The National Workshop on Development of Strategies and Avian Influenza Surveillance Guidelines in Wild Birds was held on April 14 to 16, 2008, in Bogor. The workshop, which was sited in Hotel Salak the Heritage-Bogor, was collaboration between the National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (KOMNAS FBPI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and was also supported by several government and non-government organizations that are concerned and work in the field of wild bird surveillance such as the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia Institute of Science (LIPI), Wetlands International Indonesia Program (Wetlands IP), Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program (WCS IP), Indonesian Ornithologist Union (IdOU), Yayasan Kutilang Indonesia, and Center for Indonesian Veterinary Analytical Studies (CIVAS).

Background of this workshop was that avian influenza has claimed human lives and up to date, Indonesia already had 107 human fatalities due to AI, where 12 fatalities had occurred in 2008. Many researches on avian influenza, both around the world and in Indonesia, have been done. Nevertheless, the role of wild birds in the spread of this disease needs special attention. Under coordination of KOMNAS FBPI, the Indonesian government is currently identifying and mapping avian influenza surveillance activities in wild birds. At the implementation level, the Ministry of Forestry as the technical agency for wild birds has formed a Task Force on Avian Influenza Control in Wild Birds.

The objective of this workshop was to develop a national strategy for avian influenza control in wild birds in Indonesia, including the development of a guideline for surveillance in wild birds. Also discussed in the national strategy were the authorized bodies and the coordination mechanism between related parties for the control of avian influenza in wild birds.

The national workshop had two main parts, one day of presentation from various sources related to surveillance activities in wild birds and two days of workshop. Presentations of the first day were brought by both domestic and foreign speakers, all presenting about various surveillance activities and researches in wild birds, thus stimulating information exchange. There were four topics in the first day; they were International Strategy, National Strategy, Wild Birds in Indonesia, and Guidelines on Capturing, Sample Collection, and Avian Influenza Surveillance Activities in Wild Birds.

In the two-day workshop session, the first day was filled by group discussions about various supporting guidelines for the surveillance activity and the strategy of establishing an information network. On the last day, or second day of the workshop session, participants discussed about the national strategy and action plan for avian influenza surveillance in wild birds. The national workshop was attended by 68 participants, consisting of representatives from various elements that are concerned and are also involved in wild bird surveillance activities, such as the Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Laboratories conducting surveillance or testing in wild birds, zoo managers, animal rescue centers, universities and non-government organizations concerned in wild bird conservation such as Bird Conservation Society (BICONS), ProFauna, Animal Advocacy Institute (LASA), Flora Fauna International (FFI), Indonesian Environmental Information Center (PILI), and Conservation International (CI).

By concession of all participants, the national workshop had recommended the following :

1. Development of a National Strategy and Action Plan with the following conditions: (a) The workshop formation team to assigned to finish the National Strategy and Action Plan document; (b) A two month deadline is placed for the finishing of the document; (c) Information and data brought up in the workshop should be used as main consideration for development of the National Strategy and Action Plan (d)The Komnas FBPI is trusted to establish the laws necessary to legalized this document
2. Development of a guideline which includes all aspects of avian influenza surveillance in wild birds that could be nationally applied in Indonesia
3. Improve inter-sector coordination through facilitation by Komnas FBPI
4. Include ecological issues and wild bird conservation as one of the concerns of Komnas FBPI, also for its programs and funding. *** (wind)