ⓒ EAAFP Secretariat
On 20th May 2025, the residence of the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea, became a meaningful gathering place for those working to protect the natural world, as the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) and the New Zealand Embassy co-hosted a reception to mark World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD). World Migratory Bird Day is an annually celebrated awareness-raising campaign aiming to inspire the worldwide conservation of both migratory birds and their environments. The theme of this year 2025 was “Shared Spaces – Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities,” the event brought together ambassadors, government officials, UN agency representatives, international organisations, corporates, scientists, and academics whose work intersects with biodiversity, climate action, and sustainability, areas for which migratory birds and their habitats serve as vital indicators. This event is the second reception, following the one held on 16 May 2024.
Dawn Bennett, Ambassador of New Zealand, giving a remark speech ©EAAFP Secretariat
In the opening address, New Zealand Ambassador Dawn Bennet reflected on the cultural and ecological connection between New Zealand and Korea through the Kūaka, bar-tailed godwit—a migratory bird that flies from Alaska to New Zealand and stops along the way on Korea’s tidal flats. “According to Māori tradition, it was the flight of the Kūaka that led ancient Polynesian explorers to the discovery of our islands,” she said. “Their journey followed the kuaka southward, across the vast Pacific.”
Ambassador Bennet highlighted how the kuaka’s migration serves not only as a biological marvel but also a diplomatic metaphor, linking ecosystems, cultures, and communities through shared purpose. “The kuaka and other migratory birds remind us that the connections we speak of in diplomacy—trade, people-to-people ties, and cultural exchange—are mirrored in the paths these birds take across continents.”
Jennifer George, Chief Executive of EAAFP Secretariat, giving a remark speech ©EAAFP Secretariat
Jennifer George, Chief Executive of EAAFP, emphasised the role of the Yellow Sea as a crucial refueling stop, likening it to “Seoul Station for birds.” She underscored the stakes with the story of ZRM, a tagged godwit that arrived in Korea exhausted and died before completing its journey. Its leg band was later recovered near the southwestern mudflats. “It is a quiet and powerful reminder of everything they have to go through,” she said.
Not all stories are tragic. George also shared the story of AJD, a godwit that has made the full migration for 17 consecutive years and has become a local hero in his New Zealand hometown. “He’s part of their story, part of their guardianship. Children write essays about him. Indigenous communities track his return. He is more than a bird—he is a symbol of care and continuity.”
The representative from the Philippine Embassy ©EAAFP Secretariat
The reception welcomed ambassadors and embassy representatives from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea, senior representatives from Ministry of Environment Korea and Goyang Special City, National Institute of Biological Resources, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, as well as members of the Korean Tidal Flats World Heritage Promotion Team. Reisha Olavario, a representative from the Philippine Embassy attended in anticipation of the 12th Meeting of Partners (MOP12), which will be hosted in Cebu, from 8 November to 14 November.
President and representatives of Ghent University Global Campus and Representative of GCF ©EAAFP Secretariat
Senior Vice President, Head of Communications Division of the POSCO International, Ambassador of Lao PDR, EAAFP Representatives ©EAAFP Secretariat
Corporate leaders from POSCO International, Sharp Aviation K, Sony Korea, Ackerton, Fonterra, and Inspire Entertainment Resort joined the evening, reflecting growing private sector interest in aligning business with biodiversity and ESG values.
POSCO International, notably, serves as a Black-faced Spoonbill (BFS) Champion under the EAAFP Corporate Champion Programme, contributing to the broader conservation of the species and the biodiversity that vital to its survival. Currently, the BFS Champion is engaged in improving the BFS breeding site in the Republic of Korea, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable ecological practices. In addition, BFS Champion has been registered as a Special Sponsor of the 12th Meeting of Partners (MOP12), playing a pivotal role in advancing the global agenda for biodiversity conservation. Through its support of the meeting, it aims to foster meaningful outcomes and promote the successful preservation of vital ecosystems across the flyway.
POSCO International and Sony Korea representatives ©EAAFP
Sony Korea, a dedicated supporter of the EAAFP’s global conservation activities in 2018 and 2019 including the 10th Meeting of Partners, has reaffirmed its continued commitment to environmental stewardship through its recent participation. This engagement underscores the company’s enduring dedication to the protection of migratory waterbirds and the ecosystems they depend on.
UN agencies and international organisations, including UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, ICLEI, and the Green Climate Fund, were also present and discussed potential collaboration, reaffirming that migratory bird conservation is closely tied to global sustainability efforts.
As the sun set over Seoul, the reception served as more than a symbolic gesture. It was a clear expression of collective will—one that crossed diplomatic, academic, and industry lines to pursue a shared goal: building spaces where biodiversity and people thrive together.
Related articles and links
