The Black-necked Crane, the only crane species to inhabit high-altitude wetlands year-round, serves as a key indicator of ecological health and climate resilience on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, one of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems. Strengthened by the UNDP-GEF Flyway Conservation Network Project since 2022, the Black-necked Crane Conservation Network has become a transboundary platform connecting scientists, protected area managers, local communities, and government agencies across China, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, enabling collaborative conservation along the Central Asian Flyway.
By integrating scientific research, traditional cultural values, and community engagement, the network promotes a sustainable conservation model that supports species protection, strengthens livelihoods, and enhances ecological resilience. It provides a low-cost, scalable, and adaptable approach for transboundary cooperation that can be applied to other migratory species facing habitat fragmentation, climate change, and governance challenges.
As the primary range country, China hosts the majority of the global Black-necked Crane population and has invested in systematic research, habitat protection, and public awareness since the 1990s. These efforts increased the global population from roughly 5,600–6,000 in 1996 to over 15,000 by 2020, leading the IUCN to reclassify the species from Vulnerable to Near Threatened. However, emerging pressures such as climate change, urban expansion, shifts in land use, and renewable energy infrastructure pose ongoing threats to the species’ habitat and survival.
The Black-necked Crane Conservation Network was established to address these challenges by linking stakeholders across national boundaries, facilitating knowledge exchange, and coordinating conservation priorities. Using digital tools and volunteer coordination groups, the network enables real-time information sharing, joint planning, and implementation of conservation measures across the species’ lifecycle. Annual learning exchanges and skill-building workshops have trained over 1,000 individuals in monitoring, satellite tracking, bird banding, and disease surveillance.
Community engagement and environmental education are central to the network’s approach. Initiatives like “Little Crane Classrooms” and “people–crane harmony” communities promote stewardship, cultural pride, and sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism and cultural activities. Conservation benefits are shared with local populations, ensuring equitable economic and social outcomes.
At the national level, China has developed the National Medium- and Long-Term Conservation Plan for the Black-necked Crane and established the National Crane Conservation and Research Center, providing a comprehensive framework for policy coordination, research, habitat protection, and ecological restoration. Internationally, the network promotes cooperation under the Central Asian Flyway framework, fostering coordinated, flyway-scale conservation efforts across range countries.
The network has stabilized the global population at over 15,000 individuals and supported aligned protection measures in Bhutan, India, and Nepal. By safeguarding crane habitats, it also benefits other migratory and sympatric species, including Ruddy Shelducks, Bar-headed Geese, raptors, and waterbirds. Community-based initiatives, festivals, and ecotourism programs have strengthened public engagement, enhanced local economies, and fostered harmonious coexistence between people and cranes.
The success of the network underscores the importance of international collaboration, structured capacity building, standardized monitoring, and transparent information sharing. Informal, trust-based networks have proven essential for enhancing formal conservation policies, particularly in complex, transboundary, and data-limited contexts, offering a replicable model for migratory species conservation worldwide.
