Community education; BANCA
It is estimated that at least 220 Spoon-billed Sandpipers, about half the global population, winter in Myanmar’s Gulf of Martaban. “Although not specifically targeted, Spoon-billed Sandpiper is regularly caught in nets that are set to catch other waders for food. Evidence suggests that this trapping is one of the main causes of the rapid recent decline of this species”, said Htin Hla, Chairman of BANCA.
In an attempt to mitigate hunting pressure, the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA – BirdLife in Myanmar) carried out socio-economic surveys and provided livelihood replacement support in communities on both the eastern and western shores of the Gulf of Martaban. This process was supported by BirdLife International Preventing Extinctions Program and BirdLife Species Champion WildSounds.
On the eastern shore of the Gulf of Martaban, BANCA identified 26 bird hunters in 15 villages. Hunters were categorised as subsistence (where birds constituted the most important income source), opportunistic (income supplemented by birds) or occasional. Fifteen of the hunters in this survey were categorised as subsistence or opportunistic. On the basis of individual interviews, the hunters in eastern Martaban roughly estimate having collectively caught 84 Spoon-billed Sandpipers between 1989 and 2011.
On the western shore, BANCA identified 37 bird hunters in 47 villages. However, only four hunters were categorised as subsistence (and three as opportunistic). These four individuals had no regular income. They supplemented bird hunting with catching crabs, working as agricultural labourers, piloting fishing boats and an array of other small jobs.
Generally speaking, bird hunting was associated with the poorest households, those that had insufficient capacity to adopt more desirable livelihoods, such as fishing and shop-keeping.
Following these surveys, BANCA revisited each household in order to devise a suitable alternative livelihood for each subsistence and opportunistic hunter in exchange for a vow to cease hunting activities. Once a suitable replacement livelihood has been identified, BANCA provided the funds for each individual to start up their new work. These funds were used to purchase assets such as livestock, fishing boats and building materials. Alongside this, BANCA carried out education and awareness raising activities in the villages, to increase local awareness and appreciation of Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other species.
On the Eastern shore, 9 of the 15 hunters had increased their livelihood status since the intervention and the other six had neither increased nor decreased their livelihood status. Hence the intervention has been hailed as a success, both for the birds and for the people. A follow-up survey has yet to be conducted within the western shore communities.
BANCA will continue to monitor the status of the communities along the shores of Martaban. Further education programs and community development initiatives are planned, such as providing improved access to safe water.
“The future of Spoon-billed Sandpiper is still very uncertain and there are multiple other conservation efforts currently underway. However, this innovative intervention might be critical in halting the decline of this spectacular birds’ population”, said Mike Crosby, BirdLife’s Senior Conservation Officer for the Asia Division.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper is one of the species being supported by the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme.
Birdfair- Global Sponsor of the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme, Heritage Expeditions, WildSounds, The Dutch Birding Association and VBN (BirdLife in the Netherlands), The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Disney Friends for Change, The CMS Secretariat, The MBZ Foundation, Save Our Species, Ed Keeble and the many other generous individuals have all become BirdLife Species Champions or Programme Supporters under the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme helping this species.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 7:58 pm
How encouraging it is to hear about BANCA and conservation efforts in Burma/Myanmar, and the approach seems very sensible. Many people living on subsistence incomes see no choice but to hunt and have no idea of the wider picture. By a combination of education, support for alternative income sources and helping people appreciate the wildlife that exists in their part of the world, we can slowly start to make a difference in changing the culture.
Also, I didn’t know that there was a conservation organisation working specifically in Burma till this posting – if anyone is interested, they seem to do excellent work, check out their website: http://www.banca-env.org/. And to anyone from BANCA reading this – keep up the good work, you have supporters all over the world [I'm writing from London, UK]
January 18th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Wonderful work! I want to congratulate BANCA on their work .We also have hunters here,but they hunt not only for meat ,it is habit and sport that still make them continue. I am wondering how to stop them.we are still trying to stop them.
January 17th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Great work! I am so grateful for the efforts of BANCA to save this species and many other bird species. It is good for the natives of the area as well as a blessing for the birds! With your efforts there is hope!