We are excited to announce that for the first time ever, the upcoming World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will focus on the importance of insects for migratory birds, and highlight concerns related to decreasing populations of insects. Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations.

Bonn, 13 July 2023 – The Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds – co-convened by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – has sounded the alarm on the current near-global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and the unparalleled scale of mortality among wild birds. Among other recommendations, the Task Force urges countries to consider HPAI as a conservation issue, plan accordingly and avoid culling measures of wild birds. It also calls for a ‘One Health’ approach to ensure appropriate cross-sectoral attention to human, animal and environmental health.

Bonn, 1 June 2023 - The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat is pleased to announce the accession of Greece as AEWA’s 84th Party with the country’s membership of the Agreement taking effect on 1

An AEWA Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for Western Indian Ocean islands has helped build capacity on the flyway approach to the conservation and wise use of waterbirds and wetlands. From 6 to 10 February 2023, the workshop, which was hosted by the government of Mauritius, brought together 35 participants from Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius including Rodrigues Island, Seychelles, Mayotte and Réunion.