In Focus: AEWA Conservation Guideline No. 9 - Guidelines for a Waterbird Monitoring Protocol

Bonn, 12 September 2013 - Waterbird monitoring is an important tool for obtaining objective, detailed and accurate information about the conservation status of individual waterbird populations. The information gathered through monitoring forms a crucial basis for nature conservation policy at local, national and international levels. Close monitoring of the numbers and distribution of waterbirds is essential to be able to decide which waterbird species are most in need of conservation action, as well as to be able to judge the effectiveness of such action.

Paragraph 5.2 of the AEWA Action Plan requires Parties to endeavour to monitor the populations of waterbirds listed in Table 1 of this Plan, and to make the monitoring results available to appropriate international organizations, with a view to enabling reviews of population status and trends. Under Paragraph 5.3, Parties are required to cooperate to improve the measurement of bird population trends as a criterion for describing the status of the populations. In addition, Parties agree, under Paragraph 5.8, to cooperate with relevant international organizations to support research and monitoring projects.

The present guidelines examine the value of monitoring in the context of the conservation of migratory waterbirds, review existing monitoring practices, and provide guidance on the development of national waterbird monitoring schemes, which are most effective in the framework of international conservation efforts.

For more information please visit:

http://www.unep-aewa.org/publications/conservation_guidelines.htm