Eastern Flyway

*Please report any edits or updates to the Conservation Plan to the ICF/CMS Siberian Crane Flyway Coordinator

Introduction

The Eastern population of Siberian Cranes contains approximately 3,500 birds, more than 99% of the world’s total population of this species. The main breeding grounds cover 82,000 km2 in the Yakutia region of northeastern Siberia, south of the East Siberian Sea between the Yana and Kolyma Rivers. Non-breeding individuals range widely, and have occasionally been observed during the breeding season in the Russia-Mongolia-China border region, along the Onon, Uldza, and Khalkhin Gol Rivers, and in upper reaches of the Tuul River. The population migrates along a 5,100 km migration route following the Yana, Indigirka, and Kolyma River valleys, central and eastern Mongolia, and then into eastern China, with several resting areas and longer-term stopover points. Although some of these important traditional stopover points are now protected by the Zhalong, Momoge, Xianghai, Keerqin, and Shuangtaizihekou Nature Reserves, others remain unprotected. Vagrant individuals are occasionally reported in Japan, usually in the autumn.

The population winters in a limited number of wetlands along the middle Yangtze River in south-central China. Approximately 95% of the population winters in one area – the Poyang Lake Basin in northern Jiangxi Province. The Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve protects some of the most important wintering sites in this area, but the birds also use many sites outside the reserve, some of which are recently protected and others which are outside protected areas. The remainder of the known population, perhaps a hundred or more birds, winters at Dongting Lake in Hunan Province. The population may use other as yet unknown wintering sites in China.

The existence of this population had been noted in historical records, but there were no modern reports until ornithologists in China discovered the wintering birds at Poyang Lake in 1980. The population was thought to number only a few hundred until a larger flock of over 800 birds was reported in 1984. Subsequent surveys, using improved techniques, have allowed estimates of the total number to be revised upwards, but the size of this population is not precisely known. Midwinter counts at Poyang Lake in recent years suggest that the population may have increased above the current population estimate, with counts of 3,404 (2001/02), 4,004 (2002/03), 3,954 (2003/04), 3,119 (2004/05), 3,944 (2005/06) and 2,639 (2006/07) birds. However, the accuracy of these counts requires validation in view of the constraints of equipment, observer experience and coverage.

Potential and Actual Threats

The breeding grounds of this population are relatively undisturbed. Oil, however, has been discovered in and near the breeding grounds, and oil exploration and development pose a significant threat. Analysis of satellite imagery for Kytalyk has revealed an increase in the area of large lakes, inundating surrounding land used as breeding habitat by the Siberian Crane, which may be attributable to climate change. Further research is needed to better understand this potential threat.

The staging areas in the Aldan basin of southern Yakutia are coming under increasing pressure from economic development. These include seismic testing for oil and gas deposits which may affect Kyupsky Resource Reserve, the development of oil and gas pipelines, and a major hydro-electric generation scheme in the headwaters of the Aldan which may affect the hydrological regime. Overhead power transmission lines will cross the migration route at Kyupsky, and mitigation measures are currently being designed to reduce the risk of bird mortality. Road and railway development plans will further open up pristine natural areas.

Oil exploration in Mongolia poses a threat to unprotected Siberian Crane habitats, as the cranes are sensitive to the human disturbance associated with this industry, which is difficult to mitigate. The loss and degradation of wetland habitats is of greatest concern at critical staging areas, migration stopover, and wintering grounds. In particular, the diversion of water resources for human use from rivers supplying key wetlands within nature reserves is a cause of major concern in the semi-arid climate of northeastern China.

Although several of the eastern population’s major staging areas in northeastern China are protected by nature reserves (principally the Zhalong, Tumuji, Momoge, Xianghai and Keerqin Reserves), many others in the flyway remain unprotected. At the same time, there is limited information available about the migration route on which to base future protection efforts. Moreover, Siberian Cranes may use different migration routes in the spring and fall.

The threat to migration habitats is greatest in China’s eastern provinces. In north-eastern Mongolia prolonged droughts in the Amur Basin, perhaps exacerbated by global warming, can have significant impacts on Siberian Crane wetland habitats. Recent climatic conditions in Yakutia have seen rivers and lakes shrinking, causing wetlands to become more accessible to hunters. In eastern Yakutia (taiga area in Kolyma River Basin), there is a threat of lead poisoning due to intensive hunting, especially in spring. Two immature Siberian Cranes in the Amga River area died due to ingestion of lead shot. Further research is needed to better define the most critical areas. Major water engineering projects could have significant impacts on the main wintering grounds of the species in the Yangtze valley.

An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) began in December 2003 in Hong Kong and South Korea, and subsequently spread to a number of SE Asian countries. In 2005 the disease started a westward spread towards Central Asia, Europe and Africa and attracted global attention. HPAI incidences have been recorded in all CMS MoU Range States except Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, with significant wild bird mortality in some cases. The highest risk concerns Globally Endangered species that congregate in locations where they could contract the disease. From this perspective, the risk posed to Siberian Cranes must be seen as significant, as over 95% of the world population over-winters at Lake Poyang in China, together with significant proportions of other globally threatened species populations. The proximity of large numbers of domestic and wild birds at Poyang Lake suggests that risks of transmission could be elevated.

