OTHER SITES OF WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL

Asia-Pacific Working Group on Migratory Birds and Avian Influenza
Updated as at 22 June 2007

The Asia-Pacific Working Group on Migratory Birds and Avian Influenza (APWG-MWAI) was established under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee in early 2006. Initial funding support was provided by the Ministry of the Enviornment of Japan.

The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are to coordinate:

  1. Avian flu sampling efforts of migratory waterbirds in the Asia-Pacific region
  2. Marking of birds through banding/ringing/satellite marking (needs/who/where)
  3. Sharing and analysis of banding returns in a flyway context
  4. Improving information sharing on migratory waterbird movements and migratory routes
  5. Better informing those agencies involved in development of national and international Avian Influenza Risk Assessments.
The Working Group has invited representatives from countries in the Asia-Pacific region, international NGOs, convention secretariats and international organisations, independent experts, and observers. Secretariat support to the Working Group is currently provided by Wetlands International under contract to the Wildlife Conservation Society under the GAINS programme. As at August 2007, there are 23 representatives and observers. The Working Group coordinates and reports to the following international initiatives:
  1. Global Avian Influenza Network For Surveillance (GAINS)
  2. The Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds
  3. The East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership
  4. The Central Asian Flyway Action Plan

A first Meeting of the Working Group is proposed for late 2007, at the invitation of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. At this meeting the Terms of Reference are to be finalised and a programme of work is to be developed.

For more information, contact the Secretariat:
Taej Mundkur, Wetlands International
This website was made possible through support provided by the Office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International Development and Wildlife Conservation Society, under the terms of Leader Award No.LAG-A-00-99-00047-00, Cooperative Agreement: GHS-A-00-06-00005.. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development or Wildlife Conservation Society.