Peace Through Nature: HSF Korea Supports Regional Cooperation for the Black-faced Spoonbill
Building Peace Through Nature: HSF Korea Supports Regional Cooperation for the Black-faced Spoonbill
The East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group announced a major conservation milestone: the International Union for Conservation of Nature has proposed downlisting the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) from Endangered to Vulnerable on its Red List. The global population has reached 7,081 individuals, up from fewer than 300 in the late 1980s—an inspiring result of four decades of cooperation among governments, NGOs, researchers, and local communities.
Despite the progress, experts caution that the species’ survival remains uncertain. Habitat loss, pollution, coastal development, and disease outbreaks continue to threaten wetlands across East Asia.
During the international meetings held in 2024 and 2025, experts reviewed the previous 2010 International Single Species Action Plan and agreed to develop a new plan for 2026–2036 to guide conservation across breeding and wintering sites in the DPR Korea, Republic of Korea, China, and Japan. The new plan will focus on identifying key habitats, improving monitoring, addressing climate and disease threats, and engaging local communities in conservation efforts.
The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Korea continues to work together for “Peace with Nature — and Nature knows no borders,” linking environmental protection with regional harmony through joint research, CEPA, and community engagement. As a member of the EAAFP Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group, Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi of HSF Korea presented updates on the species’ status in the DPRK and emphasized that cooperation on biodiversity can serve as a bridge for dialogue and trust between divided regions, advancing both peace and ecological resilience in East Asia.
The HSF delegation, led by Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Representative of HSF Korea, will continue to promote “Building Peace with Nature” and support regional cooperation for the conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill at the upcoming EAAFP Meeting of Partners 12 (MOP12) in November.
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