In cooperation with the Belgian wildlife painter Yves Fagniart, the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat has created a book on the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa). To mark the Agreement’s 15^th Anniversary, this publication will be presented at the Symposium taking place in The Hague, the Netherlands, on 14 and 15 June 2010.

The Black-tailed Godwit is one example of a bird on the move, for which AEWA has been providing the necessary framework for international cooperation along the African-Eurasian Flyways since its conclusion in 1995. This AEWA species was chosen to be the focus of the book because the population of the nominate race is declining dramatically. An International Single Species Action Plan, outlining the conservation of the Black-tailed Godwit, was adopted under AEWA in 2008.

The book features more than 80 paintings depicting a diverse selection of habitats and threats in a choice of the 62 countries hosting Black-tailed Godwits along the birds’ migration route. They are the results of Yves Fagniart’s observations on his journey along parts of this flyway. The Belgian wildlife painter followed the birds to their habitats during their migration and, through his drawings and paintings, documented the unique beauty of this species in its different settings. The paintings, which originated in several countries such as Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Morocco and Senegal, represent the birds at some of their breeding, staging and wintering sites. In this book, the artist captures the beauty of the birds’ wetland habitats in the countries he visited. He also portrays the threats the birds face during the various stages of migration.

The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat hopes that the publication will help raise awareness of the Black-tailed Godwit and also serve as inspiration, taking the reader on a journey into the delightful world of this fascinating and enchanting bird.

About the painter

The Belgian wildlife painter, Yves Fagniart, born in 1959, has been producing naturalistic art for many years, inspired by his passion for nature since his childhood. Yves Fagniart’s preferred medium of expression is watercolour. His naturalistic approach and his way of reproducing ambiances in nature are what make his work so original. His watercolours are a fusion of light, atmosphere and love for wild animals, equal weight being given to the animals and their natural habitats. For over 10 years, Yves Fagniart has journeyed to different natural habitats in Europe and Africa to paint wild animals and their surroundings. Yves Fagniart’s paintings are internationally recognized and regularly exhibited in different countries.