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Overview of the UNEP/GEF

Siberian Crane Wetlands Project

GOAL: Secure the ecological integrity of a network of critical wetlands needed for the survival of the Siberian Crane, migratory waterbirds and other globally significant wetland biodiversity in Asia

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UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetlands ProjectWetlands Project

Full Title:Full Title: Development of a Wetland Site and Development of a Wetland Site and Flyway Network for Conservation of the Siberian Flyway Network for Conservation of the Siberian Crane and Other Migratory Waterbirds in AsiaCrane and Other Migratory Waterbirds in Asia

Duration:Duration: 7 Years: 2003 – 2009 7 Years: 2003 – 2009 International Executing Agency :International Executing Agency : ICF with ICF with

support from Convention on Migratory Species support from Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)(CMS)

Countries :Countries : China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and IranChina, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Iran Two Flyways – Two Flyways – 16 project sites16 project sites GEF 10 Million, $ 16M co-finance, $20M GEF 10 Million, $ 16M co-finance, $20M

associated fundingassociated funding

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Need for ProjectNeed for Project SCWP was developed in SCWP was developed in

response to the response to the widespread and widespread and continuing loss and continuing loss and degradation of wetlands degradation of wetlands across Asia and the across Asia and the precarious state of precarious state of waterbird populationswaterbird populations. .

59% waterbird 59% waterbird populations declining in populations declining in AsiaAsia

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Siberian Siberian Crane is an Crane is an

effectiveeffectiveFlagship Flagship SpeciesSpecies Cultural symbol – Cultural symbol –

long life, fidelity, long life, fidelity, spirit guidespirit guide

Migratory –Migratory –effective ambassadoreffective ambassador

Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered Its wetland used by Its wetland used by

thousands of other thousands of other waterbirds & peoplewaterbirds & people

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Map by the International Crane Foundation 2005

Cartographer: Zoe Rickenbach

Address Address Threats Threats atat

SITE SITE LEVELLEVEL

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Site Management Committees established and involved in the process for developing the management plan and public education plan (Keerqin NNR, China).

(i) Established Stakeholder (i) Established Stakeholder ParticipationParticipation

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(ii) Invested in (ii) Invested in CommunitiesCommunities

Community participation/income projectsCommunity participation/income projects testedtested China (Poyang, Zhalong, Xianghai and Keerqin)China (Poyang, Zhalong, Xianghai and Keerqin) Iran (Fereydoon Kenar)Iran (Fereydoon Kenar) Kazakhstan (Naurzum)Kazakhstan (Naurzum)

Guidelines Guidelines on community participation have been on community participation have been published as part of a book on wetland management published as part of a book on wetland management by China Academic Press with support from the by China Academic Press with support from the projectproject

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(iii) Site Management Plans (iii) Site Management Plans - based on sound - based on sound science and involving local science and involving local

communitiescommunities

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- e.g. Removal of Oil Exploration Rig- e.g Re-alignment State Powerlines

(iv) Address Threats

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(v) Upgraded Conservation Status of (v) Upgraded Conservation Status of Protected Areas and Expanded Size along Protected Areas and Expanded Size along Flyways:Flyways: - one new World Heritage Site - 5 new Ramsar sites, 4 applications in progress - Management effectiveness improved at 16 sites, totaling 7 million hectares, benefitting millions of people- Improved protection status of over 1.8 million ha

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Map by the International Crane Foundation 2005

Cartographer: Zoe Rickenbach

RussiaRussia

KazakhstanKazakhstan

IranIran ChinaChina

Address Address broader broader

measures measures for for

wetlandswetlandsandand

waterbird waterbird conservation conservation

at the at the

NATIONANATIONAL L

LEVELLEVEL

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KEY NATIONAL KEY NATIONAL APPROACH: APPROACH: Provision of Provision of

water for wetlands; water for wetlands; Capacity building, Capacity building,

Monitoring & Program Monitoring & Program sustainabilitysustainability

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WATER MONITORING

WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS developed for Zhalong, Xianghai, Keerqin, Momoge in China & Naurzum in Kazakhstan.

MINIMUM WATER FLOWS & SUSTAINED FINANCING

WETLAND RESTORATION

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•Short-term training courses

•Formal university courses

•Partnership between sites and local institutes & universities

Capacity Building

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Applied Research and Applied Research and Ecological MonitoringEcological Monitoring

•10-year study of ecological relationships water levels, food plants & waterbird distribution at Poyang Lake NNR

•Data provided to support technical assessment of proposed water control structure

16Map by the International

Crane Foundation 2005 Cartographer: Zoe Rickenbach

and and activitieactivitie

s s at the at the FLYWAFLYWA

Y Y LEVELLEVEL

CoordinatiCoordinationon

Russia

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Strong cooperation with Strong cooperation with Regional InitiativesRegional Initiatives

• Origins under (CMS) MoU on Origins under (CMS) MoU on Siberian CraneSiberian Crane

• East Asian – Australasian Flyway East Asian – Australasian Flyway PartnershipPartnership

• Central Asian Flyway Initiative Central Asian Flyway Initiative (CMS/WI)(CMS/WI)

• Wings over Wetlands UNEP/GEF Wings over Wetlands UNEP/GEF projectproject

• Many other international and national Many other international and national projects and partnersprojects and partners

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Exchange of staff and coordinated surveys has increased connections between countries

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Enhanced Waterbird

Monitoring Along Flyways

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Regional Public Awareness Regional Public Awareness Programs an effective tool for Programs an effective tool for

conservationconservationacross continentsacross continents

•World Wetlands DayWorld Wetlands Day•World Migratory World Migratory Bird DayBird Day•Crane Festivals Crane Festivals (120 (120 sites in 9 countries)sites in 9 countries)

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www.scwp.infowww.sibeflyway.org

Websites – depository on Websites – depository on project outputsproject outputs

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Project Achievements & Project Achievements & SustainabilitySustainability

Increased security of the network of Increased security of the network of wetlands for Siberian Crane and wetlands for Siberian Crane and millions of waterbirds. millions of waterbirds.

Wetland management been linked to Wetland management been linked to water resource management policies water resource management policies & gov. funding& gov. funding

Conservation of wetlands and Conservation of wetlands and waterbirds been strengthened waterbirds been strengthened through improvements to national through improvements to national policies, legislation and planspolicies, legislation and plans

Transboundary exchanges, Transboundary exchanges, agreements, cooperation & agreements, cooperation & monitoring – having national monitoring – having national benefitsbenefits

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Success factors & lessons (i)

First Flyway project supported by GEF – lessons lead EA very dedicated with long track record Country-specific work programs yet in regional

context Advantage of working under a regional agreement

(MoU – CMS) positive achievements influenced government

priorities & approach way beyond original scope Flyway: need long-term projects & commitment;

three-level approach, to avoid isolated islands of success

Flyways: exchange of staff, expertise & experience

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Success factors & lessons (ii)

Finding common issues and targeting shared interests: flyway bird and water monitoring enabled dialogue on issues such as water distribution or socio-economic concerns

Strong public communications campaign – best use of GEF funds.

Regional activities plus project management just 13% of overall GEF budget; whilst generating country benefits well beyond that.

Multi-country projects do work!

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The Way ForwardThe Way Forward Site and national activities will continue Site and national activities will continue

through national agency programs under through national agency programs under mainstreaming and budgeting mainstreaming and budgeting arrangementsarrangements

Conservation efforts for the Siberian Conservation efforts for the Siberian Crane will continue in cooperation with Crane will continue in cooperation with CMS and ICF and integrated with wider CMS and ICF and integrated with wider flyway conservation programmesflyway conservation programmes

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