10th Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee (MWCC) Meeting

The main aims of the annual meeting are:

(a) review implementation of the Strategy during 2005
(b) consider outcomes of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership Working Group Meeting and proposed framework
(c) review progress of finalization of the Action Plan for the Central Asian Flyway
(d) review work plans for 2006 including endorsing arrangements for flyway cooperation.

As of 9 November 2005, Krabi Estuary and Bay in south west Thailand, is included in the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site Network, in recognition of its international importance for migratory shorebirds, although it is also important for an array of resident and migratory waterbirds.

Krabi is the first site included in the networks from Thailand. This makes a total of 14 countries actively participating in the international cooperative initiative of flyway networks (the two other networks are for Anatidae in East Asia and cranes in Northeast Asia) established under the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy.

A site dedication ceremony to commemorate this event is to be organised on 15 December 2005, at the special site officiated by the Governor of the Province, national government authorities, international representatives from the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee, Shorebird Working Group, local stakeholders and others.

With this latest designation, the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site Network now spans 39 sites in 12 countries. Krabi Estuary is a Ramsar site, designated on 5th July 2001 (details on http://www.wetlands.org/RSDB/default.htm). More information and a site map will be uploaded on the Asia-Pacific Waterbird Strategy News Page www.wetlands.org/IWC/awc/waterbirdstrategy

For more information, contact: Dr. Taej Mundkur
(Contact details of Dr Taej Mundkur is available to registered journalists)