Archive for February 10th, 2006
TED Case Studies
CASE NUMBER: 66
CASE MNEMONIC: SWIFT
CASE NAME: Swift Protection
A. IDENTIFICATION
1. The Issue
Trade of Swiftlet nests began in China during the T’ang
Dynasty (A.D. 618-907). China is the prime consumer of a soup made
from these nests (bird’s nest soup), which is considered the
“caviar of the East” until a policy of austerity under communist
rule discouraged such extravagance. Recent relaxation of controls
in the PRC has led to a surge in demand for Bird’s Nest Soup.
China is importing enormous amounts of ingredients for the soup
from countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. This is now
threatening the swift populations and has led CITES to consider
adding the bird and its nest to its lists of endangered species.
2. Description
Chinese have been eating the nest of the Swiftlet, a bird
about the size of a sparrow found in Southeast Asia and the Indian
Subcontinent, for over 1,000 years. The Edible-nest, Indian
Edible-nest and Black-nest Swiftlets weave a nest from strands of
saliva: the male regurgitates a long, thin gelatinous strand from
salivary glands under its tongue which is then wound into a half-
cup nest which bonds like quick-drying cement to the inside of a
cave wall. Swiftlet nests are (usually) carefully removed from
the cave wall. The nests are relatively tasteless and so are
usually served in soup or jelly, mixed with chicken, spices, sauce
or sweets. For centuries in China these nests have been considered
nourishing and tasty as well as a booster of health for the sick
and aging; they are even believed to be an aphrodisiac.
The harvesting of Swiftlet nests is a potentially hazardous
occupation. They are collected from high, dark caves by special
collectors who climb up and balance on bamboo poles attached to
steep cliffs. These cliffs reach hundreds of feet in height. This
is a traditional occupation and the skill of nest collection is
generally passed down from father to son.
Biochemist Kong Yun-Cheng at the Chinese University of Hong
Kong conducted a chemical analysis of the soup which revealed that
there is a water-soluble glyco-protein in the nest which promotes
cell division within the immune system. However, it is destroyed
during the cleaning process. Therefore, the soup is actually of
low nutritive value.
Nevertheless, the market for these nests is booming. Prices
have doubled in recent years. China was traditionally the biggest
importer of birds’ nests until the Communist revolution when the
soup was frowned upon as a bourgeois extravagance (see SHARK case).
Today Hong Kong is the biggest official consumer of birds’ nests,
importing about 100 tons (grossing about $25 million) annually. In
Hong Kong 55 pounds of top quality white nests (the most prized)
can be worth $50,000. The value of the nest has become so great
that harvesters no longer wait until eggs or chicks depart the
nest. Both are simply discarded and the nest taken. This practice
has decimated many younger bird populations in some areas.
Not all nests are created equal. Black nests are the lowest
grade of Swiftlet nest since they must be cleaned to remove
feathers. They are considerably less expensive than white nests.
The nests are so valued that shipments are usually shrouded in
secrecy for fear of hijackers. It is believed that there is a
“world kingpin” or at least a key group of brokers in Kowloon, Hong
Kong who control much of international trade in Swiftlet nests.
This kingpin is supposed to have contracts with governments, kings,
princes and private owners of islands.
The rising price and rising demand for these nests have
resulted in a decline in the swiftlet population. Poachers and the
cutting down of forests where Swiftlets feed contribute to the
decline. Indonesia is the biggest supplier of swiftlet nests with
Thailand ranking second, followed by Vietnam, Singapore, Burma,
Malaysia, southern India and Sri Lanka. In most nest-producing
countries swiftlet colonies are dwindling. Kong Yun-Cheng argues
that if harvesting continues at its current rate the species may
die out in 5 to 10 years.
Nest harvesters in Indonesia have developed the practice of
“farming” which entails buying up houses with colonies of Mossy-
nest Swiftlets which are cross-fostered: the eggs of White-nest
Swiftlets are placed in these nest colonies. Once mature the
White-nest Swiftlets return to the house and establish a colony.
While Indonesian nest traders claim that a third of nests exported
from Indonesia come from these farms, researchers of the World Wide
Fund for Nature believe the farms produce far less.
