Pankaj Kumar (Actor) at 11:39, 10 March 2026

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{{Short description|Major flyway for migrating birds in Eurasia}}
{{Cleanup|reason=long lists|date=March 2025}}
[[File:Lesser Flamingos I3 IMG 9297.jpg|thumb|300px|Lesser flamingos In flight at [[Chilika Lake]]]]
The '''Central Asian Flyway''' ('''CAF'''), '''Central Asian-Indian Flyway''', or '''Central Asian-South Asian Flyway''' is a [[flyway]] covering a large continental area of [[Eurasia]] between the [[Arctic Ocean]], the [[Indian Ocean]] and the associated island chains. The CAF comprises several important [[bird migration|migration routes]] of [[waterbirds]], most of which extend from the northernmost breeding grounds in [[Siberia]] to the southernmost non-breeding wintering grounds in [[West Asia]], [[India]], the [[Maldives]] and the [[British Indian Ocean Territory]].<ref name="UNEP/CMS"/>

==Range==
A flyway is an operational concept linked to waterfowl whose population one wishes to [[Wildlife management|manage]] over their entire migration space.<ref name="CMS/2007"/>
[[File:Central_Asian_Flyway_Map.png|thumb|350px|Central Asian, [[East Asian – Australasian Flyway|East Asian-Australasian]], and [[West Pacific Flyway|West Pacific]] migratory bird flyways]]
The CAF range is centered on one of the three major wintering areas of waterfowl in the [[Old World]], the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The two other significant areas are in Africa, in territory of the [[Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds|African-Eurasian Flyway]] (AEWA) to the west, and [[south-east Asia]] in the [[East Asian – Australasian Flyway]] (EAAF) to the east. These wintering areas are geographically separate, and present entirely different ecological, historical and cultural situations.<ref name="CMS/2007">{{cite book|last=CMS Secretariat |first=32nd Meeting of the Standing Committee |title=Strategic Review of Flyway Paper |publisher=UNEP/CMS Secretariat|location=Bonn|date= 8–9 November 2007 |url=http://www.cms.int/species/CAF/Doc_16_Flyway_status_report.pdf}}</ref>

The flyway covers 30 countries of [[North Asia|North]], [[Central Asia|Central]] and [[South Asia]] and [[South Caucasus|Trans-Caucasus]].<ref name="UNEP/CMS">{{cite book|last=Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species|title=Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and their Habitats|publisher=[[UNEP]]/[[Convention on Migratory Species|CMS]] Secretariat|location=New Delhi, 10–12 June 2005|date=1 February 2006|url=http://global.wetlands.org/Portals/0/external%20docs/Annex4_CAF_Action_Plan.pdf|access-date=9 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707145527/http://global.wetlands.org/Portals/0/external%20docs/Annex4_CAF_Action_Plan.pdf|archive-date=7 July 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The northern catchment area of the CAF overlaps with both the AEWA and EAAF, mostly within a single country, the [[Russian Federation]], though 16 of the 30 countries encompassed by the CAF ([[Afghanistan]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Bahrain]], [[China]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Iran]] Republic of, [[Kazakhstan]], [[Mongolia]], [[Pakistan]], Russian Federation, [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[United Arab Emirates]], United Kingdom, [[Chagos Islands]] and [[Uzbekistan]]) are located in the AEWA area.

The remaining countries in the Central Asian Flyway are [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], [[India]], [[Iraq]], [[Kuwait]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Maldives]], [[Myanmar]], [[Nepal]], [[Oman]], [[Qatar]] and [[Yemen]].<ref name="UNEP/CMS/Range">{{cite book |last=Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species |title=Membership of CAF Range States in Biodiversity-related International Instruments |publisher=[[UNEP]]/[[Convention on Migratory Species|CMS]] Secretariat |location=New Delhi, 10–12 June 2005 |date=1 February 2006 |url=http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_11_Membership_of_CAF_RS.pdf |access-date=9 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030041259/http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_11_Membership_of_CAF_RS.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="WI">{{cite web|url=http://global.wetlands.org/Whatwedo/AllourProjects/tabid/59/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/108/Central-Asian-Flyway-interim-coordination.aspx|title=Central Asian Flyway interim coordination|last=Wetlands International Headquarters|year=2007|work=Wetlands for water and life|publisher=[[Wetlands International]]|pages=Horapark 9, Ede. The Netherlands|access-date=2009-01-05}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

