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Use of the AWI model in a UNDP-GEF Funded Peat Swamp Forest Project in Malaysia
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Jan 2003: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Malaysia has called for proposals to undertake a Multi-Disciplinary Assessments (MDAs) of peat swamp forests (PSF). The MDAs are expected to take up to six months to complete, and will incorporate specific analyses of flora and fauna, hydrological characteristics, socio-economic uses as well as policy, institutional and management issues. The MDAs will be expected to provide detailed profiles of PSF ecosystems and comprehensive baseline data of the project sites and identify information gaps and areas in which further in-depth analysis is required, as well as to develop an Interim Action Plan outlining immediate initiatives and interventions required to sustainably manage the relevant project site pending development and implementation of comprehensive Management Plans. The design and implementation of an on-going site monitoring programme will also be required.

In the Terms of Reference of the tender document for data collection and gathering of the above information, specific mention is made to observe the requirements set out in the "Manual for an Inventory of Asian Wetlands" - Level 4 - (Finlayson et al 2002).

The Asian Wetland Inventory (AWI) approach which has been recommended as a model for wetland inventory at the recent Ramsar Conference of Parties in Spain (Nov 2002) is gaining wider use across national wetland conservation initiatives in Malaysia and regionally. It is hoped that the Manual will be a useful tool for other Asian nations in implementing national or site level wetland inventories in order to provide the critical information for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

 

Grant received from ARCBC for the Translation of AWI Manual _________________________________________________________________

In January 2003 Wetlands International received a grant from the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) for translation of the recently published manual into several Southeast Asian languages (i.e. Thai. Khmer. Vietnamese, Lao & Indonesian). The need to make these manual available in national languages had been highlighted in the Phnom Penh Statement on Wetland Inventory.

This manual is a useful tool in implementing national or site level wetland inventories that provide critical information for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. With the provision of this grants, it will encourage and strengthen the use of this manual in Asian countries. The translated version of the Manual should be available in December 2003.

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Asian Wetland Inventory

Ramsar COP8 Side Event

The AWI side event was held on 21 November 2002 during the Ramsar COP 8 in Valencia, Spain. The event was well attended with over 100 participants. The event was chaired by Dr. Max Finlayson, President of Wetlands International and co-chaired by Mr. Daizaburo Kuroda, Director of the Wildlife Division, Ministry of the Environment Japan

The event started with a welcome note by Dr. Douglas Taylor followed by a presentation by Alvin Lopez providing an overview of the Asian Wetland Inventory and implementation progress throughout Asia. Key achievements in the last phase were highlighted and plans for the next phase were presented. The main outputs of the previous phase were production of the AWI Manual and organizing of a regional workshop to introduce the AWI in Asia.

National government representatives were then given the opportunity to make brief presentations on progress or plans for implementation of the AWI at the national level. Presentations were made by governments of Japan, India, China, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. Progress reported on national level initiatives included case studies in progress, plans for implementation of national level inventories, site based inventories and attempts to incorporate existing inventory data into the format/approach recommended in the AWI manual and Ramsar framework. A short discussion followed the presentation and among the points highlighted was the need to include more information on social aspects when implementing a wetland inventory.

Mr. Kuroda delivered a short speech pledging the continued support for the AWI from the Ministry of the Environment Japan. The Manual for an Inventory of Asian Wetlands was then officially launched with Mr. Kuroda presenting a copy to Delmar Blasco, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention Bureau. In his short address following the presentation Delmar emphasized that wetland inventory was the first challenge to effective implementation of the Ramsar Convention. He ended his address by acknowledging all governments who have supported this initiative and appealed to donors to continue supporting the AWI.


Delmar Blasco, Secretary General of the Ramsar Bureau receiving a copy of the Manual from
 Mr. Kuroda of the Ministry of the Environment Japan.
Following is a list of speakers at this side event and titles of their presentations. Web versions of some of presentations are available. To view the presentations, please click on the title.
  • Mr. Alvin Lopez (Wetlands International) - The Asian Wetland Inventory - A Planning and Management Tool for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use
  • Yoshihiko Miyabayashi (Wetlands International Japan) – The Hokkaido Case Study
  • Wilfrido Pollisco (Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, Department of Environment & Natural Resources)
  • Ajit Patnaik (Chilika Development Authority) - Inventory and assessment - Chilika Lagoon - India
  • Lei Kun (Ramsar Convention Implementing Office of SFA, China) - National Wetland Resources Inventory and Potential Related Technology and Method Derived from AWI
  • Nirawan Pipit sombat (Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Thailand)
  • Mr. Sivanesam Pillai (Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Malaysia) - National Wetland Inventory


    Mr. Ajit Patnaik from Chilika, India




    Mr. Lei Kun from China

     

    Dr. Leong Ah Hin from Malaysia

    The organisers of the AWI side event wish to thank the Ministry of the Environment Japan and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) for their financial support.

    Alvin Lopez, Daizaburo Kuroda, Max Finlayson, Delmar Blasco

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