Wetlands for Asian Flyways

The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...

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Asian Flyways: A true wonder of Nature

Twice a year, millions of migratory birds undertake an epic journey between their northern breeding grounds and their southern wintering grounds – along the world’s great “flyways.” This massive, transcontinental annual movement is not just a mesmerizing display of endurance, but it is also a critical ecological and evolutionary process that indicates the health of our natural world.

Asian Flyways and migratory birds are under threat

Of the nine global flyways, the two Asian flyways (Central Asian Flyway and East Asian-Australasian Flyway) are the most species-rich, yet also the most at risk. Healthy wetlands – from rivers to salt marshes, lakes to coastal tidal flats – are critical habitats for migratory birds. However, 45% of Asia’s wetlands have been lost since 1900, driving the decline of migratory birds. Half of the waterbird populations in Asia are in long-term decline.

The Birds’ Fate is Our Fate

Ecological connectivity along flyways is critical for migratory birds

Migratory birds have evolved with a complex migratory strategy and they rely on different habitats and ecosystems as breeding, stopover and wintering sites to sustain their life cycles. Ecological connectivity is essential for migratory birds to travel along their transcontinental annual migratory routes that have been used for millennia.

Healthy wetlands in Flyways are vital to humans

Millions of people in Asia rely on wetlands for water, food and energy security as well as for their livelihoods, and wetland loss and degradation puts those communities at risk. Healthy wetlands are central to climate adaptation and reducing disaster risk as more than 90% of natural disasters are water-related (floods, droughts, storms, etc.).

WWF’s Wetlands for Asian Flyways Initiative (WAF)

The Wetlands for Asian Flyways Initiative (WAF) is a regional collaborative initiative under WWF’s Freshwater Practice. It aims to conserve a network of wetlands benefiting the long-term survivorship of migratory bird populations and long-term sustainable management of the wetland habitats, supported by local communities across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway. This initiative will also underpin the efforts of nations to fulfil their international commitments to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

Our vision

By 2030, ecologically connected and functional networks of wetlands in Asia will be protected, restored, and effectively managed through community stewardship to stabilize or reverse the decline of migratory bird populations in the two Asian Flyways and conserve healthy wetlands for ecological and human well-being.

approaches for wetlands for asian flyways

Resources

Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund (AWCF)

The Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund (AWCF) was established by WWF-Hong Kong in July 2005 to provide financial support to conservation projects at sites of importance for migratory waterbirds (including seabirds) and their habitats. The small grant fund promotes partnerships with the local NGOs and communities in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway (EAAF). It is now also extended to include the Central Asian Flyway (CAF).

AWCF consists of the Dr. Lew Young Grant and the Wetlands for Asian Flyways Initiative Grant. As of 2024, AWCF has supported more than 50 projects with over US$ 200,000. A few cooperation projects in China were developed after the training (See the examples).

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Wetland Management Training Programme

In order to share experience on wetland management with other wetland managers and stakeholders, WWF Hong Kong launched the wetland management training programme in 1990. Training courses and study tours are organized in Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong S.A.R. which build capacity of government officers, NGO personnel and wetland conservation experts along the EAAF to enhance knowledge and skills on flyway conservation, wetland habitat management, research and monitoring, ecotourism and environmental education.

Over the past 30 years, WWF has organized more than 400 training courses at Mai Po, equipping over 5,000 participants.

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A Regional Collaboration

WWF offices across flyway countries in the Asia Pacific region have proposed a series of projects that will help us reach our goal of creating a network of healthy, connected wetlands for the benefit of migratory birds and people. We need your support to safeguard the millions of migratory birds, their habitats and livelihoods of local communities.

To support these projects, WWF offices in Asia Pacific are coming together to raise fund to save migratory birds, the wetlands they rely on and everything else in between.

How you can support:

Join our actions on advocacy for conservation policies and conservation programmes
Promote the importance of migratory birds and wetlands, join the annual World Migratory Bird Day events (visit: https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org)
Support our work: Be our partners, volunteers, or donors

If you are interested to join, please contact Vivian Fu, Lead of Wetlands for Asian Flyways at vivianfu@wwf.org.hk.

Our Work in the Asian Flyways

Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund (AWCF) 2024: New Partnerships to Protect Asian Flyways

Announcement of the successful application results for the Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund (AWCF), three projects were selected from Myanmar and Indonesia.

On-site Cooperation projects in China with reference to Mai Po Nature Reserve

The experience gained from Mai Po is replicated in different important wetland sites in China. Through cooperation with different protected areas, WWF hopes to establish good practices at other wetland sites.

Iconic birds of the Asian Flyways

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