For those of you with an interest ...
http://www.ea.gov.au/minister/env/2002/mr01feb02.html
Media Release
Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage
The Hon Dr David Kemp, MP
01 February 2002
K005
AUSTRALIA WORKING HARD TO PROTECT MIGRATORY SHOREBIRDS
The Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, today
announced $210,000 funding from the Natural Heritage Trust for action to
conserve wetlands in the Asia-Pacific region where migratory shorebirds gather
to rest, feed and breed on their way to Australia.
Dr Kemp said the announcement of Shorebird Action Plan funding was particularly
timely on the eve of World Wetlands Day 2002, the anniversary of the signing of
the Ramsar Convention in 1971 (Ramsar, Iran). The funding will be provided to Mr
Doug Watkins from Wetlands International - Oceania to continue his important
work under the Shorebird Action Plan. Mr Watkins is an internationally
recognised shorebird conservation expert who is playing a major role in the
developing and implementing of essential conservation activities in the East
Asian-Australasian Flyway.
"The funding provided to Mr Watkins will enable him to work in key areas of the
Flyway and in particular the Yellow Sea where huge numbers of birds rest during
their migration to and from Australia. He will train site managers at major
sites in the Flyway, work with local government officers to protect habitats in
the key sites, help local community groups survey migratory shorebird
populations in key staging sites, and promote conservation of endangered species
of shorebirds with government and non-government groups. The specific countries
that will be part of Mr Watkins conservation efforts are China, South Korea,
Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh.
"An estimated two million birds of 40 species take flight from Australian shores
each April and head north to their Arctic breeding grounds. When breeding is
completed in July, they begin their long journey back to our wetlands and coasts
to spend the summer months," Dr Kemp said.
"Some species of shorebirds, weighing as little as 30 grams, may travel 25,000
kilometres in one year. This is a truly amazing feat.
"The routes they travel along are called 'flyways', consisting of chains of
significant wetlands.
The shorebirds which visit Australia each year follow the East
Asian-Australasian flyway, whichalso includes New Zealand, and countries in
Eastern and South-east Asia and the Arctic Circle.
"With the population pressures and threats to wetland habitats in most of the
countries along the flyway, it is imperative that we all work together to
protect their wetland areas.
"The Australian Government today reaffirmed its commitment to regional shorebird
conservation with the announcement of $210,000 from the Natural Heritage Trust
to assist Wetlands International - Oceania implement the Shorebird Action Plan,
bringing total Trust funding for international shorebird conservation provided
to date to over $1 million.
"The Shorebird Action Plan began in 1998 and aims to build a network of 100
internationally significant habitat sites in 18 countries by 2005. There are
currently 29 sites in nine countries, 11 of which are in Australia."
Australia's 11 internationally significant shorebird sites are all designated on
the list of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
"Edithvale-Seaford is a great example of how a small urban wetland in one of our
biggest cities can play a significant role in providing habitat for migratory
shorebirds. In our summer months, this wetland is home to a very special
visitor, the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Because large numbers of Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers (up to 3000) visit the wetland, it has been rated as internationally
significant and worthy of listing as a Ramsar site. The role of local
communities in protecting such valuable urban wetlands cannot be
underestimated.
"Thanks to the listing of Australia's newest Ramsar site, the Edithvale-Seaford
Wetlands in Victoria, we now have 57 sites listed under the Ramsar Convention,
which represents one of the world's first global environmental treaties, a
Convention to protect wetland ecosystems," Dr Kemp said.
"By listing sites under the Ramsar Convention, Australia is promoting
recognition and greater awareness of our most important wetlands.
"In addition, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
ensures added protection of Australia's Ramsar wetlands and migratory waterbird
sites."
For more information on Australia's Ramsar sites and for a list of activities
being held around the country to mark World Wetlands Day 2002, please check
Environment Australia's web site at:
http://www.ea.gov.au/water/wetlands/bulletin/index.html
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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