Workshop on ‘Flight for Survival: Addressing Illegal Killing, Taking, and Trade of Migratory Birds and Impacts of Energy Infrastructures in the Central Asian Flyway’

Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea and Mongolia office with a cooperative organization Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia co-hosted the workshop as part of the Hanns Seidel Foundation's (HSF) Global Project for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change (GMACC).

More than 30 experts from 10 countries shared the current situation of IKTT and the impacts of Energy Infrastructures in CAF. During the workshop, sustainable and inclusive perspectives on the meaning of traditional culture, lifestyle, and renewable energy on migratory birds in the Central Asian Flyway were discussed.

Ms. Munkhdush Judaa, Senior officer, of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia gave congratulatory remarks and emphasized the policy of the Mongolian government on ‘endangered species against illegal hunting and killing law’.

During the session1 moderated by Mr. Felix Glenk at HSF Mongolia, the current status on Illegal Killing, Taking, and Trade of Migratory Birds along the Central Asian Flyway was presented by experts from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and India.

Ms. Madina Tauyekelova (Project coordinator) and Mr. Alexey Timoshenko at Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) talked migratory birds in Kazakhstan: Key threats and mitigation measures. After that, Dr. Maksim Mitropolskiy from Uzbekistan delivered issues of Illegal killing, taking, and trade of migratory birds in Uzbekistan. Mr. Jérémie Berlioux from Kyrgyzstan shared the current situation on the threat assessment of powerlines in Kyrgyzstan and the status of IBA (Important Birds Area) in Kyrgyzstan.

As the last speaker for session 1, Dr. Ramesh Kumar from India shared his research on the Impact of Energy Infrastructures and the Illegal Killing of birds along CAF - With focus on Indian Scenario.

Session 2 was themed ‘Wildbird trade issues within Central Asia Flyway’ and moderated by Dr. HyunAh Choi at HSF Korea.
Dr. Yong Ding Li at BirdLife Asia addressed the illegal trapping of waterbirds in South/Southeast Asia – experiences and lessons from the region especially talked about mist-net issues.

Dr. Nyambayar Batbayar from Mongolia shared issues on Illegal trapping and trade of avian species in Mongolia. Also, online speakers from the Netherlands Dr. Taej Mundkur shared his study on Situation analysis for conservation of migratory birds in the CAF region.

And Dr. Liang Zhijian from China presented about nationwide law enforcement impact on the pet bird trade in China.

Dr. Tungalag Ulambayar talked the project of Silent Steppe II: Mongolia's Wildlife Trade Crises, Ten Years Later.

During the session 3, it was more focused on impacts and mitigation of energy infrastructure on birds and their habitats and moderated by Munkhjargal at WSCC Mongolia.

Mr. Tilman Schneider gave an Overview of the relevance of addressing the expansion of renewables and related infrastructure in the context of migratory species conservation.

Mr. Bold Batbayar explained the Avian Sensitivity Tool for Energy Planning develped by BirdLife International.

After the presentations, participants shared questions and ideas during the discussion session.

At the end, Dr. Bernhard Seliger at HSF Korea gave a closing remarks and stressed that the importance of international cooperations to protect migratory birds and their habitats in Central Asia.