While the Edible-nest and Black-nest Swiftlet are not yet on
the endangered species lists of either CITES or the IUCN, there are
measures which attempt to protect them. Supplier countries have
domestic legislation to regulate importing/exporting, hunting,
poaching, and selling of Swiftlet nests. For example, since 1934
there has been an ordinance in Sarawak, Malaysia which permits the
nests to be harvested only every 75 days. Currently in Sabah only
2 harvests per year of White-nest Swiftlets are allowed. Despite
policies to protect the bird their numbers continue to decline,
probably a result of illegal trade which counts for a substantial
percentage of harvested nests. The World Wide Fund for nature
is currently preparing a proposal for the 1994 meeting of the
Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Flora
and Fauna (CITES) which will be held in the United States. The
proposal will recommend that the Swiftlet species be placed on
CITES’ Appendix II (threatened species).
3. Related Cases
MIGRATE case
BIRDS case
TIMOWL case
CRANE case
SHARK case
Keyword Clusters
(1): Trade Product = FOOD
(2): Bio-geography = TROPical
(3): Environmental Problem = Species Loss Air [SPLA]
4. Draft Author: Jeanine MacKay
B. LEGAL Clusters
5. Discourse and Status: AGREEment and INPROGress
6. Forum and Scope: CITES and MULTIlateral
CITES is considering regulations on trade in bird’s nests.
7. Decision Breadth: 125 (CITES signatories)
8. Legal Standing: TREATY
C. GEOGRAPHIC Clusters
9. Geographic Locations
a. Geographic Domain : ASIA
b. Geographic Site : Eastern Asian [EASIA]
c. Geographic Impact : CHINA
The bird is found in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Burma, Singapore, India, and Sri Lanka.
10. Sub-National Factors: NO
Local leaseholders can buy exclusive rights from the
government to harvest nests in certain areas. These leaseholders
may impose their own restrictions within their harvesting areas.
11. Type of Habitat: TROPical
D. TRADE Clusters
12. Type of Measure: Import Ban [IMBAN]
13. Direct vs. Indirect Impacts: DIRect
14. Relation of Measure to Environmental Impact
a. Directly Related : NO
b. Indirectly Related : YES FOOD
c. Not Related : NO
d. Process Related : YES Species Loss Air [SPLA]
15. Trade Product Identification: FOOD
16. Economic Data
To some local communities the income from swift nest can be
substantial. Most income is probably made through intermediaries.
17. Impact of Measure on Trade Competitiveness: BAN
An import ban would cut off 100 percent of legal trade, but
may not prevent substantial illegal trade.
18. Industry Sector: FOOD
19. Exporter and Importer: MALAYsia and CHINA
The leading importers of bird’s nest soup ingredients was
Hong Kong ($25 million). Large amounts are believed to be trans-
shipped to China. Several other Asian countries are also
significant importers.
E. ENVIRONMENT Clusters
20. Environmental Problem Type: Species Loss Air [SPLA]
21. Name, Type, and Diversity of Species
Name: Swiftlet
Type: Animal/Vertibrate/Birds
Diversity: 158 birds per 10,000 km/q (Malaysia)
There are three species targeted by trade in edible nests:
Aerodramus fuciphagus or Edible-nest (white-nests), Aerodramus
unicolor or Indian Edible-nest, and Aerodramus maximus or Black-
nest.
22. Resource Impact and Effect: HIGH and PRODuct
The farming of swiftlets has grown enormously and has a
variety of implications. Perhaps one-third of swiftlet-product
trade now comes from farms.
23. Urgency and Lifetime: SHORT and 5-10 years
“One aspect of the trade which urgently requires looking at is
the ‘farming’ of swiftlets in Indonesia. People are buying upon
houses with colonies of mossy-nest swiftlets and then cross-
fostering by placing white-nest swiftlets in these nests.” It
usually does not work and takes place in Java.
24. Substitutes: SYNTHetic products
Synthetic substitutes for swift nest are becoming available.
However, there is still a desire for the actual product.
VI. OTHER Factors
25. Culture: YES
Bird’s Nest Soup has been a part of Chinese culture for 1,000
years. Increasing wealth in the Asian region along with the big
increase in price of a bowl of bird’s nest soup has made Swiftlet
nests the `caviar of the East.’ While it is possible to find
substitutes to thicken soup, it will be difficult to take away the
allure of Bird’s Nest Soup as a status symbol.
26. Trans-Border: NO
27. Rights: NO
28. Relevant Literature
Campbell, Bruce and Lack, Elizabeth. A Dictionary of Birds.
