North-East Asia hosts critical habitats for several migratory bird species, whose conservation requires coordinated cross-border action. In line with the NEASPEC Nature Conservation Strategy and the designation of six flagship species, the project “Connectivity conservation for habitats of flagship migratory birds in North-East Asia (2024–2027)” focuses on the Black-faced Spoonbill, Hooded Crane, and White-naped Crane, and aims to assess species demographics, analyze threats from agriculture and energy development, and build capacity.

The Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), an endangered species and NEASPEC flagship species, has seen remarkable population recovery thanks to strong international cooperation. Building on the original International Single Species Action Plan (ISSAP) launched in 1995 and revised in 2010, a new revision for the 2026–2036 period has been proposed by the Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group to address persistent and emerging threats such as habitat loss, urban expansion, and climate change.

Cranes are among the most iconic yet threatened bird species in East Asia. These species depend on increasingly vulnerable wetlands and grasslands, which are under growing pressure from development, climate change, and habitat loss and degradation. Ensuring the long-term survival of cranes requires not only urgent conservation measures today, but also the development of a new generation of skilled researchers and conservation professionals to lead sustained efforts into the future.

Workshop on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity for Transboundary Cooperation will be jointly organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea (NIE) in Incheon, Republic of Korea on 28-29 August 2024.