World Wetlands Day 2002: Australia

From: Alison Beard [Alison.Beard@ea.gov.au]
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 8:04 AM
To: peck@ramsar.org

Subject: World Wetlands Day in Australia

Dear Dwight, Please find attached some images from Australia's national launch of World Wetlands Day 2002 held at our newest Ramsar site, Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands. The new Minister for the Environment and Heritage the Hon. David Kemp MP announced a significant funding contribution of A$210,000 (approximately US$120,000) towards implementation of the "Action Plan for the Conservation of Migratory Shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway: 2001-2005". Doug Watkins, Shorebird Flyway Officer from Wetlands International - Oceania, gratefully accepted the cheque to continue his work in the flyway.

A flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, feeding at the site during the southern end of their annual migration, provided a timely message about the need to protect their habitat throughout the flyway through cooperative efforts by governments, non-government organisations and communities.

Thank you

Alison Beard
Wetlands Section
Environment Australia

Mike Carter, Friends of Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Inc, bird watching at Edithvale wetlands

Minister Kemp, Bruce Billson MP, and Les Williams, Friends of Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Inc., at the launch

Mark Barter, Shorebird Working Group, and Doug Watkins, Shorebird Flyway Officer Wetlands International - Oceania, at the launch

Doug Watkins, accepting funding for the Shorebird Action Plan and outlining the proposed activities focusing on East Asia