The Hanns Seidel Foundation has awarded two new scholarships this year to support the conservation of biodiversity. One scholarship goes to Dr. Vera Voronova and focuses on the protection of the Steppe Eagle in Kazakhstan. The second grant supports the work of Dr. Batmunkh Davaasuren, who is focusing on research into Bar-headed Geese in Mongolia.

On May 20, Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Resident Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea, Hyun-Ah Choi, Senior Researcher, Minjae Baek, Coordinator, and Anneke, Research Intern, surveyed avifauna in the border area of Kimpo. The Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea has been conducting ongoing bird surveys in the border area and works for ecological conservation and peaceful cooperation between North and South Korea.

The Hanns-Seidel-Foundation (HSF) is pleased to welcome new research interns!

The representative of the Korea Office Dr Bernhard Seliger, Senior Researcher Hyun-Ah Choi and Coordinator Minjae Baek are members of the CMS Flyways Working Group and presented the results of the Inter-Flyways Workshop and an overview of environmental cooperation possibilities with North Korea at the working group meeting on 9 April 2024.

Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea office supported Scaly-sided Merganser monitoring project in the border area, Yeoncheon. A local NGO ‘BirdsKorea, Yeoncheon’ aimed to monitor the overwintering population of Scaly-sided Mergansers and strengthen the capacity of citizen scientists through training. Ecological monitoring along the border goes beyond biodiversity conservation and can contribute to peaceful cooperation on the Korean Peninsula through nature.

Every year, the second Saturday of May and October is World Migratory Bird Day, an international celebration to raise awareness of the need to conserve migratory birds and their habitats. World Migratory Bird Day 2024 will be celebrated on May 11 and 12 October, with the theme "Protect insects, protect birds".