AIM OF THE REGIONAL INITIATIVE 1. How is it implementing the Ramsar approach? Describe briefly the operational means of your initiative to promote the objectives of the Convention and how your initiative is implementing the Ramsar Strategic Plan through cooperation in your region: The purpose and objectives of the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership (the Partnership) support those of the Ramsar Convention, addressing the conservation of waterbirds, the sustainable management of their habitat, and incorporating a collaborative and cooperative approach at the local, national and flyway level. Therefore implementation of the Partnership also promotes the objectives of the Convention and supports implementation of the Strategic Plan. The goal of the Partnership is that Migratory waterbirds and their habitats in the East Asian Australasian Flyway are recognised and conserved for the benefit of people and biodiversity. The objectives of the Partnership are to: Develop the Flyway Network of sites of international importance for the conservation of migratory waterbirds, building on the achievements of the APMWCS networks. Enhance communication, education and public awareness of the values of migratory waterbirds and their habitats. Enhance flyway research and monitoring activities, build knowledge and promote exchange of information on waterbirds and their habitats. Build the habitat and waterbird management capacity of natural resource managers, decision makers and local stakeholders. Develop, especially for priority species and habitats, flyway wide approaches to enhance the conservation status of migratory waterbirds. 2. Which geographical region is covered and who participates? List the countries covered by your initiative. List those countries of the region that are not supporting or not participating in your initiative (why?). In addition to the participating national Ramsar Administrative Authorities, list all other participating stakeholders, such as Ministries other than those responsible for Ramsar implementation, Ramsar s IOPs, intergovernmental bodies, local communities, NGOs, economic actors, etc.: UN Countries in the Flyway Partner Ramsar UN Sub-Region Region Australia Oceania Australia and New Zealand Bangladesh Asia Southern Asia Brunei Darussalam Asia South-Eastern Asia Royal Government of Cambodia Asia South-Eastern Asia China Asia Eastern Asia Indonesia Asia South-Eastern Asia Japan Asia Eastern Asia Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Asia Eastern Asia Republic of Korea Asia Eastern Asia Lao People's Democratic Republic Asia South-Eastern Asia Malaysia Asia South-Eastern Asia Mongolia Asia Eastern Asia Myanmar Asia South-Eastern Asia
Ramsar Regional Initiatives, 2009-2012, page 2 New Zealand Oceania Australia and New Zealand Papua New Guinea Oceania Melanesia The Philippines Asia South-Eastern Asia Russia Europe Eastern Europe Singapore Asia South-Eastern Asia Thailand Asia South-Eastern Asia Timor-Leste Asia South-Eastern Asia United States of America Americas Northern America Viet Nam Asia South-Eastern Asia (Country names of Partners are in accordance with Appendix I of Partnership Document) International Organisation Ramsar IoP Convention on Migratory Species Secretariat Ramsar Convention Secretariat Australasian Wader Studies Group International Crane Foundation Wetlands International WWF IUCN Birdlife International Wild Bird Society of Japan FAO COORDINATION WITH THE RAMSAR SECRETARIAT 3. What are the strategic and operational targets of the initiative? List the main strategic and operational targets of your initiative for 2009-2012 and explain briefly how these targets are aligned with the Convention s Strategic Plan by means of policy and site technical work and activities: Following is a quick reference on how Ramsar Strategic Plan lines up with East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership Implementation Strategy. In addition, Goal 3 and Strategy 3.5, in particular, of the Ramsar Strategic Plan puts emphasis on the importance of regional co-operation through flyway initiatives such as EAAFP. Moreover, the Partnership Document (www.eaaflyway.net/documents/partnership-document.pdf) describes Partners moral obligation to encourage additional membership (Paragraph 8, Item 4), which aligns with Goal 5 of Ramsar Strategic Plan.
