The “2011 International Symposium on Black-faced Spoonbill and Coastal Wetlands Conservation” was held by Taijiang National Park Headquarters at Qigu on April 7 and 8, and attended by experts and scholars from all the main countries in the black-faced spoonbill’s range . 24 informative papers were presented during the seminar.

As well as discussing Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) and coastal wetlands conservation and related management issues and carrying out academic and actual management strategy exchange, the fall in spoonbill numbers in the recent International survey was discussed and a response strategy put forward. In particular, the ecological farming plan being carried out by the national park HQ and National Tainan University and intended to ensure the spoonbills’ food supply, was enthusiastically received. Attendees were also fully supportive of wireless tracking of Black-faced Spoonbills, new habitat monitoring, subsidies for halting of fish harvesting moratorium during the bird migration season and other concrete measures, the seminar overall producing rich results.

During the closing ceremony, representatives from each country reached a consensus regarding international cooperation for conservation in accordance with the arguments and opinions regarding Black-faced Spoonbill conservation and wetlands conservation put forward during the previous two days. The mayor of Tainan, Lai Qing-de, was in attendance and, along with other attendees, signed his name on the “Black-faced Spoonbill and Wetlands Conservation Declaration”. During the ceremony the representatives from countries in the range of the black-faced spoonbill took part in the “black-faced spoonbill return north” send-off ceremony, writing their conservation wishes and good luck message on paper cut-outs of a black-faced spoonbill, which were then pinned along the route of the birds’ international migration routes, sending the message that protection of migratory birds will never end, and also symbolizing a new era in international cooperation for the protection of migratory birds!

Translatedby：Kevin Lax
Source：Taijiang National Park Headquarters