Regional Training Workshop on Site Management Planning and Related Issues,
in Nanchang, China, 6-11 March 2007

This spring a Regional Training Workshop on Site Management Planning and Related Issues was held in Nanchang in the People's Republic of China from 6 to 11 March 2007 under the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetlands Project. The Siberian Crane Wetlands Project (SCWP) is a six-year effort to sustain the ecological integrity of a network of globally important wetlands in Asia--wetlands that are of critical importance for migratory waterbirds and other wetland biodiversity--using the globally threatened Siberian Crane as a flagship species.

Siberian Cranes in flight at Poyang Lake. Photo by Ye. Bragin

As a part of its goal to conserve the habitats essential to Siberian Cranes and other waterbirds, the SCWP is concentrating its efforts on strengthening two networks of wetlands: the North East Asia Crane Site Network (now part of a wider waterbird site network in East Asia) and the Western/Central Asia Site Network. Each one encompasses flyways used by the Siberian Crane and other migratory waterbirds. Equally important are the networks of international cooperation that have been built or strengthened through the work of this project. This training workshop covered both site networks and aimed to share information and experiences between sites and networks . It was regional in its scope, including participants from all areas covered by the project. Thirty-six participants from seven countries attended, including 31 trainees from Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia. The workshop was organised and led by coordinators and technical advisors from SCWP and from several organisations and agencies, including the International Crane Foundation, Wetlands International, and the Federal Center of Geoecological Systems.

Workshop Participants in Nanchang. Photo by Elena Ilyashenko

The workshop was convened on 6 March, coordinated by Moscow-based CMS/ICF Siberian Crane Flyway Coordinator, Elena Ilyashenko, and International Technical Advisor, Crawford Prentice. The workshop was hosted by the Jiangxi Provincial Management Bureau for Wild Fauna and Flora Conservation in Nanchang. Training was provided in three languages (Russian, Farsi, and Chinese), and most of the supporting materials were also available in multiple languages.

Through a series of training sessions, this workshop gave participants the opportunity to improve the effectiveness of their management of protected sites, and also to share their own experiences and management approaches with other site managers. Over four days, participants attended sessions on site management planning, environmental monitoring, participatory management, avian influenza, and presentations on Poyang Lake Basin. Participants shared drafts of management plans from their own sites and discussed the challenges associated with their respective sites. The final two days of the workshop were devoted to field trips to Poyang Lake Nature Reserve and Nanjishan Nature Reserve.

Project participants watching Siberian Cranes at Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve after the workshop. Most of the cranes had already left on their northwards migration, but about 100 still remained at Poyang Lake. Photo by Crawford Prentice

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants were asked to evaluate the sessions.  Overall, the workshop was deemed to be successful. Of particular value were some of the specific sessions, the opportunities for shared experiences, and the supporting materials and resources provided during the workshop. The presentations were well received, especially the sessions on management planning and avian influenza. Other noteworthy points included the structure of the workshop programme; the information exchange; the field trip arrangements and opportunities to view wildlife; the pre-workshop information; and the physical logistics.

There were problems with some aspects of the workshop, including difficulties with visas; limitations in language interpretation during the workshop; lack of informational support during the field trips; and opportunities lost when some participants could not remain for the entire workshop.

Fishing is an important source of income for local communities at Nanjishan Nature Reserve. Management of water levels to meet both fishing and conservation interests is a challenge for the reserve. Photo by Crawford Prentice

This event was the first time that many of the international participants had the opportunity to learn about and visit some of the Chinese nature reserves so important to Siberian Cranes, such as Poyang Lake Nature Reserve. And the workshop succeeded in strengthening ties between those who work near the Siberian Cranes’ breeding and staging areas (e.g., Yakutia) and those who work in the wintering areas (e.g., in China).

There was a fruitful exchange of information and experiences among the participants, particularly through their presentations of draft management plans and their input on avian influenza. The sessions and presentations by the trainers and technical experts increased everyone’s understanding of participatory management and site management planning. And all presentations were subsequently made available on CD to the workshop participants, greatly extending the possibilities for future implementation.

Whooper Swans at Nanjishan Nature Reserve, with Grey Herons and geese in the background. Nanjishan is important for a wide range of over-wintering waterbird species. Photo by Crawford Prentice

A memorable part of the workshop was the opportunity to see some of the over-wintering birds during the field trip excursions. Although most birds had already begun their migration northward, workshop participants had a chance to see Whooper Swans, Swan Geese, and Eurasian Cranes at Nanjishan, and a flock of about 100 Siberian Cranes at Poyang Lake. How appropriate to end this workshop with a visual experience of what this project and its participants are working so hard to accomplish--to conserve these elegant birds and these special places for the sake of us all.

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A full report of this workshop has been compiled by Crawford Prentice and Elena Ilyashenko. Contact them for more details, or for information about that more comprehensive report.

Eurasian Cranes at Nanjishan Nature Reserve. The project has supported work to upgrade this 33,000 ha reserve to National Nature Reserve status; final approval is pending. Photo by Crawford Prentice

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Last update: 15 May 2007

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