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Species Conservation
 A
major cause for concern is that 34 of the 38 AEWA species,
which feature on the IUCN Red List of threatened species
occur in Africa. Moreover, 13.3% of all AEWA populations
occurring in Africa are classified as Globally Threatened
or Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List, compared to 7.3%
in Europe and 11.5% in Asia.
One example is the Endangered Madagascar
Pond-heron Ardeola idae which breeds from October to March
in Madagascar, Aldabra in the Seychelles, Mayotte (eastern
Comoro Island, France) and Europa (Îles Éparses,
administered from Réunion, France). It has a large
non-breeding range in Central and East Africa including
the Comoro Islands, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi,
United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda
and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and is also a vagrant
in Angola and Somalia. The conservation of this species
is dependent on the protection of these birds and their
habitats in all of these countries. When implemented by
the countries concerned, the International Single Species
Action Plan adopted at AEWA’s MOP4 will hopefully
serve to improve the current conservation status and knowledge
base of the Madagascar Pond-heron over the next 10 years.
However, more of such International Single Species Action
Plans will need to be developed for other threatened species
in Africa.
Habitat
Conservation
BirdLife International identified agriculture (with resulting
habitat degradation and loss) and biological resources (including
threats such as deforestation and unsustainable hunting)
as the two key pressures which affect nearly 80% of migratory
bird species. Habitat loss for migratory waterbirds resulting
from agriculture, biofuels and extractive industries is
an emerging issue in the African region and will be addressed
accordingly under this initiative.
Management
of Human Activities
This refers to all antropic activities in the natural environment,
which pose a potential threat to the status of migratory
waterbird populations and their habitats. Examples range
from hunting and taking of birds and their products to agricultural
activities that impact their habitats.
The International Review on Hunting and
Trade Legislation within the AEWA region (2007) reports
that illegal hunting is particularly widespread in Africa
compared to other regions within the AEWA area with 96%
of the African countries being affected. In addition, none
of the African Parties have, so far, phased out the use
of lead shot for hunting in wetlands as required by the
legally binding Action Plan of AEWA.
Research and
Monitoring
 There
is a crucial need to mobilize resources for the conservation
of migratory waterbirds and their habitats in Africa in
the short, medium and long term in order to overcome the
lack of information and knowledge on this issue. AEWA‘s
Resolution 4.9 stipulates that sub-saharan Africa is amongst
the regions with the greatest need to improve the quality
of migratory waterbird population estimates. This initiative
hopes to link up with existing research and monitoring activities
such as the African Waterbird Census by Wetlands International
and the AFRING project (www.afring.org).
Education
and Information
The need to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of information
among African Range States with regards to the conservation
of migratory waterbirds is imperative. Thus, training and
capacity building will be an essential part of this initiative.
Emphasis will be placed on cooperation with existing capacity
building activities, especially those developed under The
Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) UNEP-GEF African-Eurasian Flyways
project (www.wingsoverwetlands.org)
and the project on Strengthening Waterbird and Wetland Conservation
capacities in North Africa (WETCAP).
Further information:
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