From the Ramsar Forum

Update on Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy

(posted to the Ramsar Forum, 25 February 2002)

Dear colleagues and friends,

2001 has been an eventful year to promote the conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands in the Asia Pacific region. The new Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 2001-2005 was launched.

The Strategy covers 8 elements (development of action plans, site networks, raising awareness, capacity building, increasing knowledge, harmonizing policy/legislation, improved organisational relationships, planning and resource raising), each of which identify specific outcomes that need to be achieved during the course of these five years (download it at http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/awc/waterbirdstrategy/Downloads.htm).

Under this framework, productive planning meetings, workshops, surveys, training courses and numerous other local, national and international events were organised in many countries, numerous important publications on waterbirds and awareness material have been produced. Many many people across the region have promoted, participated in this cooperative initiative, contributed their efforts and time and supported these activities. Useful ideas, information and plans have been provided by many people and groups. All this has ensured the success of these activities and efforts to conserve waterbirds and wetlands.

Thank you for all this support and cooperation in this international cooperative initiative.

This communication alerts you to four issues:

1. You will be aware that Wetlands International hosts a website with information on the Waterbird Strategy to promote awareness for the conservation of migratory waterbirds. Since its launch last year, the main website has been upgraded and the Strategy has a new address or URL http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/awc/waterbirdstrategy/default.htm. Do visit the site and send in your suggestions and comments.

2. The Strategy website includes a calendar of important events directly linked to promoting conservation of waterbirds and their wetlands. We plan to update the calendar to list events for 2002 in the near future. We would like to list activities you are proposing to conduct and would appreciate if you could send in information by 2 March. Information received thereafter will be uploaded as well.

3. We are collating the first annual report on in the implementation of the Strategy, for publication in early April.
The report will contain information on how partners at the local, national and international level have been involved in promoting the conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands. Do send in information on projects and activities that your government agency, NGO or institute have undertaken that meet the outcomes of the Strategy. Information received by 20 March will be included and we look forward to your information, reports and photos. You may email this to me, or post to the address provided below.

4. To promote the Strategy and Action Plans, we have printed an attractive and colourful poster and brochures in English and other languages with financial support from Australia and Japan. Should you require copies of these products to promote local waterbird conservation efforts, kindly contact me while we have a limited stock to distribute.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Thank you and best wishes,

Taej

Dr. Taej Mundkur
Strategy Coordination Officer

WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL
3A39, Block A, Kelana Centre Point, SS7/19 Petaling Jaya, 47301 Selangor, MALAYSIA
Tel: +60-3-7804 6770 || Fax: +60-3-7804 6772 || www.wetlands.org
Download the Wetlands International 2000 Annual Review at www.wetlands.org
and Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 2001-2005 at http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/awc/waterbirdstrategy/default.htm

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To join the Ramsar Forum, send a blank message to ramsar-forum-join@indaba.iucn.org.   For more information on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 25 February 2002, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.