheon delegates visit Titchwell Marsh (RSPB) and Rainham Marshes (RSPB) and the UK Bird Fair to gain insight on low impact infrastructure, maximising visitor experience and perspectives of the largest bird- 2. Knowledge exchange and watching tourist market globally. development of nature based tourism

Over four years the project facilitated trips for Global leaders in shorebird Seocheon county eco-tourism division and conservation, habitat management prominent council staff to visit several successful and ecotourism from Deakin bird-based tourism ventures throughout east Asia, University (AUS), RSPB and the Australia and the United Kingdom. British Trust for Ornithology (UK) provided site-based advice on During peak migration, experts in shorebird local opportunities and conducted conservation, ecotourism, land management and research on the effects of human academia (the Royal Society for the Protection of disturbance on shorebirds. Birds (RSPB), Deakin University, Yawuru Rangers, Marujuga Rangers) accompanied project staff on field expeditions to Seocheon, contributing to Seocheon delegates visit Seocheon delegates visited meetings and sharing expertise. Expert findings Singapore including trips Cairns for Bilateral meetings are summarised in academic papers and an eco- to Kranji marshes, Sungei between the governments Buloh, Labrador Park and tourism feasibility discussion report available on of Australia, China ROK ad Pulau Ubin to discuss Japan. On site meetings with the project website. UNESCO listing advice, BirdLife branch members, visitor engagement, Tourism Queensland and infrastructure and Djunbunji Rangers at Cairns incorporating heritage Esplanade and Mandingalbay fishing villages into Yidinji country demonstrated eco-tourism. examples of tourism on altered and urbanised coasts and incorporating cultural heritage and custodianship into site management. 3. Promote shorebird conservation awareness and the significance of the Geum Estuary and support designation of the World Heritage Site By providing national and international promotion of Geum Estuary’s biodiversity value the project has aided in garnering widespread acknowledgement and support for the county’s conservation efforts. These values have been promoted widely by the project at 10th Convention on Community engagement Biological Diversity conference of parties, JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA Bilateral meetings, the International Ornithological Congress, the Australasian Ornithological Annual stalls and workshops at Conference, and annual World Wetland Day symposiums. Seocheon’s Welcome the Birds festivals circulate information Top left: The Australian Ambassador to Korea is presented a gift from the Mayor Articles in BirdLife’s international publications, online through social media, a about shorebird values and of Seocheon (Top). BirdLife explain the disproportionate decline in migratory shorebird of the EAAF. project webpage, video articles and external outlets including Scientific America BirdLife’s goals through have promoted these values further through the international community. Top right: Seocheon County signs an MOU underpinning ongoing commitment visiting public. to shorebird conservation with BirdLife International in Cambridge. UNESCO World Heritage site listing The project also organised beach cleaning events at A Business and Biodiversity seminar at the Australian Embassy BirdLife continues to endorse and support the Republic of Korea’s serial listing of Yubudo for corporates with attended by local and international captains of industry aimed at the Getbol, Korean Tidal Flat. This listing incorporates 4 of the most significant factories based in the region. showcasing the parallels between our international trade routes sites in the country including the Seocheon tidal flat. BirdLife sees an opportunity and economic partnerships and our obligations to conserve for the three State Parties (China, ROK and DRK) bordering the West Sea and Bohai shared biodiversity values. Bay region, to further coordinate plans to advance UNESCO inscription of future sites within the IUCN-facilitated Working Group on the Conservation of the Yellow/West Sea Intertidal and Associated Coastal Wetlands Estimmated Flyway Northward migration Southward migration Common Name 1% EFP 0.25% EFP Winter baseline Population (EFP)* baseline baseline

