East Atlantic Flyway Book Highlights Role of CMS and AEWA

Jacques Trouvilliez and Peter Prokosch with the new edition of the book “The East Atlantic Flyway of Coastal Birds: 50 Years of Exciting Moments in Nature Conservation and Research”. (Photo: Florian Keil / UNEP/AEWA Secretariat)

Bonn, 5 April 2024 – The new English edition of the book “The East Atlantic Flyway of Coastal Birds: 50 Years of Exciting Moments in Nature Conservation and Research” was recently presented to the CMS and AEWA Secretariats by Peter Prokosch, the lead author and editor of the book.

Published by Lynx Nature Books, the book features contributions from a team of 25 authors, which collectively tell the fascinating stories behind both the biology and behaviour of millions of shorebirds that use this important flyway, as well as the international efforts that have been undertaken to conserve them.

“In a captivating way, the book highlights the numerous challenges coastal birds face, but also the importance of international collaboration to conserve them. It is a testimony of the flyway-scale cooperation and contributions of a network of dedicated people that have helped to conserve these birds and their precious sites along the East Atlantic Flyway over the past 50 years,” says Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

The book includes several examples that show the importance of international partnerships and collaboration between scientists, as well as other individuals and institutions actively engaged in migratory waterbird conservation across several countries.

One of the 18 chapters of the book is dedicated to the role played by international environment agreements, such as AEWA and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) written by Dr. Gerard C. Boere, Honorary Patron of AEWA.

“The book on the East Atlantic Flyway of shorebirds results from successful cooperation between highly motivated ornithologists and conservationists. May the latest findings on the most impressive migration strategies of Red Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Brent Goose and the success stories of the creation of large protected areas along the East Atlantic Flyway also motivate others to complete further the global network of protected areas for migratory species. In any case, it should illustrate the importance of CMS and AEWA and inspire support for implementing their missions,” said Peter Prokosch.

The first copies of the new English edition of the book were handed over to Jacques Trouvilliez and other AEWA colleagues as well as to Ivan Ramirez, Head of the Avian Species Team at CMS by Peter Prokosch during his visit to the UN Bonn Campus in March 2024.