Siberian Crane Wetland Project

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.

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

Poyang Lake Ecology Study

Water Management Planning in Northeast China

Documents

Project Brief (Original Proposal)

Project Brief Annexes

Project Document (Final Project Description)

Conservation Measures for the Siberian Crane, Fifth Edition. 2011. UNEP/CMS Secretariat,
Bonn, Germany. 202 pages.