The idea of broadening the scope of the MWD, created early this year on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of AEWA and celebrated in 22 countries, was born when the AEWA Executive Secretary and his Information Officer met Kuki Gallmann, who showed great interest in cooperating to launch such an event. Ms Gallmann is well known for her novels such as ”I Dreamed of Africa” and “African Nights” and is the founder of the Gallmann Memorial Foundation and Africa Conservancy which engages in cultural, educational and environmental research.

The “World Migratory Bird Days” will be launched and celebrated with a special event on 8 April 2006 on Ms. Gallmann’s famous estate and wildlife reserve, Ol Ari Nyiro in Laikipia, Kenya. Located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, this festive outdoor event will be attended by a number of personalities from the world of nature conservation, the arts, culture and business. Together they will give the “World Migratory Bird Day” the media attention it needs to become a truly global event. Kuki Gallmann and the AEWA and CMS Secretariats are working closely with key partners such as UNEP, BirdLife International and others to organize this event.

National authorities and NGOs all over the world are encouraged to organize events on 8 or 9 April 2006 such as bird festivals, bird-watching excursions and education programs to help raise awareness on migratory birds and the importance of their conservation. The AEWA Secretariat, in cooperation with the CMS Secretariat, will soon publish a WMBD poster, which will be available in electronic form for those organizing these events. The posters can be translated into local languages as required.

For further information please contact the AEWA Secretariat at: aewa@unep.de or consult the AEWA Website: www.unep-aewa.org

Early in 2006 a special WMBD website will also be launched: www.worldmigratorybirdday.org