Ramsar Regional Initiatives, 2009-2012, page 3 Ramsar EAAFP Strategy Objective Outcome Key phrases 1.1 3 7 inventory monitor wise use 4 12 1.2 3 7, 8 information distribution 1.4 1 3 biodiversity conservation food poverty resource 4 13 1.6 1 4 knowledge scientific traditional 3 2.1 1 1 site designation 2.2 1 1 site information 3 8 2.3 1 3,4 site management plan 4 4.1 2 communication education awareness institution facilities 4. Who coordinates the initiative? Describe briefly how the activities under your initiative are coordinated and by whom. Specify if professional staff provides coordination services to the participating partners and how this is done: The Partnership Secretariat, which is envisaged to be established permanently in Incheon City, Republic of Korea in mid 2009, will undertake administrative co-ordination roles. The Secretariat itself, however, will not implement projects or other activities unless the Partners make such decision accompanied by the provision of funding and/or human resources. GOVERNANCE OF THE INITIATIVE 5. What are the governance and advisory mechanisms for the initiative? Describe briefly how the initiative is established in your region, what mechanisms were set up for its governance, and from what advisory mechanisms (committees, boards, etc.) it can benefit. Describe how all relevant Parties and stakeholders have the opportunity to provide guidance and insight: The Partnership was established in November 2006 to supersede Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy, which was the framework for species-specific site networks to conserve important sites for migratory Anatidae, Cranes and Shorebirds. The individual networks are consolidated into one EAA Flyway Network and most sites in the former networks are incorporated in the new Flyway Site Network. The Partners elect a Chair and Vice Chair for a term of two years. The Management Committee was established at the last meeting of Partners (MoP3, Nov 2008) in order to provide governance for the establishment process of the new permanent Secretariat and will also support inter-sessional decisions and recommendations of the Partnership. Meetings of the Partners are conducted annually. A register of technical experts is to be developed to provide the Chair and Partners with access to specialist technical expertise, as required. Species and issue specific expertise is also available from the Shorebird, Anatidae, Crane, Seabird, and Avian Influenza Working Groups, which operate
Ramsar Regional Initiatives, 2009-2012, page 4 under the auspices of the Partnership. The role of the Working Groups is to promote the Partnership objectives through species-specific activities. SUBSTANTIVE ELEMENTS OF THE INITIATIVE 6. What does the initiative contribute to regional collaboration? Describe briefly how your regional initiative creates an enabling environment in the region, provides a framework for the development of collaborative networks, and seeks collaboration with other intergovernmental or international partners and Ramsar IOPs operating in your region: The Partnership provides a framework for promoting international collaboration on conservation and wise use of wetlands that are important for migratory waterbirds through meetings (MoPs), website, newsletters and networking of sites. 7. How does the initiative make optimal use of Ramsar tools? Describe briefly how your initiative makes optimal use of the Ramsar tools (frameworks, guidelines, guidance, methodologies, etc.) published in the Ramsar Handbooks and Technical Report series: The Partnership uses Criteria 2, 5 and 6 of Ramsar Site Criteria in order to identify important sites for migratory waterbirds to be included in the Flyway Site Network. The Site Information Sheet (SIS) is used to nominate sites for Flyway Site Network, which largely assimilates the format of Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS). 8. How does the initiative provide increased visibility for Ramsar? Describe briefly how your initiative raises the visibility of the Ramsar Convention and the general awareness of Ramsar objectives. List your specific activities in the fields of communication, education and participatory processes with relevant stakeholders: The staging criteria (one quarter of numerical threshold in Ramsar Criteria 5 & 6) for Flyway Site Network highlights the importance of wetlands that are used by migratory waterbirds for staging and contribute towards raising the profile of wetlands that do not meet the quantitative threshold to be included in Ramsar List. This would contribute to strengthen, rather than weaken, the cause championed by Ramsar Convention amongst the wetlands and their surrounding community. Additionally, most of the sites included under the Flyway Site Network are listed Ramsar Sites. This provides a unique opportunity for cross promotion of Ramsar and the Partnership at events such as World Migratory Bird Day and World Wetlands Day. FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORT 9. Who provides political and financial support for the initiative? List all your sources of political and financial support and their amounts pledged for the period 2009-2012. Provide a summary of your planned financial needs. Specify the amounts of the needs already covered by firm pledges and those not yet covered. List the same information on planned expenditures and the sources and amounts of secured income more specifically for the year 2009: The highlight of 2009 is the establishment of the permanent Secretariat in a new location. The Ministry of Environment of Korea and the City of Incheon have pledged total of KRW 708 million, amongst which KRW 558 million is for annual operational cost of the Secretariat. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment of Korea has pledged to fund KRW 25 million and the Ministry of
Ramsar Regional Initiatives, 2009-2012, page 5 the Environment of Japan, JPY 1.5 million for the transitional Secretariat work provided by Wetlands International. The budget for oncoming years shall be determined by the annual Meeting of Partners. 10. Does the initiative request Ramsar core budget financial support? If you are requesting a start-up funding contribution from the Ramsar core budget for the initial operation of your initiative during the period 2009-2012, it is particularly important to provide a financial plan of expenditures and income, listing all major sources, as outlined above under point 9. In addition, provide succinct information on your financial planning for the period 2009-2012 and beyond. Explain how you are generating your own resources and will become financially selfsufficient after an initial start-up phase and in the long term. This has to be submitted according to the format D provided below. The Partnership does not require Ramsar core financial support. The Republic of Korea s offer to host the permanent Secretariat and provide 558million KRW to the annual operation of the Secretariat secures much of the administrative support for the initiative. This along with additional annual pledges of support from the Government of Australia, Japan and the United States, as well as NGO Partner and potential corporate sector sponsorship, ensures that the Partnership will be financially self sufficient. REPORTING AND EVALUATION 11. Reporting obligations The reporting obligations of regional initiatives recognized by the Standing Committee as operating within the framework of the Convention are detailed in paragraphs 26-29 of the Operational Guidance. This proposal will serve as your initial report for the period 2009-2012, based on the structure of the Operational Guidance. You will be required to submit regular reports of progress according to a similar format that will be communicated to all regional initiatives in time. 1. Financial planning for the period 2009-2012 (4 years) Provide a summary table according to the format below: sources of income (donors) income confirmed anticipated income donor name confirmed amount (currency) amount expected (currency) Ramsar core budget requested amount (currency) 2. Work plan for the year 2009 Provide a simple logical framework table according to the format below: objectives activities results/outputs indicators 1. objective one 1.1 activity 1.2 activity 2. objective two 3. Financial plan for the year 2009 Provide a detailed summary of income and expenditure forecast: activities forecast/budgeted expenditures
Ramsar Regional Initiatives, 2009-2012, page 6 1.1 activity amount (currency) 1.2 activity total sources of income (donors) donor name requested from Ramsar core budget total budgeted amount of income amount (currency) amount (currency)