It has also made a commitment to funding a half-time Shorebird Flyway Officer to be based at the Wetlands International Oceania Office. The three more esssential elements in developing the Asia-Pacific Shorebird Action Plan are considered to be: to build and maintain wide support; to establish effective implementation mechanisms; and to establish effective review mechanisms. [Authors' abstract].

The Strategy covers seven board overlapping themes: conservation of species; conservation of habitats; research and monitoring ; education; information and awareness; training; and policy and legislation. These themes translate into several action points, notably the development and implementation of action plans for species groups (shorebirds, Anatidae and cranes), networks of sites of importance for species (shorebirds, cranes) reviews of legislation and policy, training and public information, and awareness plans as an attempt to enhance the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats in the Asia-Pacific region until the end of the millenium. This paper summarises the process of international consultation and cooperation in the development and plants for implementation of the Strategy. [Authors' abstract].

An international committee, the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee (MWCC) was established to monitor the implementation of the Strategy. The Strategy has been very successful in promoting international cooperation and an awareness of the need to work together to promote conservation. A number of international and national activities have been undertaken, primarily through the implementation of three regional migratory waterbird conservation action plans (shorebirds, cranes and Anatidae) including the establishment of three networks of sites of international importance for these groups of waterbirds. The networks (as at December 2000) comprised 67 sites in 11 countries with new sites being added each year. Based on the successes of the Strategy over the past five years, the MWCC recommended the development and implementation of this second Strategy for the period 2001-2005.