Series: ADB Data Room: Regional Flyway Initiative Regional Flyway Initiative Site Studies The Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI), led by the Asian Development Bank in partnership with the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) and BirdLife International, supports the identification and prioritization of key wetland sites across Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and the People’s Republic of China. These wetlands form part of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway and are critical for migratory waterbirds, while also delivering essential ecosystem services, including climate regulation, flood protection, and livelihood support. Across these 11 DMCs, the RFI is working with national counterparts to refine a network of priority wetland sites for early-stage project development and targeted conservation action. These sites are selected based on their ecological importance, conservation urgency, and potential for sustainable management and investment. This page provides an overview of RFI priority sites by country, highlighting key wetlands identified for focused conservation planning and investment under the initiative. Program and Learning Materials Bangladesh Cambodia Mongolia Papua New Guinea Philippines Thailand Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Bangladesh: Eastern Sundarbans The Eastern Sundarbans form part of the largest contiguous mangrove forest in South Asia, covering more than 1 million hectares along the… Bangladesh: Eastern Meghna Delta The Eastern Meghna Delta is a highly dynamic coastal wetland system covering approximately 140,600 hectares along the eastern margin of the Meghna… Bangladesh: Hatiya Island (including Nijhum Dwip National Park) Hatiya Island, including Nijhum Dwip National Park, is a coastal wetland system covering approximately 16,300 hectares in the outer estuary of the… Bangladesh: Tanguar Haor and Panabeel Tanguar Haor and Panabeel are a large inland freshwater wetland complex covering approximately 15,900 hectares in Sunamganj District, Sylhet Division… Bangladesh: Hakaluki Haor Hakaluki Haor is a large inland freshwater wetland complex covering approximately 19,200 hectares across Moulvibazar and parts of Sylhet districts in… Bangladesh: Sonadia Island Sonadia Island is a low-lying barrier island covering approximately 9,800 hectares along the southeastern coast of Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar District… Bangladesh: Central Meghna Delta The Central Meghna Delta is a vast estuarine wetland system covering more than 590,000 hectares along the outer delta of the Meghna River in southern… Bangladesh: Hail Haor (including Bakka Beel) Hail Haor is a large freshwater wetland complex covering approximately 21,800 hectares in Moulvibazar District, Sylhet Division, in north-east… Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Cambodia: Prek Toal (part of Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve) Prek Toal, located within Cambodia’s Tonle Sap floodplain, is a core zone of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve and represents one of the most important… Cambodia: Ang Tropeang Thmor (Sarus Crane Reserve) Ang Tropeang Thmor Sarus Crane Reserve, located in northwestern Cambodia, is a man-made reservoir and surrounding wetland system that has evolved… Cambodia: Boeung Prek Lapouv: (Sarus Crane Reserve) The Boeung Prek Lapouv wetlands in Cambodia’s lower Mekong floodplain span over 8,000 hectares of seasonally flooded grasslands and forests and are… Cambodia: Anlung Pring (Sarus Crane Reserve) Anlung Pring Sarus Crane Reserve, located in Cambodia’s coastal zone in Kampot Province, is a small but ecologically significant wetland system… Cambodia: Boeng Chhmar Ramsar Site Boeng Chhmar Ramsar Site, located within Cambodia’s Tonle Sap floodplain, spans over 28,000 hectares and represents one of the largest relatively… Cambodia: Stoung and Chi Kreng The Stoung and Chi Kreng wetlands, spanning approximately 17,000 hectares in Cambodia’s northern Tonle Sap floodplain, represent some of the largest… Cambodia: Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary (Memey River) Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, covering over 409,000 hectares in northern Cambodia, is one of the country’s largest protected areas and a key… Cambodia: Koh Kapik (Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary) Koh Kapik, part of the Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary in Koh Kong Province, covers approximately 13,500 hectares and represents one of the largest… Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Mongolia: Khar-Us Lake Khar‑Us Lake is a vast wetland system located in the Great Lakes Depression of western Mongolia, covering approximately 860,000 hectares across Khovd… Mongolia: Khurkh Khuiten The Khurkh–Khuiten is a wetland complex located in the Daurian forest steppe region of eastern Mongolia, covering approximately 58,700 hectares… Mongolia: Mongol Daguur IBA Mongol Daguur is an extensive steppe wetland landscape in eastern Mongolia, covering approximately 556,600 hectares across Dornod aimag near the… Mongolia: Uvs Lake Uvs Lake is a large saline lake and wetland system located in northwestern Mongolia within the Uvs Lake Basin, covering approximately 493,000… Mongolia: Tolbo Lake Tolbo Lake is a high-altitude freshwater lake located in the Mongolian Altai in Bayan Ölgii aimag, covering approximately 15,900 hectares. Situated… Mongolia: Airag Lake Airag Lake, together with Khyargas Lake, forms a large wetland complex in the Great Lakes Depression of western Mongolia, covering approximately 144… Mongolia: Tashgain Tavan Lakes Tashgain Tavan Lakes is a cluster of steppe lakes located in Khalkhgol soum, Dornod aimag, covering approximately 53,300 hectares within