==Species==
The Central Asian Flyway covers at least 279 migratory waterbird populations of 182 species,
including 29 globally [[threatened species]] and [[near-threatened|near-threatened species]] that breed, migrate and spend the non-breeding winter period within the region. Some species are completely or largely restricted to the Central Asian Flyway range, such as:
[[File:Qtqy.jpg|thumb|Baer's pochard]]

* [[Critically endangered species|critically endangered]] - [[northern bald ibis]], [[white-bellied heron]], and [[Baer's pochard]]
* [[endangered]] - [[Indian skimmer (bird)|Indian skimmer]]
* [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]] - [[Black-necked crane]], [[masked finfoot]], [[Socotra cormorant]], and [[wood snipe]]
* near threatened - [[Lesser adjutant]], [[greater adjutant]], [[lesser flamingo]], [[pygmy cormorant]], and [[white-eyed gull]]

[[File:Vanelus gregarius.jpg|thumb|Sociable lapwing]]In addition, the breeding range of some species are largely restricted to the region although the non-breeding ranges overlap with adjoining flyways. Examples include:

* critically endangered - [[Siberian crane]], [[slender-billed curlew]], [[sociable lapwing]], and [[spoon-billed sandpiper]]
* endangered - [[red-breasted goose]], [[Nordmann's greenshank]], and [[white-headed duck]]
* vulnerable - [[spot-billed pelican]], [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[lesser white-fronted goose]], [[marbled duck]], and [[relict gull]]
* near-threatened - [[black-winged pratincole]], [[ferruginous duck]], [[corn crake]], and [[Asian dowitcher]]<ref name="UNEP/CMS" />

==Conservation==
[[File:Ramsar logo.svg|thumb|120px|Ramsar logo]]
Regional cooperation among the Central Asian Flyway states is undertaken to promote the [[Bird conservation|conservation]] of migratory waterbirds and their habitats. This includes various international conventions including [[Central Asian Waterbirds Flyway Action Plan]],<ref name="CMS/2007"/> [[Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species]] (CMS), [[Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds]] (AEWA),
[[Ramsar Convention|Convention on Wetlands of International Importance]] (Ramsar) and [[Convention on Biological Diversity]] (CBD) and development agencies including [[United Nations Environment Programme]] (UNEP), [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP), [[World Bank]] and [[Asian Development Bank]] (ADB) and international [[Non-governmental organization]]s including [[BirdLife International]], [[World Conservation Union]] (IUCN), [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] (WWF) and [[Wetlands International]] who all cooperate on regional and national [[wildlife conservation]].

Regional plans complement actions that are being undertaken by national governments to promote conservation. Several countries have well established [[protected areas]] to conserve important habitats for migratory waterbirds.

;Bangladesh
[[File:Sundarbans.jpg|thumb|right|Satellite image of the Sundarbans]]
According to the Ramsar definition, more than two-thirds of the country's landmass may be classified
as wetlands. It is a country dominated by wetland including estuaries, [[Mangrove#Asia|mangrove swamps]] namely the [[Sundarbans]], freshwater
marshes such as [[haor]], swamps and rivers. There are about 628 bird species in Bangladesh, of which 244 are migratory. About 100 species of migratory birds regularly or occasionally visit the country. Considering the present threats to waterbird conservation in the country, 31 migratory waterbird species are of high priority for future action for conservation. 14 of these species are threatened.
[[File:Alcedo meninting.jpg|thumb|Less concern [[blue-eared kingfisher]] in the Sundarbans.]]
The wetlands are home to about 70 species of resident waterbirds including ducks, grebe, cormorants, bitterns, herons, egrets, storks, rails, jacanas, finfoot, waders, gulls, turns, and skimmers. Eleven species of resident waterbirds are identified as threatened. The important threatened species are masked finfoot, Indian skimmer, black-headed ibis, greater adjutant, lesser adjutant, Baikal teal, Baer's pochard, ferruginous pochard, wood snipe, Nordmann's greenshank, and spoon-billed sandpiper.

