“STRATEGY OF BIRD PROTECTION IN CENTRAL ASIA: THE
ROLE OF REGIONAL SPECIALISTS, NATURE RESERVES AND THE PUBLIC” MEETING
This strategy meeting was held in Shushenskoye village, Krasnoyarsk region, on March 20–23, 2000. The meeting was organized by the Russian Bird Conservation Union, the Birdlife International Asian Council and the Sayano-Shushenskiy State Biosphere Reserve. Fifty-seven specialists from 20 regions of the Urals, Eastern and Western Siberia and the Far East, including the staff of 16 reserves and 2 national parks and representatives of the Audubon Society, participated.
The meeting was held with the financial support of the Birdlife International Asian Council, the PIN-MATRA Program of the Netherlands and the Sayano-Shushenskiy State Biosphere Reserve.
This meeting was an important step in promoting environmental and ornithological initiatives in Central Asia. The meeting:
summarized the work in the “Red Data Book of Asian Birds” and “Key Ornithological Territories of Asia” projects in the northern Central Asia;
analyzed the existing network of key ornithological territories (KOTR) in Central Asia;
analyzed the current state of research in Central Asia, figured out the existing “white spots”;
considered the state of and prospects for bird protection in the region;
discussed the criteria for establishing the KOTRs in western Siberia (including the Urals and Altai), drew up a preliminary list of the KOTRs of international significance;
discussed the possibilities for joint efforts by the reserves, regional nature conservation authorities and the Russian Bird Conservation Union to preserve rare bird species and their habitats;
adopted a preliminary plan for further work.
The participants of the meeting and the leaders of the Russian Bird Conservation Union wish to thank the Sayano-Shushenskiy State Biosphere Reserve for the superior organization of the meeting.
