The programme of the event, which was attended by the participants of the 53rd CIC General Assembly (1-5 May 2006, Limassol, Cyprus) as well as the general public, started with an informative part on migratory birds, their conservation, avian influenza and its impact on waterbird hunting. In his 15-minute presentation Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary of AEWA, stressed the importance of international cooperation for the conservation of migratory waterbirds. “The acceptance of the so-called flyway approach, which stands for the shared responsibility of all countries along the flyways, was the first success story of AEWA and the basis for its work”, emphasized Bert Lenten.

“Moreover, the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) campaign, which was organized in less than four months as a response to the negative publicity given to migratory birds in the current avian influenza outbreaks, has shown again that a common effort can move mountains. Activities like today’s event in Cyprus are taking place in countries all over the world to mark WMBD, and greatly contribute to promoting and informing about migratory waterbirds on a global scale.”

In the afternoon the participants had the opportunity to visit the Akrotiri Salt Lake, the largest and most important migration stopover site in Cyprus for more than 200 different species of waterbirds, which migrate on the Western Palearctic flyways. Akrotiri is well-known for the high concentration of wintering Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber). Large numbers of waders and waterfowl also winter in the salt lake.

The event in Cyprus was one of 68 activities which recently took place in 46 countries on the occasion of the first World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD, 8/9 April 2006), a common initiative of the CMS and AEWA Secretariats. The Cyprus event was staged one day prior to the CIC General Assembly, which was held under the motto “Conservation of Migratory Birds – A shared responsibility”.

Further Information:

Welcome Address to the 53rd CIC General Assembly by Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary of AEWA

For more information on all WMBD activities please visit: http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org