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Published on October 14, 2007

The Bird Conservation Society of Thailand is calling on the government to join an international programme to protect gulf wetlands that are the country's only breeding ground for a migratory bird species that could soon disappear from the face of the Earth.

Philip Rounds of the society said the inner part of the Gulf of Thailand was recognised as the region's most important breeding ground for spoon-billed sandpipers, as at least 10 to 20 pairs would stop over for breeding.

Regarded as one of the world's strangest birds due to its peculiar appearance, the spoon-billed sandpiper is now the worry of global bird conservation groups as its population is decreasing following the loss of its breeding grounds.

The Russian Bird Conservation Union recently disclosed the results of its survey that found that only 200 to 300 breeding pairs were left in the remote Russian province of Chukotka, the bird's natural habitat. The loss of breeding areas on the migration path from Russia down the Pacific coast through Japan, North Korea, South Korea and China was mentioned as a major cause for the dwindling population.

"Coastal reclamation in South Korea is currently destroying over 40,000 hectares of habitat; coastal habitats are being converted into saltpans and shrimp farms in Bangladesh and Chinese coasts have been rapidly developed in recent years," said Christoph Zöckler, international coordinator of

the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Action

Plan.

"They are just running out of places to stop and feed on migration."

Thanks to the suspension of a road project along the Gulf of Thailand, the breeding ground in Thailand still remains, he said.

Britain-based conservation group BirdLife International has launched the Preventing Extinction Programme to try and turn the tide for the spoon-billed sandpiper and species like it, and is looking for companies, institutions and individuals to step up and provide funding by becoming BirdLife Species Champions.

"The recent declines have shocked those concerned about the species, but with investment and the dedication of those involved we can still save the spoon-billed sandpiper," said Richard Grimmett, BirdLife's global conservation manager.

Rounds wants the Thai government to join the programme and help secure the breeding ground of the birds by declaring the Gulf of Thailand wetland as a conservation area.

The authorities should also support an action plan to protect the species being drawn up by the society and the Department of Marine Resources and Coastal Areas, he said.

"As part of the world community, Thailand has an important task to help the world conserve the bird species," Grimmett added.

The Nation