Required Conservation Measures

Conservation of this population depends on preserving the known breeding habitats of the Siberian Cranes from potential disturbance arising from oil exploration; protecting additional staging areas and stopover points along migration routes; and strengthening management of the wintering grounds in China. Effective protection should be provided to the key areas for Siberian Crane staging and stopover, such as wetland complexes near Zhalong in Heilongjiang Province, China; wetland complexes near Momoge in Jilin Province, China; and important stopover points in eastern China between Bohai Bay and Poyang Lake. Many of the species’ key habitats, both within and outside existing protected areas, are subject to increasing human population pressures, and are situated in areas conducive to intensive agricultural development. A sound approach, therefore, must be pursued to integrate conservation and development throughout staging and wintering areas in China. Oil exploration and development should be carefully managed to minimize impacts on cranes and their habitats at Dalainor Nature Reserve in Inner Mongolia Province of China, Momoge Nature Reserve in Jilin Province, Shuangtaizihekou Nature Reserve in Liaoning Province, and at the mouth of the Yellow River. Precautionary measures can reduce only the potential for direct damage from accidents; in addition, levels of human disturbance and habitat degradation should be minimized through activities such as the building of roads. The extension of the protected areas network in Mongolia is likely to provide the greatest security against progressive oil exploration and development.

The security of known staging areas in the Aldan-Amga River Basin needs to be assured through the establishment of protected areas and strengthening protected areas management. Integration of ecological and cultural considerations into economic development planning is essential to reduce the potential impact of a new wave of development planned for southern Yakutia (see above section on threats).

Education of local communities and control of hunting are also required. The restored Crane Working Group of Eurasia has initiated and organized Crane Celebrations since 2002, in which the people of different regions of Yakutia (Allaikhovsky Ulus - the Siberian Crane breeding grounds and Momsky, Ust-Maisky, Tattinski and Ust-Lenski Uluses along the migration route and Yakutsk) were involved. In 2006 Yakutia joined international project “Three White Cranes, Two Flyways, One World” where schools of China and the USA also involved.

Special attention should be given to Poyang Lake, where most Siberian Cranes spend the winter. Currently Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve accounts for only 6% of the total lake basin, and Siberian Cranes spend much time outside the reserve. Additional wetlands in the basin have been protected by the establishment of new reserves – a total of 14 reserves have now been established, including Poyang Lake Nature Reserve and Nanjishan that has recently been elevated to national status; management of the other areas is still weak. These reserves cover a total of over 150,000 hectares out of the 400,000-hectare Poyang Lake Basin. Increased capacity of county level wildlife personnel is needed to staff these areas and also to strengthen protection of cranes and other waterbirds outside protected areas. In recent years, more Siberian Cranes have been observed in Dongting Lake. Monitoring and habitat assessment for Siberian Cranes should be undertaken at Dongting Lake.

The conservation work at Poyang and Dongting Lakes must be coordinated with activities along the Yangtze River. Development activities in the upper parts of the Yangtze River may pose special threats to the survival of Siberian Cranes. Numerous water development projects, including Three Gorges Dam, on the Yangtze River and its tributaries may cumulatively have profound impacts on the eastern population of Siberian Cranes (as well as wintering populations of White-naped, Hooded, and Eurasian Cranes) by disrupting the hydrology of the floodplain wetlands along the middle Yangtze, including those at Poyang Lake, by artificially changing the hydrological regime of the river and associated lakes. These changes in the river basin’s hydrological processes will in turn result in changes in the wetland plant communities upon which cranes depend. The possible impacts are complex and difficult to model.

These water projects will also have substantial social and environmental impacts on the regional landscape. The disruption of upstream human communities, emigration, agricultural expansion, deforestation, and other land use changes will not only directly affect existing protected areas at Poyang Lake, but also areas outside the reserves. Potential mitigation measures, such as use of water control structures at the outlets to some of the winter-season wetlands at Poyang Lake, may help to retain favorable water leves for cranes and their food plants. Such measures, however, need to be informed by strong ecological understanding of the cranes, their key food plants, and the wetland system as a whole. ICF together with Poyang Lake Nature Reserve began some of this research a decade ago, but much additional work is needed.

The South-North Water Transfer project, which envisions three main lines – Eastern, Central and Western – linking the well-endowed Yangtze River Basin with water-short northern China, could also have significant impacts on wetlands and their biodiversity in the Yangtze valley. Construction on the Eastern route officially began on December 27, 2002. It will withdraw 15 billion cubic meters of water from the Yangtze. Construction of the Central route, carrying 14 billion cubic meters, was started in December 2003. The Western route, for 20 billion cubic meters, is unlikely to start before 2010.

Under the UNEP/GEF SCWP[1], conservation actions are being taken to help assure the long-term survival of Siberian Crane habitats in the breeding grounds in Russia, as well as the staging areas and wintering site in China. Through the Siberian Crane Memorandum of Understanding, CMS and ICF will help promote conservation activities in staging areas in southeast Siberia, Mongolia and China, which are not included in the UNEP/GEF SCWP.

[1] Development of a Wetland Site and Flyway Network for Conservation of the Siberian Crane and Other Migratory Waterbirds in Asia.

� 2004 by SCFC