In this edition, the AWC Coordinator, Dr. Bharat Jethva announces the dates for 2010 census. An update of the 2009 census is provided along with details of milestone 20 year review of the Asian Waterbird Census. News from the region follows.

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), conducted each year in January, is a waterbird and wetland-monitoring programme initiated in 1987 within the framework of the International Waterbird Census. This report summarises the results of the AWC from 1987 to 2007, comprising counts at 6,705 sites in 27 countries. A total of 1,387 sites met at least one of two criteria of internationally important sites according to the Ramsar Convention. Of these, 312 sites were reported to support more than 20,000 waterbirds, and 1,382 sites recorded more than 1% of the biogeographic population of at least one species of waterbird. 

At the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) 9th session in 2009, Weltands International submitted the attached resolution, calling for the development of criteria to deal with plantation on peat. The resolution was adadpted and will be carried out.

The Annual Review 2008 charts the main achievements, as well as projects, finance and publications of Wetlands International during 2008. Furthermore, it highlights our work in relation to climate change adaptation and on incentive mechanisms for community-based wetland management. As you can read in the Achievements and projects sections of this review, Wetlands International was highly active in all regions during 2008. The outcomes that we achieved in 2008 are important in themselves, but most are just steps towards much longer-term goals to bring about lasting benefits to people and nature. 

This is the 16th newsletter of the Asian Waterbird Census with the introduction of the newly appointed international coordinator of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) and the update on the developments related to the AWC since June 2008.

Read the 16th Newsletter of the Asian Waterbird Census