Bonn, 02 November 2007 - 68 students from the "Eerste Christelijk Lyceum (ECL)" in Haarlem, The Netherlands visited the AEWA Secretariat at the United Nations Premises in Bonn today.

Arriving in two groups, the students, aged 15-17, received a short presentation on the United Nations in Bonn and on the work of AEWA. The presentation, given by Mr. Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary of AEWA, gave the students an overview of the different UN organizations located in Bonn, highlighting their common contribution towards environmental sustainability, particularly in such areas as desertification (UNCCD), climate change (UNFCCC) and species conservation (UNEP/CMS).

Mr. Lenten then focused on the role of AEWA and explained why international cooperation in protecting Migratory Waterbirds is so important. As part of the presentation on AEWA, the students watched the AEWA film (DVD) "AEWA IN FULL SWING" which among other things, highlights the role of wardens in the Wadden Sea to avoid negative impact of ecotourism on important breeding or staging areas for birds there. A few moments later the film shows a warden in the Djoudj National Park in Senegal informing school children about the importance of this wetland. Among other things, the ten minute film also touches upon the issue of lead poisoning in waterbirds, a topic which led to a number of questions by the children on the avoidance of led usage as well as on hunting regulations in general.

The AEWA Secretariat hopes that with the aid of this film and the presentation some awareness was raised among the 68 students of the ECL on the need to conserve Migratory Waterbirds and their Habitats.