International efforts to protect migratory birds gain momentum

The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) covers 172 species of birds ecologically dependent on wetlands in Africa and Eurasia, including the Middle East, Greenland and parts of Canada. AEWA represents the largest agreement under the Conservation of Migratory Species and the first meeting of the parties (MOP 1) of AEWA resulted in several resolutions, including:

• triennial national reporting structure – with preliminary report due by 1 September 2000
• adoption and amendment of International Implementation Priorities for 2000-2004 – with emphasis placed on the urgency of identifying key sites and migration patterns of AEWA-protected species
• establishment of International Project Register
• establishment of a small conservation grants fund to facilitate AEWA implementation
• establishment of a technical committee
• amendements to the AEWA Action Plan – with plans to stimulate preparations of single-species Action Plans for species with unfavourable conservation status
• adoption of the conservation guidelines developed by Wetlands International.

A permanent secretariat for AEWA was also agreed, with Germany’s offer to locate with the Convention of Migratory Species Secretariat in Bonn, accepted. The next AEWA meeting, MOP 2, will take place at the end of 2002 or early 2003 in Germany.