The African Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 8th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (Pre-MOP8) will take place from 4-7 July 2022. Due to COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the meeting will be held in a virtual format. The AEWA African Pre-MOP8 will provide an important opportunity for the AEWA Contracting Parties in Africa to deliberate on the key issues related to migratory waterbird conservation which will be addressed at the 8th Session of the AEWA Meeting of Parties (MOP8) and, in this regard, review relevant documents to be submitted to MOP8.

FAO recommends countries in Africa to be on high alert for wild bird mortalities due to H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Given recent reports from West and Southern Africa detecting the virus in Great White Pelicans and coastal birds respectively, the risk of HPAI introduction into other African countries and outbreaks in wild bird populations is regarded as high. Countries should have in place enhanced measures for early detection, diagnosis and outbreak response, in both wild birds and poultry.

The multi-stakeholder Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds has issued a statement in response to recent large-scale outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds reported in the UK, The Netherlands, Israel, and India.

Dear friends of AEWA, As 2021 draws to a close, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the past year and share some of its highlights for AEWA with you. 2021 will now be the second year in which the COVID-19 pandemic has held much of the world hostage. Globally, the pandemic has had a dramatic effect on life as we know it and my sincere condolences go to everyone who has suffered loss or has struggled in some form during this difficult period.