The Task Force is established in line with the mandate provided by the Resolution adopted at COP11 (11.16 rev. COP12), entitled “The Prevention of Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds” to assist the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and its associated instruments, relevant MEAs and Conventions to fulfil their obligations to protect migratory birds from illegal hunting, taking and trade.

The Task Force has the goal of ensuring that no illegal hunting, taking and trade of migratory birds (IHB) takes place in East Asian - Australasian Flyway (EAAF). To reach its goal the Task Force will facilitate concerted efforts and procedures to combat IHB in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway in close cooperation with the East Asian - Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP). In January 2017, Decision 10 of the 9^th Meeting of the Partners (MOP9) of the EAAFP, following the recommendation of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), adopted the terms of reference of an interim task force to address illegal hunting, taking and trade of migratory waterbirds in the EAAF.

Photo: Yellow-breasted bunting populations have declined by 90% since 1980. ©Peter and Michelle Wong

Scope of the task force

The geographical remit of the Task Force covers all states of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway as follows; Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), the Russian Federation, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States of America and Vietnam. The Task Force covers all migratory bird taxa as identified by CMS, with work on waterbird taxa to be led by the EAAFP.

Among the most important activities of the Task Force will include, but are not limited to:

(1)  Support and guide a regional review on the status of hunting regulations in relation to migratory bird species in the EAAF,

(2)  Support and guide a proposed situation analysis on IHB in the flyway, building on the existing work of CMS MIKT in the Mediterranean, Europe and Middle East,

(3)  Promote and facilitate the implementation of decisions and plans adopted in the framework of relevant MEAs or other frameworks, especially the CMS, AMBI and Bilateral Migratory Bird Agreements.

(4)  Stimulate internal and external communication and exchange of information, experience, best practice and know-how,

(5)  Assist in resource mobilization for priority actions including cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),

(6)  Monitor the implementation of the relevant decisions and plans and their effectiveness and regularly submit progress reports to the governing bodies of participating MEAs, including via an intergovernmental ‘scoreboard’ to indicate progress on eliminating IHB,

(7)  Strengthen regional and international networks with experience on IHB and,

Liaise and share experience with both the CMS MIKT Task Force and the EAAFP.

Photo: Millions of birds are killed in Asia for food despite the hunting bans ©Porchhay Taing_Birdlife

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