the… Mongolia: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake is a large freshwater lake located in Tariat soum, Arkhangai aimag in central Mongolia, within the Khangai mountain region at… Mongolia: Ögii Lake Ögii Lake is a freshwater lake located in Ögiinuur soum, Arkhangai aimag, covering approximately 12,600 hectares within the Selenge Orkhon forest… Mongolia: Buir Lake Buir Lake is the largest freshwater lake in eastern Mongolia, located in Dornod Province along the border with the People’s Republic of China. The… Mongolia: Valley of Lakes The Valley of Lakes is a cluster of shallow saline lakes located between the Khangai and Gobi Altai mountain ranges in southern Mongolia, covering… Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Papua New Guinea: Tonda Wildlife Management Area Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Philippines: North Manila Bay (Bulacan) The Bulacan sector of North Manila Bay represents one of the largest and most ecologically significant coastal wetland systems in the Philippines,… Philippines: Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important staging and nonbreeding sites for migratory shorebirds in the Philippines, supporting… Philippines: Bangrin Marine Protected Area Bangrin Marine Protected Area is a compact but ecologically important coastal wetland in Pangasinan, comprising mangrove forests, intertidal flats,… Philippines: Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area The Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area is one of the largest and most internationally important wetland systems in the central… Philippines: North Manila Bay (Pampanga), including Sasmuan Ramsar Site The Pampanga sector of North Manila Bay is a major coastal wetland complex comprising extensive intertidal mudflats, mangroves, estuarine systems,… Philippines: Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest freshwater wetland systems in the Philippines, comprising an extensive complex of marshes,… Philippines: North Manila Bay (Bataan) The Bataan sector of North Manila Bay, centred on the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park, is a compact but highly significant coastal wetland system… Philippines: Lake Mainit Lake Mainit is one of the largest and deepest freshwater lakes in the Philippines, located in the Caraga region across the provinces of Surigao del… Philippines: Candaba Wetlands Candaba Wetlands is a large floodplain wetland system located in Pampanga within Central Luzon, covering approximately 9,987 hectares. The site… Philippines: Sibugay Wetlands The Sibugay Wetlands surrounding Sibugay Bay in western Mindanao form one of the largest and most intact coastal wetland systems in the southern… Philippines: Panabo Coast The Panabo Coast along the Davao Gulf in Mindanao is a coastal wetland system composed of intertidal mudflats, mangroves, estuarine waters, seagrass… Philippines: Tubbataha Reef Natural Park The Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, located in the central Sulu Sea approximately 160 km southeast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is a remote and highly… Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Thailand: Pak Thale-Laem Pak Bia Coast The Pak Thale–Laem Phak Bia coastline is one of Thailand’s largest salt-producing areas, where thousands rely on salt production, fisheries,… Thailand: Bueng Boraphet Bueng Boraphet, located in Nakhon Sawan Province about 250 km north of Bangkok, is the largest freshwater wetland in central Thailand, covering more… Thailand: Pak Nam Prasae Pak Nam Prasae is a coastal wetland located at the mouth of the Prasae River along the eastern Gulf of Thailand in Rayong Province, extending… Thailand: Huai Chorakhe Mak Reservoir Huai Chorakhe Mak Reservoir is an inland freshwater wetland in Mueang Buri Ram District and Sakae Phrong Subdistrict, Buri Ram Province, northeastern… Thailand: Krabi River Mouth Krabi River Mouth, located on the west coast of peninsular Thailand in Krabi Province, encompasses the estuary of the Krabi River and adjacent… Thailand: Khlong Tamru (Bang Pakong) Khlong Tamru (Bang Pakong) is a coastal wetland complex located at the mouth of the Bang Pakong River in Chon Buri Province, within the Inner Gulf of… Thailand: Khlong Yai Khlong Yai, covering approximately 30,000 hectares along the eastern Inner Gulf of Thailand in Trat Province, comprises extensive intertidal mudflats… Thailand: Sanam Bin Reservoir Sanam Bin Reservoir (Sanam Bin Non-Hunting Area) is a man-made inland wetland in Prakhon Chai District, Buri Ram Province, located on the floodplain… Thailand: Ko Libong Non-Hunting Area and Hat Chao Mai National Park Ko Libong Non‑Hunting Area and Hat Chao Mai National Park, covering a combined area of approximately 276,000 hectares in Trang Province, form one of… Thailand: Khok Kham Salt Pans Khok Kham salt pans, covering approximately 13,700 hectares in Samut Sakhon Province along the Inner Gulf of Thailand, represent one of the most… Thailand: Phang-nga Bay Phang Nga Bay, covering more than 42,000 hectares along the Andaman Sea coast of southern Thailand, is one of the country’s most extensive and… Thailand: Bang Pu Coast and Fishponds Bang Pu Coast and Fishponds, covering approximately 385 hectares along the Inner Gulf of Thailand in Samut Prakan Province, is a compact but highly… Disclaimer The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Event Coordinator/s Duncan Lang Karen Ochavo ADB Organizer/s Climate Change, Resilience, and Environment Cluster Climate Change and Sustainable Development Read Also ADB Data Room: Regional Flyway Initiative 147 RFI Priority Wetland Sites Partner Organization/s BirdLife International East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Topics Agriculture and Natural Resources Climate Change Environment Regional Cooperation and Integration