Bonn, 20 April 2018 – The 14th Meeting of the AEWA Technical Committee (TC14) took place in Bonn from 10 to 13 April 2018. The Regional Representatives on the Committee reported on the status of implementation in their geographic areas since the last meeting in 2016. The Technical Committee focused on finalizing tasks from its Work Plan 2016-2018 that involved reviewing numerous documents in preparation for the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP7), which will be held in South Africa from 4 to 8 December 2018. The Committee also agreed on a list of remaining tasks to be advanced by the end of 2018 and the draft TC Work Plan 2019-2021, including tasks to be carried over into the next triennium.

Other items on the agenda of the meeting included reviewing and approving the Conservation Status Report (7th edition), the draft proposed amendments to the AEWA Action Plan, and International Species Action Plans and Management Plans (ISSAPs and ISSMPs) for various species. Documents on seabirds, waterbird monitoring and guidance on the implementation of AEWA as well as the draft National Report Format for 2018-2020 were also reviewed. The Committee examined and agreed on eight draft resolutions for further submission to the Standing Committee and MOP7.

One of the highlights around the meeting was a side event about the climate change implications of Africa’s wetlands for biodiversity and people. A team from Wetlands International presented initial results of their Climate Resilient Site Network Project in the African-Eurasian flyway and an updated version of the Critical Site Network Tool. The tool allows users to access information about waterbird populations, the key sites on which they depend and their expected vulnerability to climate change.

TC14 was also the last meeting for several members: Melissa Lewis (South Africa) as the Environmental Law Expert, Samuel Muchai Muchane (Kenya) as Eastern Africa representative, Erasmus Owusu (Ghana) as Western Africa representative, Sharif Jbour (Jordan) as South-western Asia representative, Lorenzo Serra (Italy) as Central Europe representative and Saulius Svazas (Lithuania) as Eastern Europe representative and Chair of the Technical Committee in the last triennium.

It was also the last TC meeting for Ms. Jolanta Kremer, Team Assistant at the AEWA Secretariat, who will be retiring after many years of service to the Secretariat and the Technical Committee.

For the triennium 2019-2021, there are seven vacant positions in the Committee in total, six regional representative positions and the position of Environmental Law Expert. Nominations are expected by the end of April 2018. For submitting nominations for the vacant TC membership positions, please contact the Secretariat.

View all TC14 meeting documents here.