The wetlands of Bangladesh are being degraded rapidly due to population pressure, withdrawal of water for irrigation, destruction of swamp forest, and many other anthropogenic and natural causes. Large scale habitat conversion, unsustainable harvesting policies and lack of ecological considerations have led to the destruction of valuable wetland habitat for water birds and other associated biodiversity. Immediate action is required for restoring these habitats and conserving the water birds in Bangladesh.
[[File:Cholon Bil.jpg|thumb|Chalan Beel in [[Natore District]]]]
The key breeding and staging areas of Bangladesh include Haor areas such as [[Meghna River|the Meghna estuary]], [[Tanguar haor]] and Hail-[[Hakaluki haor]]s, [[Chalan Beel]], the Sundarbans and other coastal mangroves including Hatia and Nijhum Dweep, and haor areas of the north west and off shore islands.

The [[Sundarbans]] mangrove forest of Bangladesh are included within {{convert| 139699|ha|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} of [[Sundarbans#Administration|3 Wildlife sanctuaries]] which are part of the [[List of World Heritage Sites in Asia and Australasia#Bangladesh|Sundarbans World Heritage Site]]. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) through its Department of Environment and Forest Department 'Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Circle' is the main institutional structure for wildlife conservation including waterbirds and their habitats. The Ministry of Land is the legal authority for land management including wetlands.

Bangladesh is signatory to CBD, CMS, CITES and Ramsar Convention. No national level initiative has been taken for waterbirds. But self-funded waterbird census is undertaken each year in selected habitats.<ref name="Bangladesh">{{cite book |last=Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh |first=Ministry of Environment and Forests |title=Country Report for Central Asian Flyway Overview:: Bangladesh |publisher=UNEP/CMS |date=May 2005 |url=http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_8_bangladesh.pdf |access-date=2009-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611111038/http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_8_bangladesh.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-11 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

;India
India is the core country of the CAF and supports 257 species of water birds. Of these, 81 species are migratory birds of CAF conservation concern, including three critically endangered species, six endangered species, and 13 near threatened species. The [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]] is the nodal agency for developing strategy and action plans and managing national, regional, and international programmes on water birds and wetlands conservation. Implementation of action plans is through the states environment and forests agencies with complementing activities provided by many academic institutions, NGO-conservation organizations, professional institutions and international agencies. National government institutions involved in migratory waterbirds and wetlands research/management include the [[Zoological Survey of India]], the [[Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History]], the [[Wildlife Institute of India]], [[Indian Institute of Forest Management]], the [[Centre for Environment Education]], the [[Indian Institute of Economic Growth]], the [[Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research]], and the [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]].India has identified more than 300 potential Ramsar sites, of which 25 have been implemented.<ref name="GOI">{{cite book|last=Government of India|first=Ministry of Environment and Forests|title=Country Report — India|publisher=UNEP/CMS|location=Delhi|year=2005|edition=CMS/CAF/Inf.4.13|series=Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for Waterbirds and their Habitat|url=http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_13_India.pdf|access-date=2009-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611111124/http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_13_India.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-11|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Il Islam">{{cite book|last=Ul Islam |first=M. Zafar-|author2=Asad R. Rahmani|title=Potential and Existing Ramsar Sites in India|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Delhi|year=2008|edition=review|pages=584 p., 154 maps, 220 colour plates|isbn=978-0-19-569723-0|url=https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no58147.htm}}</ref>
India is notable among CAF countries, with an extensive series of [[important bird area]]s and [[Protected areas of India|protected areas]] including [[:Category:Bird sanctuaries of India|bird sanctuaries]], [[Wildlife sanctuaries of India|wildlife sanctuaries]] and [[National parks of India|national park]]s in wetlands that provide convenient stopover and wintering areas for migratory birds using the Central Asian Flyway.
[[File:Pulicat-Spotted Pelican.jpg|thumb|Spot-billed pelican at [[Pulicat Lake]] ]]
Listed from north to south along the Eastern Flyway on or near the east coast, these include the [[Bhitarkanika National Park|Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park]], [[Banki, Orissa|Chandka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Mangal Jodi]] [[Chilika Lake|Nalabana Bird Sanctuary]], [[Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary]] and Godavari estuary, [[Kolleru Lake|Kolleru Lake Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Nelapattu|Nellapattu Bird Sanctuary]], [[Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary]], [[Guindy National Park]], [[Kaliveli Tank]] and [[Yeduyanthittu estuary]], [[Bahour Lake]], [[Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary]], [[Protected areas of Tamil Nadu#Bird sanctuaries|Karaivetti Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Big Tank (Peria Kanmai) and Sakkarakotai Kanma]], [[Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary]] and [[Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary]], [[Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park]] and [[Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary|Kunthangulam Bird Sanctuary]]<ref name="BLImap"/>

