November Meeting (AGM) – Speaker: Alison Russell-French “Why the Yellow Sea is Important for Migratory Shorebirds”

Alison’s presentation is about the importance of Yellow Sea staging sites (feeding and roosting sites) for migratory shorebirds during their annual migrations, and the pressures they face from habitat loss and degradation and various other pressures. The numbers of migratory shorebirds have dramatically declined, and the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership was established as a voluntary framework of partners in 2002 to work towards conservation of migratory shorebirds and their habitat.

Alison Russell-French is a former senior APS public servant whose career spanned a wide range of environment and natural resource management areas. She worked at both the national and international level representing the Australian Government. She was Chair of Birds Australia for 10 years and Chair and Committee member of the Australasian Wader Studies Group (AWSG) for 25 years. As AWSG is one of the founding Partners of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), Alison has represented AWSG interests in the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats at a number of Meetings of the Partners. She maintains a long term interest in and advocacy for the conservation  of migratory waders and her presentation will demonstrate some of the critical elements involved in their conservation and protection. Alison is also Chair of the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust and a member of the NPA ACT Committee.

Refreshments available from 7pm. Mugs or keep-cups encouraged. Non-members welcomed.

Meeting starts at 7:30pm.

Alison’s presentation will occur before the AGM.