Mai Po Inner Deep Bay in Hong Kong and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore established as Sister Sites

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the conservation of migratory waterbirds signed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the National Parks Board of Singapore, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong and the World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore takes effect today (May 12). The MoU establishes the Sister Sites between the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site in Hong Kong and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore pursuant to the Sister Site Program of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership.

Both the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve are located in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, and are important coastal feeding and roosting grounds for threatened waterbirds that migrate annually along the flyway.

The MoU was signed by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Dr Leung Siu-fai; the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and Executive Director of National Parks, Gardens and Nature Reserves of the National Parks Board of Singapore, Dr Leong Chee Chiew; the Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, Ms Nicole Wong; and the Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore, Mr R Raghunathan.

Dr Leung Siu-fai said, "Tomorrow (May 13) is the World Migratory Bird Day which aims to raise awareness of the conservation of migratory birds and the wetland habitats they depend on. The conservation of migratory birds especially requires collaboration across regions. The MoU demonstrates that Hong Kong and Singapore are committed to the conservation of wetlands and migratory waterbirds through closer collaboration."

Dr Leong Chee Chiew said, "International co-operation is the key to supporting migratory shorebirds as they require multiple refuelling stops on their long-distance travels to roost and feed. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site serve as two important sites along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This MoU will strengthen the partnership between the two wetlands, and the National Parks Board will continue building cross-border collaboration on the conservation of wetland sites to protect these shorebirds and their habitats."

Areas of co-operation include mutual assistance in the continuous development and management of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. In addition, the MoU signing parties involved will initiate collaboration in research on migratory shorebirds, exchange of expertise and training on the management of wetland habitats, and promotion of the sites.

The Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation of migratory waterbirds signed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the National Parks Board of Singapore, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong and the World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore takes effect today (May 12). The MoU establishes the Sister Sites between the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site in Hong Kong and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore pursuant to the Sister Site Program of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. Photo shows the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site in Hong Kong.

The Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation of migratory waterbirds signed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the National Parks Board of Singapore, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong and the World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore takes effect today (May 12). The MoU establishes the Sister Sites between the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site in Hong Kong and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore pursuant to the Sister Site Program of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. Photo shows the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore.

Source：The government of the Hong Kong Specical Administrative Region