Celebrating 30 Years of AEWA
For three decades, countries, organizations, and individuals from across the African-Eurasian region have joined forces under a shared mission: to protect migratory waterbirds and the vital habitats they depend on along the African-Eurasian Flyway. This collaborative effort has been guided by AEWA – the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds – an international treaty dedicated to the flyway-scale conservation of migratory waterbirds in Africa and Eurasia.
To mark this important milestone, the AEWA Secretariat has created this special anniversary webpage. Here, you’ll find highlights from AEWA’s 30-year journey as well as many resources with which you can join the celebration of AEWA throughout this anniversary year. Among the resources you will find on this page are the 30th Anniversary Logo, three brand-new animations on AEWA, a social media pack and a growing collection of anniversary messages from a wide range of AEWA partners and key individuals who have helped shape the Agreement over the years.
We hope you find these resources useful and invite you to join us in celebrating AEWA’s 30th Anniversary! Let’s use this special anniversary year to celebrate and further strengthen the good international collaboration and conservation action we have in place for migratory waterbirds across Africa and Eurasia, thanks to AEWA!
PRESS RELEASE: Celebrating 30 Years of International Waterbird Conservation
"For 30 years, AEWA has stood as a beacon of innovation and international nature cooperation all along the African-Eurasian Flyway. From pioneering species action plans to cutting-edge guidance on challenges like lead pollution or adaptive management, we’ve built a robust framework for coordinated conservation action for migratory waterbirds. However, at its core, AEWA is about partnerships and internationally coordinated action, uniting governments, NGOs, scientists, and local communities in a shared mission. That spirit of cooperation is not only AEWA's legacy - it is also our path forward!" (Read the joint 30th Anniversary Message from Jacques Trouvilliez and Bert Lenten, AEWA’s first Executive Secretary here)
Dr. Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of AEWA
Birth of a Treaty for Migratory Waterbirds
A significant date in the development of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) is 16 June 1995 – thirty years ago – when negotiators representing 54 governments signed the ‘Final Act’. The rest is, as they say, history.... [Read more]
Negotiation meeting: The team coordinating the work at the formal negotiation meeting, June 1995, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague, The Netherlands.
New Animations to Celebrate 30 Years of AEWA!
To coincide with the 30th Anniversary, the AEWA Secretariat has developed three new animations to raise awareness on AEWA and the important work that is being carried out under the Agreement to a wide audience. The first animation helps introduce and explain AEWA in simple language, while the second one focuses on the importance of AEWA’s international action plans. The third animation shows how supporting AEWA can actually help countries implement other globally agreed priorities, including the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All three animations are available on AEWA’s YouTube Channel in English and French.
New Brochure to Celebrate 30 Years of AEWA!
BROCHURE
AEWA - The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement: 30 Years of Flyway Conservation in Action
Statements to Mark the 30th Anniversary of AEWA
To mark the 30th Anniversary of the Agreement, the AEWA Secretariat has received statements from many partner organisations and key people who have helped shape the Agreement into what it is today. All 30th Anniversary statements received can be found below and more statements from across the flyway will be added to the dedicated 30th Anniversary Statements page over the course of the year.
Mr. Simon Stiell
Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
"From Arctic tundra to African lagoons, AEWA has protected the vital links that sustain migratory species and the ecosystems and communities that depend on them."
Ms. Astrid Schomaker
Executive Secretary, CBD
"Nature knows no borders—and neither do migratory birds. Their journeys remind us that conservation must also transcend boundaries."
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo
Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre
"UNESCO emphasizes the need to integrate the protection of migratory species into site management strategies to preserve the ecological integrity of these globally significant areas and their Outstanding Universal Value."
Dr. Musonda Mumba
Secretary General, Convention on Wetlands
"Healthy wetlands are essential for the successful migration, breeding, and survival of countless bird species, which AEWA works tirelessly to conserve and protect."
Mr. Delgado Rosa
Director for Biodiversity, DG Environment, EC
"AEWA - a testament to global unity for nature's winged wanderers."
Ms. Jennifer George
Chief Executive, EAAFP
"Thanks to AEWA, the migratory waterbirds of the African–Eurasian Flyway are better understood, better protected, and more celebrated than ever before"
BirdLife South Africa
"As AEWA marks 30 years of conservation impact, BirdLife South Africa proudly renews its commitment to safeguarding migratory waterbirds and the vital habitats they depend on."
