Government representatives, scientists and conservation experts from 15 of the 21 Range States of the Central Asian-Indian waterbird migration system, IGOs and specialised international NGOs gathered in a meeting which was initiated by the secretariats of CMS and AEWA, hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan and organised by Wetlands International (WI). The event was financed by the Government of the Netherlands, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the CMS. 

The workshop was formally opened by Mr. Djumabekov, Chairman of the Parliament’s Committee for Environment & Nature Protection, the opening statements were given by Dr Khalilulla S. Sherimbetov, Acting Chairman of the Uzbek State Committee for Nature Protection and Mr. Arnulf Müller-Helmbrecht, Executive Secretary of CMS. The secretariats of AEWA and Ramsar Convention also made a presentation of their respective multilateral Agreements.

Country reports made by the delegates showed that efforts are being made by the countries to conserve and manage their wetlands and waterbirds, in some cases with international technical and financial assistance.

However, it became evident that a systematic transboundary research, monitoring, conservation and management of the 158 waterbird species identified is lacking and urgently needed. The delegates therefore appealed for the development and early conclusion of an Action Plan for the entire migration range. The meeting agreed on elements for such an Action Plan. It requested the secretariats of AEWA and CMS to (1) develop a proposal, with the assistance of WI and (2) to elaborate a recommendation on how this Action Plan could be linked to the AEWA and the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy (APMWC).

The CMS Executive Secretary argued that only a systematic and sound research and monitoring of the species and their habitat could lay the basis for a successful and at the same time economic conservation policy. This and an agreed shared utilisation by the Range States can guarantee their sustainable use, which is urged by international law such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and - for migratory species - the Convention on Migratory Species.  He is optimistic that such an Action Plan will attract sponsorship from developed countries and international organisations. 

Finally, India volunteered to take the lead in the further development and consultation of the Action Plan, the Netherlands provided the funds for the further work of WI to develop the Plan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan was acknowledged for its effective hosting of the workshop.

For more information you may contact the Secretariats of AEWA (aewa@unep.de) and CMS (cms@cms.unep.de)

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More detailed information :

Countries and organisations represented:

Armenia, Bangladesh, People’s Republic of China, Georgia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as well as representatives from AEWA, CMS, RAMSAR Convention, Wetlands International, WWF and International Crane Foundation (ICF)

For the framework under which the Action Plan could be developed three options were presented, i.e.:

1)         attach the Action Plan under the Asian Pacific Waterbird Conservation Strategy (APWCS); (the APWCS is a non-legal binding strategy developed, implemented and managed by Wetlands International);

2)         develop and conclude a new Range States’ Agreement under CMS;

3)         extend the area of AEWA and include the CAIF Action Plan.

The workshop was held in conjunction with the  “Central Asian Outreach Workshop” which provided for the AEWA Range States in the region information on a project co-funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and gathered ideas and proposals on how the project can be further developed and later on implemented.

Holding back-to-back meetings in Tashkent helped saving funds and in gaining synergy.

Workshop Photographs