Waterbird
populations across the African-Eurasian flyway are on a downward trend,
with declining populations outstripping growing ones by almost 50 per
cent, shows the latest conservation status report compiled for the
Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds
(AEWA) – an inter-governmental treaty administered by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP). However, the report also shows that the
populations subjected to active conservation measures generally fare
much better, with 45% of them declining, compared to a staggering 83%
decline in populations not covered by active conservation measures. The
6th Edition of the Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory
Waterbirds in the Agreement Area, prepared by Wetlands International, is
being presented to delegates attending AEWA's 6th Meeting of the
Parties, held at the United Nations Campus in Bonn, Germany, between 9
and 14 November. The meeting is bringing together over 200 participants
from more than 70 national governments, intergovernmental organizations
and non-governmental organizations.
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, said, "We
see in the migration routes of animals, such as migratory birds, that
international frontiers are merely lines on a map. Efforts to conserve
migratory birds do not only help open the flyways fundamental to their
survival, but also build bridges between countries and peoples. Our
shared environment knows no borders. It is important we work across
those we self-impose to protect it."
The inter-governmental
meeting underway in Bonn is focusing on waterbirds that regularly
migrate along the African Eurasian flyway – a bird migration system
stretching from Northern Russia to Southern Africa. The delegates look
for ways to strengthen conservation measures and agree on urgent
responses to the many threats facing migratory waterbirds in the
African-Eurasian region, such as habitat loss and degradation, illegal
killing, bycatch and overfishing. The meeting also focused on measures
to help mitigate negative impacts of energy developments and climate
change. "While many migratory waterbird populations continue to
decline globally, our latest status report shows that concerted
conservation actions by countries and dedicated organizations within the
African-Eurasian flyway are having a positive effect on some of our
species," said Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of AEWA. "In
a world where the loss of biodiversity is accelerating, it can be
considered an achievement that the proportion of declining AEWA
populations has not increased further during the 20 years of the
treaty's existence. But it is clear that we need to do much more."
AEWA's Action Plan provides a blueprint for what needs to be done to
maintain and restore migratory waterbird species and their populations
at a favourable conservation status. The international guidelines and
the targeted action plans developed under AEWA are proving to be
effective tools, but only where they are being implemented.
The
meeting took place a few days after the release by BirdLife
International of the 2015 Red List update for birds, which saw 40 more
species listed as having a higher risk of extinction globally. Twelve of
the uplisted species are migratory waterbirds covered by AEWA, of which
three, the Atlantic Puffin, Common Pochard and Horned Grebe, have seen
their status raised to the Globally Threatened category. "Further
investment and more concerted actions on the ground and between
countries are necessary if we want to halt the continuing decline in
migratory waterbird species in the African-Eurasian flyway in the years
to come," said Trouvilliez.
The conference is being held under
the theme "Making Flyway Conservation Happen", which highlights the
importance of AEWA as a treaty fostering international cooperation for
the benefit of migratory waterbirds amongst a vast range of countries in
Africa and Eurasia. The year 2015 also marks the 20th Anniversary of
AEWA. The development of guidelines, implementing emergency measures for
the most endangered species and the development of international single
species action plans as well as the adoption of a targeted Plan of
Action for Africa are some of the key achievements of the relatively
young international treaty to date.
The Agreement on the
Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) is the only
inter-governmental treaty administered by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) dedicated to the conservation and
sustainable use of migratory waterbirds – such as pelicans, cranes,
storks, terns, ducks, geese, waders and flamingos – as well as their
habitats throughout their range.
With currently 75 Parties out of 119
Range States, it is the largest regional instrument of its kind
developed under the framework of the Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, also known as the Bonn
Convention, after the city in which it was signed).
UNEP-AEWA – photo Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor), Mark D. Anderson
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