In 2003 the International Crane Foundation, in collaboration with the governments of China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia, launched the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project. The six-year project focused on a network of globally important wetlands in Eurasia that are of critical importance for migratory waterbirds and other wetland biodiversity. The project used the globally threatened Siberian Crane as a flagship species, linking activities at 16 key wetlands along the species’ western and eastern flyways.
The project linked activities at the site, national and international level focusing on wetland research and conservation, flyway and waterbird monitoring, education and public awareness, and capacity building and community co-management.
Download the final project report Safe Flyways for the Siberian Crane and the final report annexes.
Project Completion Workshop Proceedings
Prentice, C, ed. 2011. Conservation of Flyway Wetlands in East and West/Central Asia. Proceedings of the Project Completion Workshop of the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project, Oct 14-15, 2009. Harbin, China. Baraboo, Wisconsin: International Crane Foundation. Click here to request a copy of the proceedings on CD.
Following are additional documents summarizing project activities and lessons learned:
Introduction and Siberian Crane Conservation
UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project
The Lily of Birds: A Journey to Help the Most Unique and Endangered of Cranes
Saving Wetlands Across Eurasia: Inspired by the Siberian Crane
Flyway Conservation
The Experience of UNEP GEF and Partners in Flyway Conservation. 2009. UNEP GEF Portfolio Outlook and Evolution. Biodiversity Issue Paper BD/001. UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya
Overview of SCWP and African-Eurasian Flyways Project (Wings Over Wetlands – WOW), both regional programs focusing on flyway-level conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. 37 pages.
Flyway and Waterbird Monitoring
Western/Central Asian Site Network
The Siberian Crane’s Eastern Asian Flyway
The Siberian Crane’s Western/Central Asian Flyway
Wetland Research and Conservation
Water Management Planning in Northeast China
Documents
Project Brief (Original Proposal)
Project Document (Final Project Description)
Conservation Measures for the Siberian Crane, Fifth Edition. 2011. UNEP/CMS Secretariat,
Bonn, Germany. 202 pages.