I warmly congratulate AEWA on 30 years of leadership and partnership in conserving migratory waterbirds and the precious wetlands they rely on.

This is a milestone worth celebrating and a moment for recommitment.

AEWA exemplifies what cooperation across borders, cultures, and disciplines can achieve. From Arctic tundra to African lagoons, it has protected the vital links that sustain migratory species and the ecosystems and communities that depend on them.

UN Climate Change recognizes that nature and climate are two sides of the same coin. Wetlands that nourish migratory birds also store carbon, buffer extreme weather, purify water, and support livelihoods. As climate change accelerates – drying wetlands, disrupting flyways, and intensifying storms – AEWA’s mission becomes even more urgent.

The knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities – who have long tracked seasonal rhythms and the flight paths of birds – must be respectfully woven into our collective responses. So too must our global frameworks: from the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to the Sustainable Development Goals.

AEWA’s experience shows how joined-up action can deliver multiple dividends for nature, people, and planet.

I urge all governments and partners to redouble support for AEWA implementation – through finance, capacity-building, integrated knowledge systems, and stronger National Adaptation Plans.

Let us work together to ensure that future generations will still witness the wonder of migrating birds – symbols of connection, resilience, and the harmony we must protect between people and planet.

Back to the AEWA 30th anniversary website