Eurasian Oystercatcher● 10000ˣ 100 25 569 4,585 4,698 Black-winged Stilt 100,000 1,000 250 3 0 0 4. Information available on waterbird populations and the Northern lapwing 1,000,000 10,000 2,500 0 0 34 Pacific golden plover 120,000 1,200 300 46 32 0 impacts of human activities at the Geum Estuary Grey plover● 80,000 800 200 5,434 4,193 1,064 Korean biodiversity monitoring has had a varied history with significant shorebird Common ringed plover 0 0 0 0 0 data collected by government institutions and NGOs over the last 5 decades. However Long-billed plover 25,000 250 63 0 0 0 Little ringed plover 150,000 1,500 375 4 2 0 consistent longitudinal national surveying was not made a priority until the mid-2000s. Kentish plover● 1,000,000 10,000 2,500 166 8,160 88 Recognising the need for the scientific community to share methodologies and clearly Lesser sand plover● 180,000 1,800 450 1,914 5,468 37 communicate information to stakeholders throughout the flyway the project conducted Greater sand plover 200,000 2,000 500 2 14 0 Common snipe 100,000 1,000 250 1 2 0 a series of workshops which sought to identify key shorebird stakeholders, data sets and Black-tailed godwit● 160,000 1,600 400 159 1,822 10 methodologies in attempt to consolidate efforts and increase effective data collection. Bar-tailed godwit● 325,000 3,250 813 11,136 3,750 0 Participation from Seocheon Government, NIBR, NIE, Shorebird Network Korea, Birds Little curlew 110,000 1,100 275 0 0 0 Whimbrel● 65,000 650 163 348 1,272 2 Korea, Chungnam Development Institute and the Korea Institute of Coastal Ecology Eurasian curlew● 100,000 1,000 250 1,023 5,270 3,474 The stakeholder engagement process also identified the existence of several parallel datasets and count methodologies. Far Eastern Curlew● 35,000 350 88 3,229 4,657 49 identified a growing interest among the Korean Consolidation of the varying datasets illustrated how methods, particularly around timing Spotted redshank 25,000 250 63 15 7 0 Common redshank 75,000 750 188 13 109 0 community to be more engaged in shorebird and location of counts can heavily influence population census. By taking maximum, Marsh sandpiper 130,000 1,300 325 14 50 0 research and conservation. the project ran a monthly species counts for each species from across all datasets the project was able to Common greenshank● 110,000 1,100 275 285 1,162 2 series of workshops aimed at engaging and identify what months any given species was pulsing through and ultimately the how many Nordmann’s greenshank● 500 5 1 6 5 0 birds rely on the site in peak migration times. Green sandpiper 100,000 1,000 250 8 2 0 training high school and university students in Wood sandpiper 130,000 1,300 325 2 15 0 shorebird identification and counting methods. Terek sandpiper● 50,000 500 125 1,663 4,266 200 Common sandpiper 190,000 1,900 475 58 9 1 A field guide to the shorebirds of Korea was Grey-tailed tattler 70,000 700 175 85 88 0 developed to aid training with 3,000 copies Ruddy turnstone 30,000 300 75 74 115 0 Great knot● 425,000 4,250 1,063 6,391 4,749 0 made available to interested NGOs and Red knot 110,000 1,100 275 38 26 0 institutes. The BirdLife guide has since been Sanderling● 30,000 300 75 288 613 50 adapted for North Korean shorebird researchers Red-necked stint● 475,000 4,750 1,188 1,027 1,811 500 Long-toed stint 230,000 2,300 575 0 1 0 in collaboration with the EAAFP Pectoral sandpiper 1,220,000 12,200 3,050 0 0 0 Sharp-tailed sandpiper 85,000 850 213 387 12 0 Curlew sandpiper 90,000 900 225 4 1 0 Table 1. Baseline thresholds for 31 shorebird species occurring in the study site. Orange = baselines which exceed ≥1% EFP, Yellow = ≥0.25% EFP. *EFP Dunlin● 1,000,000 10,000 2,500 37,387 14,873 2,480 for Australian species taken from Hansen et al 2016, non Australian species 300 Spoon-billed sandpiper● 3 1 1 4 0 estimates (italics) taken from WPE5. Broad-billed sandpiper● 30,000 300 75 152 541 0 from Broome to Geum

