The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is a multilateral agreement aimed at providing a global platform for States to coordinate international efforts for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. In addition to the pressures on wild bird populations presented by climate change and habitat loss, illegal taking is a major threat to species persistence and needs to be addressed urgently. Globally, there are many migratory bird species that have experienced population declines as a result of illegal and/or unsustainable take, including CMS Appendix I species such as the Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola), Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaeus), and the Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis). In the species-rich East Asian-Australasian Flyway, among the world’s most threatened migratory flyways, the magnitude of wild bird take is recognized by contracting parties as likely unsustainable and requires international cooperation and coordination to address. Following decisions made at the 12th and 13th meetings Conference of Parties to CMS, Resolution 11.16 (Rev.COP13) mandated the creation of the Intergovernmental Task Force to Address Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (ITTEA).

At the 11th Meeting of Partners of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), in Brisbane, Australia, in March 2023, the ITTEA convened jointly with the EAAFP Task Force on Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Waterbirds to inaugurate activities aimed at preventing continued decline of migratory birds in the region due to illegal take. Since taking of wildlife is often a complex socio-economic issue as much as it is a conservation issue, knowledge gaps on the hunting take of migratory bird species in the region present a major barrier to advancing the goals of combatting illegal take and providing guidance on on-the-ground conservation action. Species protection in this region is also complicated by diverse legal frameworks for biodiversity protection Protecting migratory birds threatened by illegal take is difficult without an updated understanding of the species, hotspot localities if they exist, and numbers of birds being taken out of the population. In service of Objective 1 of the ITTEA Programme of Work (POW)¹, a technical workshop on methodology for surveying is proposed. This training aims to ensure that scientifically sound protocols are being used to collect data from markets and on the use of nets (a widely used technique to trap wildlife in Asia), and that the data are standardized across the region. These data are critical to accomplishing Objective 2 of the ITTEA POW² related to the improvement of legislative frameworks addressing illegal take.

Understanding the importance of surveys on wildlife and food markets and netting

Market surveys are a key tool for gathering data on migratory bird species that are intentionally taken for food or caught as bycatch and provide data to estimate relative volume and demand for those species. Similarly, surveys of mist-nets and other improvised nets provide data on the trapping efforts for a specific location along with estimates for relative abundance of captured species. These surveys are necessary for understanding the contributions of food and wildlife markets, mist-net use, and hunter motivations to illegal take of birds (ITB). The application of market or net surveys for addressing ITB is still limited in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, likely due to inadequate technical capacity for conducting surveys. A workshop is proposed to address this skill gap, along with a better understanding of how these data can then be applied to guide relevant enforcement and conservation policy. The aim is to provide participants with a basic understanding and resources for setting up, or scaling up market surveys on ITB.

Workshop goals

1. Introduce participants to the CMS ITTEA and its relevant mandate
2. Equip participants with a basic understanding of market surveys, net surveys, and hunter surveys
3. Equip participants with a basic understand of how survey data can be utilized in natural resource management policies to address challenges, specifically how they can inform understanding of the scope, motivation, and impacts of illegal take of migratory birds
4. Provide participants with a general protocol and resources for surveying food and wildlife markets to address the illegal take of migratory birds