Sanctuaries for migratory waterbirds listed from north to south along the Western Flyway on or near the west coast of India include [[Rann of Kutch]], [[Flamingo City]], [[Banni Grassland and Chhari Dhand]], [[Naliya Grassland]], [[Jamnagar district|Lala Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Porbandar Bird Sanctuary]], [[Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary|Khijadiya Lake and Bird Sanctuary]], [[Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch|Marine National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Charakla Salt Works]], [[Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary]], [[Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar]], [[Gir Forest National Park|Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Kaj Lake Pipalava Bandharo]], [[Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Mahul Creek|Mahul - Sewree Creek]], [[Sanjay Gandhi National Park]], [[Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Burnt Island (Bandra) Vengurla Rocks]], [[Carambolim Wetlands]], [[Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park|Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Anshi National Park]], [[Gudavi|Gudavi Bird Sanctuary]], [[Kudremukh National Park]], [[Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Brahmagiri (hill)|Bramhagiri Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Kannur district|Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Kattampally]], [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]] including: [[Mukurthi National Park]], [[Mudumalai National Park]], [[Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Bandipur National Park]] and [[Silent Valley National Park]], [[Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park]], [[Periyar National Park]], [[Thrissur-Ponnani Kole Wetlands]], [[Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary]] and [[Suchindram Theroor Birds Sanctuary]], the southernmost protected area in the continental range of the Central Asian Flyway<ref name="BLImap">{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SitHTMFindResults.asp&INam=&Reg=2&Cty=99#|title=site search results/India/map|last=BirdLife International|first=Data zone|year=2009|work=Map sites|access-date=2009-01-07}}</ref>
;Pakistan
Pakistan has had very few studies to monitor the migratory bird populations and their use of wetlands. Current flyway management systems rely on information from local hunters, erratic wildlife surveys and raw estimates.
[[File:Ciconia nigra 3 (Marek Szczepanek).jpg|thumb|Black storks]]
Key wetland sites include [[Mangla Dam|Mangla Lake]], [[Rawal Lake]] in [[Margalla Hills National Park]], [[Zangi Nawar Lake]], the high mountain wetlands in northern Pakistan including the [[Naltar Valley|Naltar]] wetland complex and the wetlands of [[Deosai National Park]] plains. There have been several reports of [[black stork]]s, [[Crane (bird)|crane]]s and flocks of vulnerable [[marbled teal]].

The [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] reported that Pakistan's wetlands and their rich biological resources are threatened by [[over-exploitation]], [[habitat destruction]] and polluted environments. The main causes for [[wetland]] degradation are ineffective management, poor stakeholder participation and lack of coordination for management strategies.<ref name="Sheikh">{{cite book|last=Sheikh |first=Kashif M. |author2=Naseem Kashif |title=Strategic role of Pakistan wetland resources: prospects for an effective migratory waterbird conservation network |publisher=The Stationery Office|location=Edinburgh, UK.|year=2006|series=Waterbirds around the world|pages=292–293|url=http://www.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/pub07_waterbirds_part3.5.11.pdf}}</ref>

