The Gulf of Mottama is one of the most important and unique intertidal mudflat ecosystems in the world. The Gulf is a dynamic bell-shaped estuary and the home to a vast range of wetland bird species, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (SBS). Of which, the Gulf is predicted to host more than half of the remaining global population. The Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) is a long distance migrant. Breeding in Russia, the SBS annually migrates more than 8,000km across 14 countries in order to winter at sites in South and South-East Asia along the East-Asian Australasian Flyway. Major staging posts are known to be in the Yellow Sea and within the Gulf of Mottama in Myanmar.This species is listed as Critically Endangered on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is the highest possible category of extinction threat for any species still present in the wild. Population numbers for the species are declining by 26% per year, with an approximate global population estimate of only 100 breeding pairs. If the current rate of decline continues, the species will likely be extinct within a decade.Since 2010, BANCA has been working with local communities in the Gulf of Mottama to support sustainable practices that will help ensure the protection of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and the mudflat ecosystem. In addition, BANCA has supported the transition of ex-poaches to other, sustainable livelihoods, community developments and education awareness activities within local villages. Since 2012, BANCA have been collaborating with local governments in the Gulf of Mottama in order to obtain Ramsar listing for the Gulf ecosystem. In Year 2017, Mon State Government successfully submitted official letter to Union Minister of MONREC, to designate gulf of Mottama as Ramsar site. Union of Myanmar already submitted RIS to Ramsar Secretariat office in January 2017
BANCA will invite LCG members, alongside community and school children to the BANCA site station at Thein Ngu village for the WMBD event. During which they will carry out the following activities:
(1). Quiz games for the attendees based on information of the SBS and chosen wintering bird species in the Gulf of Mottama
(2). Presentation on the WMBD events, migratory bird species and the significance of the Gulf of Mottama site
(3). Question and Answer and discussion period for the local villagers
(4). Colouring activities, of which the best will be displayed in the research centre
(5). Awards presentation to the winner of the quiz games