Conserving the Black-faced Spoonbill is not just about protecting its habitat. As a migratory bird, conservation requires collaborative efforts across the species’ entire range, which spans several countries. And while the Black-faced Spoonbill‘s population has gradually increased over the past 30 years, new threats like coastal development and avian disease outbreaks threaten its recovery.
Since 2015, Haribon Foundation has been monitoring the Black-faced Spoonbills and other threatened migratory birds, and assisting the DENR in monitoring migratory waterbirds in different parts of the country. During the Asian Waterbird Census in the Philippines last 2024, over 100 Black-faced Spoonbills were recorded. This is the highest count in the Philippines, showing the importance of Philippine wetlands for this species.
From February 26 – 28, 2025, experts and conservationists from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hongkong, Macau, and China gathered at the Mai Po Peter Scott Visitor Centre to revisit and update the Black-faced Spoonbill International Single Species Action Plan (ISSAP).
David Quimpo of Haribon's Conservation Research Department shared information about the Black-faced Spoonbills as well as the status of their habitat in the Philippines. During the international meeting, the experts evaluated the previous action plan, which has not been updated since 2010, assessed the current status, identified knowledge gaps, and developed a new 10-year action plan to sustain the recovery of the Black-faced Spoonbill. This updated action plan will strengthen international cooperation and guide conservation efforts for the species’ long-term survival and continued recovery.
