AEWA News
Gerard C. Boere
In Memoriam: Gerard C. Boere (1942–2026)
The AEWA Secretariat is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Gerard C. Boere, Honorary Patron and Founder of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). Gerard passed away peacefully on 6 January 2026, at his home in Gorssel, the Netherlands, at the age of 83.
Sergey Dereliev © CIC/Eszter Gordon
Sergey Dereliev Appointed as AEWA Acting Executive Secretary
The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat would like to announce that Mr.
WMBD 2026 graphic
Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!
The global Partners behind World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) are excited to announce the theme for 2026: “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!” highlighting the important role of community science (also referred to as citizen science) for the conservation of migratory birds.
Dr. Jacques Trouvilliez, AEWA Executive Secretary in Plenary on the final day of AEWA MOP9 held at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany. / Photo by Aydin Bahramlouian (CC BY-NC 4.0)
AEWA MOP9 Daily Coverage for Friday, 14 November 2025
The final and closing day of AEWA MOP9 at the UN Campus in Bonn (Friday, 14 November 2025) began with a special ceremony to honour the two recipients of the AEWA Waterbird Conservation Award 2025, as well as the recognition of a Champion Plus and a Champion of Waterbird Conservation under the Migratory Species Champions Programme – a fundraising programme designed to support the implementation of AEWA and the other treaties of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Family of Agreements.
AEWA MOP9 Daily Coverage for Thursday, 13 November 2025
Bonn, 14 November 2025 – On the third day of AEWA MOP9 in Bonn (Thursday, 13 November 2025), delegates had the option of returning to the meeting venue inside the UN Campus in Bonn to attend one or more of the 14 side events. The side events were organized by many key AEWA partners and stakeholders as well as from the side of the Secretariat.
Opening ceremony of AEWA MOP9 in Bonn, Germany Photo by Aydin Bahramlouian (CC BY-NC 4.0)
AEWA MOP9 Daily Coverage for Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Bonn, 12 November 2025 – The Ninth Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) opened in Bonn on Tuesday, 11 November, under the theme “United for Flyways”. The meeting was officially opened by Levente Kőrösi (Hungary) as President of AEWA MOP8, who thanked the Governments of Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for providing the resources and facilities that allowed the Secretariat to host the meeting at the UN Premises in Bonn, Germany.
Simon Mackown (United Kingdom), Chair of the AEWA Standing Committee and Chair of the Finance & Administration Working Group at AEWA MOP9 in Bonn, Germany. Photo by Aydin Bahramlouian (CC BY-NC 4.0)
AEWA MOP9 Daily Coverage for Wednesday 12 November 2025
The Ninth Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) resumed in two working groups on the second day (Wednesday, 12 November 2025) of the meeting. Following regional consultations in the morning, the two working groups met in parallel throughout the day, with the Finance & Administration Working Group (II) chaired by Simon Mackown (United Kingdom) meeting in the main plenary and the Scientific & Technical Working Group (I) chaired by Mohamed Shobrak (Saudi Arabia) meeting in the lower conference room directly below the plenary.
30th Anniversary of AEWA
30 Year’s of AEWA: A Moment of Reflection and Celebration of International Waterbird Conservation at AEWA MOP9
As the final agenda item of the opening day of the 9th Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), the AEWA Secretariat organized a special event to mark the 30th Anniversary of AEWA. “The anniversary event at MOP9 provided an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements under the treaty, but also to reflect on the lessons learned and to remind our delegates of the work still to be done,” said Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of AEWA.
Remembering the Slender-billed Curlew: Reflections on a Lost Species
On 10 October 2025, the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) was officially declared extinct - the first migratory waterbird species listed under the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) to be lost forever. Once a graceful traveller between Eurasia and North Africa, its disappearance marks a profound moment of reflection for all who work to protect migratory species and their habitats.
AEWA MOP9: Setting the Stage for Stronger International Action for Migratory Waterbirds in Africa and Eurasia
The 9th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA MOP9) is set to take place from 11- 14 November 2025 at the United Nations Premises in Bonn, Germany. Convening under the theme “United for Flyways” the meeting will bring together government representatives, NGOs and experts as well as a range of AEWA partners and key stakeholders from across Africa and Eurasia in what promises to be the largest intergovernmental gathering for migratory waterbird conservation in recent years.