;Russia
About half the territory of the Russian Federation is in the range of the Central-Asian Flyway. Among the 176 CAF species, 143 (85%) are located (and mostly breed) in Russian territory. Most of the species are presented by [[Anatidae]] and [[wader]] groups. 37 species that inhabit the CAF area are included in the Russian Red Data Book and more than 40 species are hunting objects.<ref name="Russia">{{cite book|title=Country report – Russia, Survey of Today Situation in Russian Federation within Central Asian Flyway Region|location=New Delhi|date=10–13 June 2005|series=Meeting to Conclude and Endorse the Proposed Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for Waterbirds and their Habitat|url=http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_12_Russia.pdf|access-date=9 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020071556/http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_12_Russia.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

;Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is the southernmost landmass of the Central Asian Flyway and is the final destination of many migratory birds exiting the eastern and western Indian flyways and the [[Andaman Islands]]. The Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka has declared four Ramsar sites and declared other protected areas in Sri Lanka which are wetlands habitats of migratory waterbirds. These include the [[Anawilundawa Sanctuary]], [[Bellanwilla - Attidiya Sanctuary]], [[Bundala National Park]], [[Gal Oya National Park]], [[Giants' Tank Sanctuary]], [[Kumana National Park]], [[Muthurajawela wetlands]] and [[Yala National Park]].<ref name=Herath>{{cite book|last=Herath|first=H.M.B.C.|author2=Department of Conservation|author3=Sri Lanka|title=Country report – Sri Lanka|location=New Delhi|date=10–13 June 2005|series=Meeting to Conclude and Endorse the Proposed Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for Waterbirds and their Habitat|url=http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_4_SriLanka.pdf|access-date=9 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020072324/http://www.cms.int/bodies/meetings/regional/caf/pdf/inf_04_4_SriLanka.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Additional sources==
*CMS Secretariat Launches Action Plan For Central Flyway<ref name="CMS/2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.cms.int/species/CAF/news.htm|title=CMS Secretariat Launches Action Plan For Central Flyway|last=Manta|first=Francisco Rilla |author2=Rebecca Lee|date=11 January 2008|work=Central Asian Flyway News|publisher=UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10, 53113 Bonn, Germany |access-date=2009-01-07}}</ref>
* Wetlands Biodiversity and Waterbirds: the Central Asian Flyway initiative, including Map of the Central Asian Flyway<ref name="WLI">{{cite web|url=http://south-asia.wetlands.org/WHATWEDO/WetlandBiodiversityandWaterbirds/tabid/644/Default.aspx|title=Wetlands Biodiversity and Waterbirds: the Central Asian Flyway initiative, including Map of the Central Asian Flyway|last=Wetlands International South Asia|year=2007|publisher=Wetlands International Wageningen, The Netherlands|access-date=2009-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707105143/http://south-asia.wetlands.org/WHATWEDO/WetlandBiodiversityandWaterbirds/tabid/644/Default.aspx|archive-date=2010-07-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Flyway conservation in the Central Asian Flyway<ref name="Boere">{{cite book|last=Boere|first=Gerard|author2=Colin A. Galbraith|author3=David Stroud|author4=L. K. Bridge|title=Waterbirds Around the World: A Global Overview of the Conservation, Management and Research of the World's Waterbird Flyways|publisher=The Stationery Office|year=2006|pages=940 illus|isbn=978-0-11-497333-9|url=http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3894#35|access-date=2009-01-09|archive-date=2011-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204182548/http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3894#35|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==External links==
* [http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/sowb/flyways/7_Central_Asia_Factsheet.pdf ''Central Asia/South Asia'' Factsheet] from [[BirdLife International]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Birds}}

[[Category:Bird migration flyways]]
[[Category:Migratory birds (Eastern Hemisphere)|ˇ]]
[[Category:Birds of Asia|.]]
[[Category:Birds of India|ˇ]]
[[Category:Birds of Bangladesh|ˇ]]
[[Category:Birds of Russia|ˇ]]
[[Category:Birds of the Arctic|.]]
[[Category:Fauna of Central Asia|ˇ]]
[[Category:Fauna of South Asia|ˇ]]
[[Category:International environmental organizations]]

Central Asian Flyway - Revision history

Pankaj Kumar (Actor) at 11:39, 10 March 2026