RAISING AWARENESS: INT’L YELLOW–BREASTED BUNTING CONSERVATION DAY

November 15th is the International Yellow–breasted Bunting Conservation Day, and a Virtual Talk Program about this endangered species was organized for raising awareness.

The program was jointly organized by Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association, Wildlife Talks-Myanmar and University of Yangon Bird Watching Club.

The participants from local and international organizations made discussions on the flyway route out of Yellow-breasted Bunting (YBB), threats on them, Bunting species in Myanmar and YBB population in Myanmar and efforts for conservation works.

Once regarded as one of the most abundant passerines in Eurasia, the population of YBB declined up to 94.7% within three decades, according to the researches.

These critically endangered YBB are commonly habitat by spreading from Finland to eastern Siberia, and during winter, they use to migrate to China and Southeast Asia countries including Myanmar.

Illegal hunting along its migratory route is believed to be the main reason of declining the population of YBB.

The capture and trade of birds for mercy release purposes is also identified as one of the threats. Wild birds including YBB, are caught in huge numbers, and are transported to temples or pagodas where people can buy and release them.

At the Japan-China bilateral meeting on migratory birds, held in Deqing of China in November 2014, the issue has been raised for conservation this species.
The issue has been raised again at the Russia-China bilateral meeting on migratory birds, held in Moscow in March 2015.

An agreement was reached by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in 2017 for conservation of YBB.

In Myanmar, YBB are mostly found at Indawgyi Lake in Kachin State, Bagan in Mandalay Region and Delta in Ayeyawady Region.

The Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation is making efforts for protection of rare bird species in cooperation with the local and international organizations.
Protection of Biodiversity and Conservation Areas Law was enacted in May 2018 and anyone who commits hunting or selling the protected species may be punished maximum 5 years prison term or up to 1 million kyats fine or both under this law.