London: Buteo Books, 1985.
de Groot, Roy Andries. “On the Trail of Bird’s Nest Soup: Caves,
Climbs and High Stakes.” Smithsonian 14 (September 1993).
Summers, Diane. “Dark World of Gourmet Soup.” International
Wildlife 22 (January/February 1992).
Lau, Amy. International Trade in Swiftlet Nests with Special
Reference to Hong Kong. TRAFFIC International.
Melville, D.S., Personal communication, Executive Director, World
Wildlife Fund, Hong Kong, November 11, 1993.
The World Wide Fund for Nature in Hong Kong is preparing a
proposal for the next CITES meeting to have the issue
listed on the Convention’s Appendix II (threatened
species).
February 10th, 2006
weird foods
www.foodmall.org/entry/birds-nest-or-a-bowl-of-soup/ - 48k
Monday Nov 28 2005, 6:22am PDT - Esther
Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam: ASIA
Call it “white gold”, “caviar of the East” or a delicious broth, fact remains that the Swiftlet bird’s nest have been harvested at homes and restaurants and wherever they possibly could, for the past two years, for serving them as soups in the restaurants.
In the breeding season, all the Swiftlets secrete a special kind of sticky saliva for binding twigs in order to build their nests. These nests almost look like semi-circular teacups, and this shape itself keeps their nests cemented to the cave walls. Collecting these cups can be extremely risky, as the collectors have to climb up to the high cave walls, on fragile bamboo ladders.
These nests are boiled; when tender the nest is separated form the saliva, which comes out as noodles. These nests are either stuffed into chicken, boiled with coconut milk to make dessert or cooked as a humble soup. Well, I shouldn’t call it humble even if it’s made of the most neglected twigs of a bird’s nest, as a kilo of this very nest can cost you up to $2000 and a bowl of the nest soup in Hong Kong costs about $60.
This soup cures a running nose or a whooping cough and it tastes delicious too. Though it does not come within my domain of culinary world, and some of you may consider the same, I feel that it is quite normal as a cold reliever and an unusual delicacy. It’s weird and out of place only in the terms of the “mad rush”, which makes it a lot pricey; or should I put it that just because this particular nest is edible there is a mad rush…for a weird food generating $23.8 million in taxes in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.
Swiftlet Soup at: ABC
February 10th, 2006
by Jagdeep S. Chhokar and Satish A. Pande
for National Geographic BirdWatcher
August 22, 2002
news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2002/08/0821_020822_swiftlet.html - 39k
Three birders from Pune in the state of Maharashtra in western India were putting together an illustrated book entitled Birds of the Kokan and the Western Ghats. Satish A. Pande, Vishwas Katdare, and Ram Mone decided to visit Vengurla Rocks, located seven miles off the south coast of Maharashtra in the Arabian Sea, to collect information on the status of terns and edible-nest swiftlets.
The Indian edible-nest swiftlet is a slender, sparrow-size, brown bird with a slightly forked tail. The male produces a long, gelatinous strand of condensed saliva from the sublingual salivary glands, which is then wound into a half-cup nest, bonded to a vertical surface.
The relatively tasteless nests are sometimes prepared in soup mixed with chicken, spices, and other flavors as an aphrodisiac, which makes them a much sought-after property. Analysis of bird-nest soup, however, has not revealed any special medicinal value.
Currently, Hong Kong is believed to be the largest consumer of bird nests, importing about a hundred tons every year, at a price of about U.S. $25 million. The major suppliers are Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, southern parts of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The value of nests has increased substantially in recent years due to restricted supplies. Poachers no longer wait for the chicks to fledge before collecting the nests, which has dramatically decreased the swiftlets’ population. Naturalists are concerned that this species may become extinct in five to ten years if the current rates of exploitation are not checked.
At dawn on April 8, 2001, after an hour-long boat ride from the fishing hamlet of Niwati-Medha, the birders landed at the Old Lighthouse Island. On the underside of a lighthouse dome, they discovered about 30 swiftlet nests. This was an exciting discovery, since this nesting site had not been previously recorded. They then moved on to the easternmost Burnt Island, known to be an active nesting site.
As they walked toward the caves, they saw a large number of swiftlets sweeping through the sky above them. On reaching the top of a cliff, they saw birds disappearing into the ground. Closer investigation revealed an opening to a large cave. Inside the dimly lit cavern they were amazed to see bamboo scaffolding built along its wall, a sign that poachers had discovered this remote haven.
