The Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) and the Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) have been listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals for a long time. With a population estimate of 600-1,800 birds only the Sociable Lapwing is categorised as "Critically Endangered" and is facing a very high risk of extinction. The Black-winged Pratincole was recently uplisted from "Data Deficient" to "Near Threatened" - once abundant wintering flocks in Africa are no longer reported and the species' population is now estimated at 29,000-45,000 individuals. The Single Species Action Plans for the Sociable Lapwing and for the Black-winged Pratincole were the first ones adopted by AEWA in 2002.

The breeding areas of the Sociable Lapwing are confined to the extensive steppe grasslands of Northern Kazakhstan and Southern Russia, and in the latter recent nesting attempts were extremely rare. In winter Sociable Lapwings migrate to vast regions of the Middle East, Eastern Africa (Sudan, Eritrea), and north-western India. Similarly, the Black-winged Pratincole depends on grassland habitats in the reproduction period and breeds in Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, sporadically in Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. In the non-breeding season passages are being recorded in the Middle East and in eastern parts of the European continent; winters are spent in vast areas of Africa. Habitat loss and degradation are amongst the threats that affect both species most severely. Predation may have a negative impact on the breeding success and be an important factor in view of the limited population size.

In order to strengthen the conservation of both species, the AEWA Secretariat, in cooperation with RSPB, established the post of full-time Coordinator for the implementation of both International Single Species Action Plans. The AEWA Secretariat is pleased to introduce Dr. Victoria Kovshar, who was recently recruited for this post. Victoria is from Kazakhstan, and graduated from the State University of Kazakhstan. She has more than 25 years' working experience as an ornithologist with the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan and as an expert for several GEF-funded biodiversity projects in Kazakhstan.

Victoria will be based in Almaty at the Headquarters of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan. In her new position she will work towards the establishment of an expert working group on Threatened Steppe-breeding Waders, which will support the implementation of the species action plan. The Coordinator will be in charge of certain international activities, will provide assistance to the group members in various range countries and will raise funds for the conservation work.

The AEWA Secretariat would like to welcome Victoria and wish her every success and enjoyment in her new job.

The Secretariat would also like to express appreciation to the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape for providing a grant to make the establishment of this post possible. In the long term it is expected that the post of coordinator will be self-sustainable.