CMS Distribution: General CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.1.7 23 May 2017 SPECIES Original: English 12th MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES Manila, Philippines, 23 - 28 October 2017 Agenda Item 24.1.7 ACTION PLAN FOR FAR EASTERN CURLEW (Prepared by the Australian Government) Summary: The Far Eastern Curlew is an endangered migratory shorebird which is included in Appendix I and II of CMS. Resolution 11.14 on a Programme of Work on Migratory Birds and Flyways recommends the development, adoption and implementation of an Action Plan for this species. A task force established under the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) in 2015 prepared the Action Plan in consultation with Range States, EAAFP Partners, non-government organizations and the research community. The Action Plan was approved by the EAAFP at its meeting of partners held in Singapore in January 2017. The Action Plan identifies key threats and prioritizes actions required to improve the conservation status of the Far Eastern Curlew throughout its range. The Action Plan is submitted to COP12 for adoption with a view to promote immediate implementation. Implementation of the Action Plan will contribute to targets 8, 9 and 10 of the Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015-2023. UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.1.7 ACTION PLAN FOR FAR EASTERN CURLEW Background 1. The Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) was listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2010 and uplisted to endangered in 2015. The species was listed on the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Appendix II in 1994 and Appendix I in 2011. The species was designated for Concerted and Cooperative Actions under CMS in 2014. There are currently no international instruments that address conservation issues across the entire range of the species. 2. Resolution 11.14 on the Programme of Work on Migratory Birds and Flyways recommends the development, adoption and implementation of a Species Action Plan (SAP) for the Far Eastern Curlew in East Asia – Australasia, in cooperation with the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP). 3. In 2015 at the 8th Meeting of the Partners of the EAAFP, Australia proposed the establishment of the Far Eastern Curlew Task Force. The proposal was unanimously endorsed and Australia was elected Chair. 4. The primary purpose of the Task Force was to draft and seek Partnership endorsement of the International Single Species Action Plan for the Far Eastern Curlew as the issues facing the species are well suited to the development of targeted conservation actions. Issue 5. The Far Eastern Curlew is endemic to the East Asian – Australasian Flyway and is one of the largest migratory shorebirds in the world. The species breeds in the Russian Federation and China and migrates to the Philippines, Thailand, Palau, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand for the non-breeding period. 6. Evidence from Australia indicates a severe population decline of 81.4 per cent over 30 years or three generations (5.8 per cent per year). In large part, the observed decline in Far Eastern Curlew numbers stems from ongoing loss of intertidal mudflat habitat at key migration staging sites in the Yellow Sea. If habitat loss and degradation continue, it is expected that the species will continue to decline. 7. The Far Eastern Curlew Task Force, in cooperation with the EAAFP Secretariat, prepared a draft Single Species Action Plan which was sent to all Range States, relevant CMS Parties, EAAFP Partners and the Chairs of relevant EAAFP Working Groups and Task Forces on 5 August 2015. Further targeted consultation occurred on 17 December 2015 with Range States, non-government organizations and researchers. Written consultation with relevant CMS Secretariat staff and COP-Appointed Councillors was undertaken in 2015 and 2016. All comments received were considered and the draft action plan was amended accordingly. 8. The final draft of the Single Species Action Plan was again circulated for comment on 1 April 2016 to all EAAFP Partners. Comments were incorporated as appropriate, and the draft Action Plan was sent to the EAAFP Secretariat for final consideration. Discussion and analysis 9. The Action Plan was presented to the 9th Meeting of Partners to the EAAFP held in Singapore in January 2017. All substantive comments made during plenary were incorporated as appropriate. The Action Plan was unanimously approved by EAAFP Partners. 2 UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.1.7 10. In order to effectively monitor and report on the implementation of the Action Plan, the Far Eastern Curlew Task Force will be maintained through the EAAFP. 11. The Action Plan is being submitted to COP12 for adoption with the view of promoting immediate implementation. 12. The Action Plan is appended at Annex 1. Consistent with CMS policy concerning language versions of Species Action Plans, the document is produced only in English as its geographic scope does not include any French or Spanish-speaking country. Recommended actions 13. The Conference of the Parties is recommended to: a) adopt the Action Plan contained in Annex 1 through draft Resolution 12.XX on species action plans for birds contained in document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.1.11. 3 UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.1.7/Annex 1 ANNEX 1 INTERNATIONAL SINGLE SPECIES ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE FAR EASTERN CURLEW (Numenius madagascariensis) © Brian Furby Collection Australian Government 4 UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.1.7/Annex 1 Table of Contents Executive summary ............................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. 6 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7 2. Biological assessment .................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Taxonomy ............................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Global Distribution ................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Habitat requirements ............................................................................................. 11 2.3.1 Breeding habitat ............................................................................................. 11 2.3.2 Non-breeding habitat ...................................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Feeding habitat .............................................................................................. 12 2.3.4 Roosting habitat ............................................................................................. 12 2.4 Migration patterns .................................................................................................. 12 2.4.1 Departure from breeding grounds ................................................................... 12 2.4.2 Non-breeding season ..................................................................................... 13 2.4.3 Return to breeding grounds ............................................................................ 14 2.5 Important Sites ...................................................................................................... 14 2.6 Diet and foraging behaviour .................................................................................. 14 2.7 Population size and trend ...................................................................................... 10 3. Threats ......................................................................................................................... 16 3.1 Description of key threats ...................................................................................... 16 3.1.1 Habitat loss .................................................................................................... 16 3.1.2 Habitat degradation ........................................................................................ 17 3.1.3 Climate change .............................................................................................. 19 3.1.4 Hunting, poaching and incidental take ............................................................ 20 3.1.5 Disturbance .................................................................................................... 21 3.1.6 Pollution ......................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Threat prioritization ................................................................................................ 22 4. Policies and legislation relevant for management ......................................................... 25 4.1 International conservation and legal status of the species ..................................... 25 4.2 International conventions and agreements ratified by Range States...................... 26 4.3 National legislation relevant to the Far Eastern Curlew.......................................... 28 5. Framework for action .................................................................................................... 35 5.1 Goal ...................................................................................................................... 35 5.2 Objectives, actions and results .............................................................................