The Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee (MWCC) responsible for coordinating the development, monitoring and implementation of the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 2001-2005 held its 7th Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 19-20 June 2002. The MWCC comprises representation from seven governments (Australia, People's Republic of China, Japan, India, Russia, Indonesia and USA), the Ramsar and Bonn Conventions, BirdLife International, World Wide Fund for Nature, Chairs of Species Working Groups (Anatidae, cranes and shorebirds), UNDP/GEF and Wetlands International Specialist Groups.

The Meeting approved Ms Alison Russell-French of Environment Australia as Committee Chair and Mr Diazaburo Kuroda of Ministry of Environment, Japan as the Vice Chair for the next two years. The Committee also proposed strengthening its structure and functioning through various measures, including through closer integration with the Ramsar and Bonn Conventions, their Joint Work Plans and other mechanisms.

The Committee reviewed and commended the range of work that has been undertaken during 2001-2002 to promote and ensure the conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands in the region. It called for renewed efforts and focus along the main migration pattern of species along three flyways: Central Asian-Indian, East Asian-Australasian and Central Pacific through the implementation of well developed Action Plans and programmes.

It noted and welcomed the addition of several new sites to the international site networks during 2001-2002: Mai Po Marshes (Hong Kong SAR, China) and Utonai-ko (Japan) to the East Asian Anatidae Site Network; six sites to the North East Asian Crane Site Network from the People's Republic of China (Zhalong National Nature Reserve, Sanjiang National Nature Reserve, Xianghai National Nature Reserve, Shuangtai Hekou National Nature Reserve, Shengjin Hu National Nature Reserve and Cao Hai National Nature Reserve) and two sites, Kashima Shingomori (Japan) and Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserve (Singapore) to the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site Network.

The Committee acknowledged the large amount of work needed over the next three years to raise awareness, build capacity and manage wetlands in the region to achieve conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetlands. It called for the development of National Implementation Programmes and costed annual Work Plans for the Strategy and Action Plans.

More information on the outcomes of the 7th Meeting will be posted on the Wetlands International website