| Like other migratory species, waterbirds cross several
international borders during their migration, facing
a wide range of threats. Without international cooperation,
conservation efforts of one country can be nullified
if the species is not protected in another country along
the flyway.
A ‘flyway approach’ means that all threats
waterbirds face during their journey are identified
and addressed. Major threats include for example habitat
destruction of various kinds, lack of food due to
over-fishing or unsustainable hunting. These threats
can be eliminated or mitigated through international
cooperation across the flyway.
 The
Agreement
The largest Agreement developed so far under CMS
auspices, AEWA, focuses on migratory waterbirds. It
was concluded on 16 June 1995 in The Hague, the Netherlands,
and entered into force on 1 November 1999. The Secretariat
is located in Bonn, Germany.
AEWA’s flyway approach to waterbird conservation
is unique. Being a regional agreement, AEWA focuses
on 255 waterbird species ecologically dependent on
wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle including
many species of pelicans, storks, flamingos, ducks,
waders, terns, gulls and geese.
The AEWA Agreement area covers 117 Range States plus
the EC in Africa, Europe including parts of Canada,
Central Asia and the Middle East. The geographic area
stretches from the northern reaches of Canada and
the Russian Federation to the southernmost tip of
Africa.
Parties to the Agreement are called upon to engage
in a wide range of conservation actions which are
described in a comprehensive Action Plan (2009-2012).
This detailed plan addresses such key issues as: species
and habitat conservation, management of human activities,
research and monitoring, education and information,
and implementation.
The “African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird
Flyways” GEF Project
In 2003, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
agreed to finance a US$12 million project within the
AEWA Agreement area. The African-Eurasian Flyway GEF
project aims to enhance and coordinate catalytic strategic
measures to conserve a network of critical wetland
areas that migratory waterbirds depend upon to complete
their annual cycle. There are three linked components
to the project: establishing a network of sites, enhancing
technical capacity and improving communication and
coordination. Project activities includes development
of the network of sites through surveys, training
and knowledge base development; a training and awareness
raising programme; demonstration projects for best
practices, which aimed at showing practitioners how
to manage sites in a sustainable manner; and communications,
including web based resources, a project newsletter
and publications.
For more information please see: www.wingsoverwetlands.org
|