Six thousand kilometres from Seocheon, the rich alluvial mudflats of Roebuck Bay and Eighty Mile beach, south of Broome are internationally recognized as Australia’s most significant shorebird habitats. The traditional custodians of the region, the Yawuru people, have survived in these fertile coasts alongside the annual pulse of shorebirds for eons. Further south, on the Burrup Peninsula 40,000 year old petroglyphs depict intertidal communities including migratory shorebirds. The Murujuga people continue to utilise these productive coasts and are proud custodians of their biodiversity and heritage. Recognizing the invisible threads that shorebirds trace connecting coastal communities Burrup Bird Day from Australia to the Yellow Sea, the project invited representatives from the Murujuga With support from Woodside, Rio Rangers and the Yawuru Ranger to join the 2018 expedition to Seocheon County. Tinto, Yara, Pilbara Ports Authority Through a series of workshops conferences, site visits and generous meals, Rangers and Department of Biodiversity, exchanged knowledge on site stewardship, community engagement, heritage and their Conservation and Attractions interactions with applied conservation management with Korean counterparts. (DBCA), and in collaboration with the Murujaga Aboriginal Corporation, The exchange emphasised the importance of how each site plays its role along the flyway. BirdLife’s Broome Bird Observatory Witnessing birds which may well have been in Broome or Karratha weeks earlier is the wardens have conducted annual tangible proof of our shared responsibility to conserve these species. community bird watching events since 2017. Over 100 community members, remote workers and travelers attend the bird days each year. Attendees are trained in migratory shorebirds identification and learn of the unique ecology of the birds and the coast and their relevance in Murujuga heritage. Broome Geum Floating roost sites, whether natural or artificial, may form preferential high-tide roost sites for a number of floating roost trials reasons. They are generally consistent throughout the Appropriate high tide roosts are necessary to help migratory shorebirds maintain a positive energy balance however in many areas of the tide cycle and immune to Yellow Sea coast these areas are the first to be affected by development and disturbance. Our surveys of the Seocheon coast identified that climate change induced sea- 6 of the 7 natural roosts were only available to birds on 44% of high tides. During these periods it is estimated that over ten thousand birds level rise. In addition, they may be without appropriate local roosting opportunities are resistant to terrestrial predators and vegetation In response to this issue the project promoted established responses to artificial roost construction with assistance from experienced colonisation and can be wetland engineers from RSPB. However due to the urgency of the requirement and recent changes to legislation forbidding construction on relocated on, or adjacent to intertidal areas, traditional roosts were not feasible. tidal feeding areas. To address the issue BirdLife looked to an unlikely partner, the oyster farmers of Australia. Floating oyster farm infrastructure is utilised Trials in two Australian by shorebirds in the east coast of Australia. The project initiated the Floating Roost Trial by optimising commercially available materials Ramsar wetlands were as roost sites in highly modified coastlines. deployed as proof of concept before the trial was deployed on the Seocheon coast in 2019.

With few other options, shorebirds roost on a dredge pipe along the Geum Estuary shipping channel. RESULTS Percentage of total dates where the Korean floating roosts was occupied by migratory 7 threatened shorebirds from April 19th to December 21st 2019. Peaks in usage were observed during Phase 1 results illustrate that floating roost will be used by species northern and southern migration. shorebirds particularly in the absence of natural roost sites. including IUCN Phase 2 is looking to improve thermal values of the listed speceis roosts and test innovative non-plastic alternatives including in collaboration with the RMIT School of Design. Black-faced The project will also investigate feasibility and Spoonbill used requirement for deployment of floating roosts at the floating other priority sites in the Yellow Sea. roosts species count

Resident shorebird 58 species of waterbirds were recrded using floating roosts species were including 21 species of shorebirds. recorded A maximum of 500 shorebirds on a roost at any one time. nesting on the roosts

Inverterbrate communities are colonising the roost providing shorebird feeding opportunities We would like to thank our Korean colleagues for their continued commitment to conserving shorebirds of the East Asian Australasian Flyway

This project was proudly supported by Woodside.

For more information please contact: [email protected] birdlife.org.au