In conjunction with the Pesta Sayap 2017, the first Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) Malaysia Seminar was conducted. The seminar’s aim was to increase the number of counters and sites, especially on the Peninsular East Coast, Sabah and Sarawak. It was a platform for counters to discuss the running of the census on a national level, and their findings, towards a collective commitment from counters on the way forward for AWC in Malaysia.
Since 1987, MNS members together with the Wildlife Department of Peninsular Malaysia’s staff have been collecting and collating data for the waterbird census run by Wetlands International.
The inaugural AWC Malaysia Seminar was participated by 32 participants from various MNS states branches, MNS council and Board of Trustees, BirdLife International (Asia), and the Wildlife Department.
A welcoming speech by Henry Goh, MNS president, spoke about ‘the importance of citizen science for advocating Flyway site conservation and managed to advocate Malaysia to join the EAAFP and nominated Bako-Buntal Bay (and the Kapar Power Station ash ponds) as priority Flyway Network Sites for Malaysia’.
Dr Yong Ding Li, Asia advocacy and Policy manager, BirdLife International (Asia) gave a keynote speech on the role of BirdLife International and EAAF conservation.
A keynote address by Yg. Bhg. Dr. Megat Sany Bin Megat Ahmad Supian, under-secretary of Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was read out by Eric Sinaya, MNS vice president. ‘He mentioned the benefits of Malaysia becoming an EAAF partner and the Bako Buntal Bay flyway site has socio-economic improvements to the community in terms of tourism. The efforts on mainstreaming migratory waterbirds flyway sites in the national policies and spatial planning were mentioned. During the MOP9 meeting in Singapore, Malaysia proposed the next flyway site, Kuala Gula, Perak and work more on CEPA outreach’. He ended the speech by fully supporting MNS effort and launched the seminar.
After the launch, the historical part of AWC in Malaysia was presented by Tan Choo Eng, MNS Bird Conservation Council (BCC) chairman. International Wetlands Census 2018, talks about the role of AWC and other initiatives by Taej Mundkur of Wetlands International (which was presented on behalf by Balu Perumal, MNS Head of Conservation).
The Kapar ash ponds counts 2016/17 was done by Chin Choong Liung, MNS BCC Waterbird Study Group. After lunch was the individual MNS state (Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor, Sarawak) and Wildlife Department of Peninsular Malaysia report the results, challenges and recommendations. A new report on Sea birds Surveys in Tioman was presented by MNS Terengganu. The final presentation was the Kampung Sungai Serdang (Kapar) community perception on the Flyway presented by Sonny Wong, MNS.
A panel discussion: on today’s topic and reflection on the Kapar Declaration was conducted with the panelist from MNS, BirdLife, and Wildlife Department. The seminar was fruitful and consolidated the challenges and recommendations brought up by the counters.
The seminar was supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Wetlands International, MNS BCC, MNS Selangor Bird Group, Tan Kean Cheong Bird Conservation Memorial Fund and Ricoh.
Since 1987, MNS members together with the Wildlife Department of Peninsular Malaysia’s staff have been collecting and collating data for the waterbird census run by Wetlands International.
The inaugural AWC Malaysia Seminar was participated by 32 participants from various MNS states branches, MNS council and Board of Trustees, BirdLife International (Asia), and the Wildlife Department.
A welcoming speech by Henry Goh, MNS president, spoke about ‘the importance of citizen science for advocating Flyway site conservation and managed to advocate Malaysia to join the EAAFP and nominated Bako-Buntal Bay (and the Kapar Power Station ash ponds) as priority Flyway Network Sites for Malaysia’.
Dr Yong Ding Li, Asia advocacy and Policy manager, BirdLife International (Asia) gave a keynote speech on the role of BirdLife International and EAAF conservation.
A keynote address by Yg. Bhg. Dr. Megat Sany Bin Megat Ahmad Supian, under-secretary of Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was read out by Eric Sinaya, MNS vice president. ‘He mentioned the benefits of Malaysia becoming an EAAF partner and the Bako Buntal Bay flyway site has socio-economic improvements to the community in terms of tourism. The efforts on mainstreaming migratory waterbirds flyway sites in the national policies and spatial planning were mentioned. During the MOP9 meeting in Singapore, Malaysia proposed the next flyway site, Kuala Gula, Perak and work more on CEPA outreach’. He ended the speech by fully supporting MNS effort and launched the seminar.
After the launch, the historical part of AWC in Malaysia was presented by Tan Choo Eng, MNS Bird Conservation Council (BCC) chairman. International Wetlands Census 2018, talks about the role of AWC and other initiatives by Taej Mundkur of Wetlands International (which was presented on behalf by Balu Perumal, MNS Head of Conservation).
The Kapar ash ponds counts 2016/17 was done by Chin Choong Liung, MNS BCC Waterbird Study Group. After lunch was the individual MNS state (Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor, Sarawak) and Wildlife Department of Peninsular Malaysia report the results, challenges and recommendations. A new report on Sea birds Surveys in Tioman was presented by MNS Terengganu. The final presentation was the Kampung Sungai Serdang (Kapar) community perception on the Flyway presented by Sonny Wong, MNS.
A panel discussion: on today’s topic and reflection on the Kapar Declaration was conducted with the panelist from MNS, BirdLife, and Wildlife Department. The seminar was fruitful and consolidated the challenges and recommendations brought up by the counters.
The seminar was supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Wetlands International, MNS BCC, MNS Selangor Bird Group, Tan Kean Cheong Bird Conservation Memorial Fund and Ricoh.
Programme
Sunday, 15 October 2017
7.00am Bird watching (optional)
8.00am Breakfast and registration
9.00am Welcome speech by MNS president
9.15am Keynote address by BirdLife Asia Division-role of BirdLife on the EAAFP
9.45am Launch of AWC, group photo session, tea break
10.30am AWC Moving Forward
1.30pm AWC Reports and Q&A session
2.30pm Panel Discussion: Reflection on the Kapar Declaration
3.30pm AWC Certificate Presentation
4.00pm Closing remarks by MNS
7.00am Bird watching (optional)
8.00am Breakfast and registration
9.00am Welcome speech by MNS president
9.15am Keynote address by BirdLife Asia Division-role of BirdLife on the EAAFP
9.45am Launch of AWC, group photo session, tea break
10.30am AWC Moving Forward
- AWC in Malaysia context
- Kapar ash ponds 2016/17 study
- The role of AWC & other WC initiatives
- Community’s views on the Flyway
- Q&A session
1.30pm AWC Reports and Q&A session
2.30pm Panel Discussion: Reflection on the Kapar Declaration
3.30pm AWC Certificate Presentation
4.00pm Closing remarks by MNS
Presentations
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