They could not negotiate the 22-yard (20-meter) vertical cliff face at the entrance of the cave, so one of the birders swam around the island to another entrance, negotiating the barnacle-studded, sea-urchin-covered sharp rocks, lacerating his hands and feet in the process. When he reached the entrance, he saw thousands of edible-nest swiftlets nesting in the cave’s dark recesses.
Nests were constructed from about three feet (one meter) from the ground all the way to the roof. The nest density varied from 20 per square yard to 40 per square yard, resulting in a conservative estimate of 3,000 nests. All the nests were attended by swiftlets that frequently entered and exited the cave, navigating by echolocation and occasionally dashing against the birders. The nests were pearly white, shiny, sticky, and spongy. From the near-complete state of the nests, the birders concluded that eggs would be laid in just a few days.
As the birders made their way back to Niwati-Medha for the night, they were extremely concerned about nest poaching and the destruction of eggs and chicks.
They invited the villagers to view a video they had made of the day’s discovery. The villagers were surprised by the scaffolding and said that it was probably the work of visitors from the southern part of India who claimed they came to collect pigeon droppings from the cave for medicinal purposes every April and September, just before and after the monsoon season. The villagers could not explain why scaffolding was required to collect bird droppings from the floor of the cave, and they were not aware of the swiftlets and their unique saliva nests. They seemed shocked to learn about the trade in the swiftlet nests for culinary and aphrodisiac purposes in the Far East.
As soon as the birders returned to Pune on April 10th, they contacted the officials of the Forest Department responsible for the protection of wildlife. They also contacted and wrote letters to Forest Department officials urging that the scaffolding be removed and the entrance and two skylights be blocked with iron grids that would permit free access to birds but not to humans. Immediate action was necessary because the poachers were expected to return any time.
They also phoned the Conservator of Forests. He was unaware of the situation but offered assurance that Forest Department officials would visit the island on Monday, April 16th, since the next days were public holidays.
Not satisfied with this response, one of the birders contacted the Deputy Conservator of Forests in whose jurisdiction the islands were located. He, too, said that the earliest he could send someone would be Monday. The birders felt frustrated, as their sense of urgency did not seem to be fully shared.
Ultimately, they felt that their case needed public support, and they persuaded a local newspaper to publish the news in its editions for the state of Maharashtra on April 15th. When Monday evening came, the birders discovered that the forest authorities still had not left for the island. In the meantime, they received a phone call from a Niwati-Medha fisherman informing them that a gang of about ten poachers had landed on the rocks that afternoon. The fisherman had watched the video in the village and decided to make the phone call on his own initiative. The newspaper had further convinced him of the urgency of the birders’ efforts.
Alarmed, the birders contacted the Deputy Conservator of Forests again—mercifully he was still in his office at 9 p.m. He promised to dispatch a couple of men to the rocks the next day. He was advised that since there were about ten poachers, a larger group of armed forest guards would be necessary. Early the next morning, the birders also contacted the Coast Guard in Bombay, who agreed to send a helicopter and a boat if necessary.
On April 17 at 6 a.m., 15 range forest officers arrived at the rocks. They caught five poachers, equipped with modern rappelling gear, in possession of six bags of bird nests.
Subsequently, they removed the scaffolding and initiated the process of declaring the rocks a protected area and the family to which the swiftlets belong—Apodidae—as protected.
It was learned during the investigation that the poachers were mere collectors. Based on their information, a key operator was arrested in Trichy in south India about 932 miles from the location of the caves. He was reported to have said that there was no market for the bird nests in India and that these were collected by agents from the Far East. This gives an indication of how widespread the nexus of poachers and exploiters of nature and wildlife is, and what those involved in conservation have to contend with.
This incident shows that it is possible for amateur birders and active concerned citizens to make significant contributions to the cause of conservation. The fact that a fisherman from the small hamlet decided to inform the birders of the arrival of poachers attests to the importance of spreading environmental awareness among local people. Perhaps by working together, we can save the Indian edible-nest swiftlets for future generations.
Jagdeep S. Chhokar, Ph.D., is a member of the Indian Bird Conservation Network, a life member of the Bombay Natural History Society, and professor and dean at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India. Satish A. Pande, M.D., has published a number of books and articles on birds and ecology-related issues. Vishwas Katdare and Ram Mone are active members of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, a conservation organization.
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February 10th, 2006