Bonn, 18 February 2025 - 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), the unique international treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, and parts of Asia. Since it was negotiated and concluded on 16 June 1995, in The Hague, the Netherlands, AEWA has played a crucial role in fostering international cooperation and conservation action for 255 migratory waterbird species across the African-Eurasian Flyways.

“With the world facing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, AEWA’s work remains as vital as ever.  Over the past 30 years, AEWA has grown to become the primary tool for multilateral conservation efforts for migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa and Eurasia,” says Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of AEWA.

To mark the anniversary, the AEWA Secretariat is proud to unveil the special AEWA 30th Anniversary logo, symbolizing three decades of internationally coordinated efforts to conserve migratory waterbirds along the African-Eurasian Flyways. The logo reflects the vital link between waterbird and wetland conservation and can be used by all AEWA Parties and partners to promote AEWA and highlight what each has already done and/or will do to support the implementation of the treaty. 

“Since 1995, AEWA has brought together governments, scientists, civil society, and a wider spectrum of stakeholders to agree on and implement measures that have directly and indirectly benefitted both migratory waterbirds and people in Africa and Eurasia. Let us use the occasion of this year’s anniversary to recommit and further strengthen our collective efforts and do more to conserve migratory waterbirds across the African-Eurasian Flyways,” says Trouvilliez.

The AEWA Anniversary will be celebrated throughout the year with a series of events, campaigns, and initiatives highlighting AEWA’s achievements and future priorities. We invite all Parties, partners and stakeholders to join the anniversary celebrations and to use the logo and other materials to highlight both past achievements as well as future activities and plans that will have a positive impact on the conservation of AEWA species.

The anniversary celebrations will culminate at the 9th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (MOP9), which will take place from 10–14 November 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana, at the kind invitation of the Government of Botswana. MOP9 will be an important opportunity for AEWA’s Contracting Parties and other stakeholders to not only review past achievements, but also to set the course for future waterbird conservation efforts across the African-Eurasian Flyways.

Regular updates and a set of dedicated communication materials that can be used to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of AEWA will be made available on the AEWA website shortly.

For more information and to share your planned activities to mark the 30th Anniversary of AEWA, please write to the AEWA Secretariat at:  aewa.secretariat@unep-aewa.org