The
Symposium to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Agreement
on the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds
(AEWA) was hosted by the Dutch Government and partially
funded by the Department of Nature, Landscape & Rural
Affairs of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food
Quality. The Symposium took place in The Hague, where
AEWA was concluded on 16 June 1995 at the Dutch Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.

This two-day symposium was opened by Mr.
H.M.A. van den Berg, representing the City of The Hague
and Prof. Dr. André van der Zande, Secretary General
of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food
Quality. Over 100
participants from 36 countries
across the entire AEWA region and beyond were
able to look back on the many positive achievements made
under AEWA during the course of the last 15 years, and
most importantly to examine the future role of the Agreement
and the challenges faced. The symposium began with a series
of presentations by key AEWA partners, followed by six
workshops on the following issues:

• land use developments in the AEWA
region with a special focus on Africa;

•
management of waterbird site networks on the national level;

•
sustainable management of migratory birds and invasive
species;

•
the wider flyway approach and priorities for each single
species;

•
establishment of international site networks; the role
of the International Waterbird Census; and

•
migratory waterbirds and climate change in the light of
human interferences

The outcome of the informative and productive discussions
during the workshops was held down in the Hague Action
Statement, which outlines the currently crucial international
actions
necessary for the conservation of migratory waterbirds
and their habitats.

To mark the 15th Anniversary of AEWA, the Secretariat has produced two books: one on the history of the development of AEWA by the Honorary Patron of AEWA, Dr Gerard C. Boere and a book of paintings by the Belgian artist, Yves Fagniart. The latter tells the story of an AEWA species, the Black-tailed Godwit, a migratory wader, and gives a vivid impression of the birds’ habitats as well as some of the threats they face.

These publications can be ordered via
the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat.

For more information, please refer to

• Symposium
  Programme [English]
  [Français]
• The
  Hague Action Statement [English]
  [Français]
• AEWA Press
  Release (14 June 2010)
• WOW Project Press Release (14 June 2010)
• Partcipants
  List
• Photo Gallery
• 15th
  Anniversary Symposium Website