Bonn, 16 March 2015 - Jesper Madsen is a professor in the Department of Bioscience at Aarhus University in Denmark and is Chairman of the Waterbird Harvest Specialist Group of Wetlands International and Coordinator of the AEWA International Species Management Plan for the Svalbard population of the Pink-footed Goose.

“AEWA is important to me because it has developed into the most effective instrument for migratory waterbird conservation and management in the African-Eurasian flyway. It is taken very seriously and is highly respected by its Parties, the European Commission, the Ramsar Convention and international organizations dealing with waterbirds. Taking the International Species Management Plan for the Svalbard population of the Pink-footed Goose as an example, this could not have been achieved without AEWA. It is thanks to a highly effective Secretariat and the straightforward decision-making processes within AEWA that the plan was implemented so swiftly, with the backing from the Parties and despite some quite difficult decisions to be made among stakeholders”, says Jesper.

Jesper’s fondest memories of AEWA stem from the amazing journey that has been embarked upon with regard to the management plan for the Pink-footed Goose. It has been such a great pleasure and an incredible learning process to be working with all involved, who should be congratulated for all the positive results achieved over the last 20 years.

As for Jesper’s favourite AEWA species– it is the Lesser White-fronted Goose, a species which is in great trouble and which deserves to be the focus of special efforts under the Agreement.