Dr. Ruth Cromie
COP-Appointed Councillor Wildlife Health
"AEWA’s work on lead poisoning has absolutely paved the way for international agreements and regional and national restrictions on toxic lead ammunition."
Ms. Katja Dörner
Lord Mayor, Federal City of Bonn
"Congratulations on 30 years of making a difference for so many migratory waterbirds and their habitats across the African-Eurasian Flyway."
Mr. David Scallan
Secretary General, FACE
"For us AEWA is key, because it takes a flyway approach. But also because it is doing some very good work on adaptive harvest management plans, both for species that are increasing and for species that are decreasing."
Mr. Sebastian Winkler
Former Chair of the Standing Committee
"AEWA’s inclusive approach continues to foster shared understanding and durable solutions for the benefit of migratory waterbirds."
Mr. Cyrille Barnerias
Director of European and Int'l Relations, OFB
"It is more necessary than ever to strengthen the joint international commitment to scientific cooperation between Europe and Africa, in the hope that migratory birds can perhaps maintain a diplomatic link between nations that are sometimes at odds."
Mr. Alexandre Czajkowski
Director of OMPO
"AEWA has a major responsibility, both towards the bird populations which it has the mission to preserve, for the benefit of mankind and towards the people who have always used them according to specific habits and customs."
Dr Stefan Ferger
Project Manager, EuroNatur Foundation
"We are especially proud of the synergies created through AEWA’s support for regional initiatives and its role in amplifying the voices of civil society conservationists along the Adriatic Flyway."
Mr. Jean Jalbert
Director General, Tour du Valat
"Since the creation of AEWA, Tour du Valat has been actively working alongside of the Agreement to promote the recognition and conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats."
Dr Gerard C. Boere
Founding Father and AEWA Honorary Patron
"Small is beautiful and so is AEWA."
Mr. Tornike Zautashvili
AEWA National Focal Point, Georgia
"AEWA has provided not only a unifying platform but also practical guidance to assist in the effective management and protection of critical wetland sites across our country."
Dr. Berit Gewert
AEWA National Focal Point, Germany
"It is clear that migratory birds can only be protected and conserved for the long term if all countries work together. AEWA takes on this important task."
Mr. Stathis Stathopoulos
Secretary General for Forests, Greece
"We would like to express our appreciation for the important work carried out by the Agreement on the protection and conservation of migratory waterbirds and its role in coordinating different countries for the implementation of a common strategic framework for the protection of migratory routes."
Mr. Levente Kőrösi
AEWA National Focal Point, Hungary
"The conservation of migratory waterbirds requires a unified flyway-level approach: we must work together across borders, guided by shared scientific knowledge and common objectives."
Ms. Sunna Björk Ragnarsdóttir
AEWA National Focal Point, Iceland
"Through AEWA, Iceland has benefited from and contributed to coordinated conservation measures, international knowledge exchange, and science-based policy development."
Mr. Vasile Bîrsan
AEWA National Focal Point, Rep. of Moldova
"The implementation of AEWA measures supports the Republic of Moldova in protecting migratory species, particularly through monitoring, threat reduction, and the conservation of key habitats, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and the Pan-European Ecological Network."
Mr. Anwar Hamad Jawed
AEWA National Focal Point, Rep. of Sudan
"AEWA stands as a beacon of international cooperation, demonstrating how collective action can preserve our shared natural heritage for present and future generations."
Your Commitment Counts - Make your pledge for Migratory Waterbirds
The 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) will take place on Monday, 16 June 2025. To celebrate this milestone, we propose launching a Pledge Campaign encouraging governments, organizations, and stakeholders to take concrete actions in support of migratory waterbirds and the wetlands they depend on along the African-Eurasian flyway.
This feature will allow various groups to publicly share their pledges, fostering visibility, momentum, and a sense of shared purpose around AEWA’s 30th Anniversary.
UN Stamps Features AEWA Species for Anniversary
Three of twelve endangered species being featured in this year's UN Stamp collection - the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) and White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) have been chosen to mark the 30th Anniversary of AEWA - the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.
Each year, the United Nations Postal Administration releases its Endangered Species stamp series, showcasing a stunning array of threatened animal and plant species from across the world’s ecosystems. This year, the series features three endangered species protected under AEWA, all of which are also listed in the CITES Appendices. This special collaboration highlights the vital role of multilateral environmental agreements working hand in hand to advance our shared global goals for biodiversity conservation.
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