Sejong, November 7 - The Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Wha-jin) held the 7th bilateral meeting on migratory birds between South Korea, Australia, China, and Japan from October 31 to November 2, 2022, to exchange policies and research results, and strengthen cooperation among those countries. Government representatives from the four nations of Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Secretariat, research institutions, and experts attended the meeting to discuss international efforts to protect migratory birds. The bilateral meeting is a working-level meeting among governments held biennially since 2008 in Australia. South Korea hosted the meeting for the second time since 2012.   

Since migratory birds tend to travel across borders without restrictions, international cooperation is vital to protect migratory birds and their habitats. South Korea signed a migratory bird treaty with Australia in December 2006 and China in April 2007. South Korea signed an environmental treaty with Japan in June 1993, continuously fortifying the partnership between the neighboring countries.

At this year's meetings, the Ministry of Environment shared the country's measures to protect migratory birds, including bird monitoring, research on migratory routes, and bird habitat protection. In particular, the ministry shared the successful case of restoring the crested ibis, a class II endangered species, which was a cooperative project between Korea and China. After Korea received four crested ibises from China during the Korea-China summit in 2008, the Korean government has been working tirelessly to restore and increase the number of species for the past fourteen years. Thanks to their efforts, there are over hundred crested ibises in the Upo Wetlands) to date.

In addition, the Ministry of Environment discussed the common interests of participating countries, the details of cooperation on the conservation of migratory birds, including endangered species, and joint research. South Korea discussed conserving habitat for sandpipers with Australia. As for China, the discussions focused on conserving black-faced spoonbills and joint research on restoring black storks and hill pigeons. The meeting with Japan mainly involved the conservation of hooded cranes and establishing a cooperative network for defending against aviation influenza. Furthermore, the"monitoring workshop" for East Asian land birds and the workshop for the conservation of Saunder's gulls were also held and participated by experts from Korea, China, and Japan.

Kim Jong-ryul, Director-General of the Nature Conservation Bureau, said, "Having this opportunity, the Ministry of Environment shared its successful case of restoring the crested ibises, which was started fourteen years ago with the help of the Chinese government." He added, "The Ministry of Environment will strengthen cooperation among the four participating countries and exchange relevant information more frequently to conserve migratory birds that are decreasing in population."

Contact: Kwon Jung-hyun, Deputy Director

Biodiversity Division / +82-(0)44-201-7251

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr