Bonn, 4 July 2005. On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Waterbirds (AEWA), the German Federal Minister for Environment Mr. Jürgen Trittin, inaugurated the exhibition "Impression of travelling birds" at the Museum Koenig.

The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat, Museum Koenig, CMS' German BirdLife partner NABU and animal artist Yves Fagniart with his watercolours contributed to the exhibition.

The Federal Minister, Dr. Gerard Boere one of the founding fathers of the Waterbird Agreement, and CMS Executive Secretary Mr. Robert Hepworth appreciated AEWA's achievements. Claiming the protection of the “nomads of the air” the Minister ensured German support for the Global Flyway project to start this year.

AEWA is the fastest growing Agreement within the Convention and counts 49 Parties to date. CMS has strongly supported AEWA in developing a UNEP-GEF African Eurasian Flyway project to conserve waterbirds on the ground in developing countries. It is the single largest species project currently under way under the CMS family of Agreements.

For more information:

Speech held by Mr. Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary of UNEP/CMS on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of AEWA (launching of the exhibition „Impressions of Travelling Birds“) / Museum Koenig, 4 July 2005 (PDF Format)