The Global Flyways Conference ‘Waterbirds around the World’ was held in Edinburgh in April 2004. This major international event was the largest conference on waterbirds ever and was attended by more than 450 conservation scientists and practitioners from 90 countries. They dealt with the question why so many waterbird populations all over the world are declining and reviewed the status of the world’s most important flyways. Concluding that urgent action is necessary to improve the state of wetlands and flyways, the conference encouraged participants to continue and increase their effort in conservation. It also brought together a lot of relevant information and findings. One of the major outcomes of the conference was the Edinburgh Declaration.

Further Information:

The closing address made by the Prince of Wales at the Conference.

The speech by Elliot Morley, UK Minister of Environment and Agri-Environment held at the Conference.

For more information on the Global Flyways Conference please also visit these websites:

http://www.wetlands.org/articlemenu.aspx?id=05999e85-44c3-4e01-8d04-79ed9d180acb
http://www.ramsar.org/mtg/mtg_flyways_edinburgh1.htm
http://www.ramsar.org/mtg/mtg_flyways_edinburgh5.htm
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/comm03N11.pdf
http://www.environment.gov.au/ssd/new/2004-archive.html