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AEWA MOP9: Setting the Stage for Stronger International Action for Migratory Waterbirds in Africa and Eurasia

 

Bonn, 28 October 2025 – 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.

“From the frozen tundra of Siberia to the southernmost tip of Africa, AEWA spans 119 countries – representing more than half of the world’s nations – in a shared commitment to safeguard some of the world’s most majestic waterbird and seabird species such as the White Stork, the Shoebill, the African Penguin, and the Grey Crowned Crane,” says Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of AEWA.

A total of 84 countries and the European Union are now Parties to AEWA – which is considered one of the most targeted Multilateral Environmental Agreements, dedicated specifically to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats. Its implementation on the ground also makes a tangible contribution to achieving global biodiversity and sustainable development goals.

The meeting in Bonn will bring together governments, experts and partners to review progress and chart future directions for the Agreement. Delegates will address a wide range of topics, including implementation of the AEWA Strategic Plan and the Plan of Action for Africa, proposed amendments to the Agreement and its Annexes, and national reporting. The meeting will also discuss the need to improve integration of a science-policy interface into AEWA, the operation of the Small Grants Fund, progress under the Implementation Review Process (IRP), and the implementation of AEWA’s Communication Strategy, including consideration of a new approach to Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) under the Agreement.

Several operational issues are also on the agenda, including: International Species Action and Management Plans (ISAPs and ISMPs), with Parties invited to adopt a revised International Single Species Action Plan for the Taiga Bean Goose and a revised International Single Species Management Plan for the Pink-footed Goose. Revised AEWA Conservation Guidelines on the management of key sites and the development of ecotourism at wetlands will also be presented to Parties for possible adoption.

Further substantive issues include the continued prioritization of seabird conservation activities under AEWA, as well as discussions on the implications of sea-level rise for migratory waterbirds and possible response options. Delegates will also use MOP9 to review financial and administrative matters, including consideration of the draft budget proposal for the 2026–2028 triennium.

Launch of AEWA’s Flagship Status Report

The opening day of MOP9 will see the launch of the ninth edition of the Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory Waterbirds in the Agreement Area (CSR9) – AEWA’s triennial flagship report.

For the first time, this edition of the CSR goes beyond tracking population trends to analyse the drivers behind population changes - the pressures threatening migratory waterbirds and the steps governments and other stakeholders need to take to reduce the pressures and threats on AEWA species.

“The CSR report is a key document for decision making at the upcoming MOP. The report helps us to not only understand what is happening, but why it is happening. In doing so, it will help AEWA Parties better target and refine their conservation strategies for the years ahead,” says Trouvilliez.

The newly presented threat analysis captured in the CSR9 report shows that the main pressures facing waterbirds in Africa and Eurasia are both widespread and interconnected. AEWA waterbird populations are being impacted by three main groups of threats: Biological resource use - including unsustainable hunting and bycatch in fisheries, infrastructure development and agricultural expansion and intensification. Addressing these threats requires collective, well-coordinated flyway-level action involving all governments and stakeholders actively working together under a shared vision and renewed commitment towards implementing the treaty. 

The CSR9 report will be presented to Parties at MOP9 on the opening day of the meeting on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 within the main conference venue at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany. 

Celebrating 30 Years of Flyway Conservation

The 30th Anniversary of AEWA will be celebrated on the first day of AEWA MOP9 (Tuesday, 11 November 2025), with a special plenary session in the afternoon . The event will present some of the major accomplishments of the treaty to date and will include a statement from the two AEWA Honorary Patrons who have been instrumental in establishing and shaping AEWA. As part of this event, delegates will also pay tribute to the Slender-billed Curlew - an AEWA species that was last sighted in 1995 (before the treaty entered into force) and has recently been declared extinct by IUCN. 

“Over the past 30 years, AEWA has become a symbol of international collaboration, guiding science-based conservation action on a flyway scale and fostering cooperation across borders for the benefit of millions of migratory waterbirds,” says Trouvilliez. “The meeting in Bonn will be taking decision that will be critical for the future of AEWA and it will be an important milestone for the Agreement in a year in which the treaty celebrates its 30th Anniversary,” says Trouvilliez.

MOP9 will be an opportunity for countries to reflect upon the past three decades, during which AEWA has brought together governments, organizations, and individuals across Africa and Eurasia in a shared mission to conserve migratory waterbirds.

Memorial for the Slender-billed Curlew

One of the last Slender-billed Curlews, photographed by Michel Brosselin on 15 February 1968 in Vendée, France, roosts in front of its larger cousin, the Eurasian Curlew, now globally Near Threatened.

As part of the 30th Anniversary event at MOP9, a special memorial will be held to mark IUCN’s recent declaration that the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) is extinct. Although the last recorded sighting of the species was before the Agreement entered into force, it is the first extinction of an AEWA species with a widespread range spanning mainland Europe, North Africa and West Asia.

“The extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew is a wake-up call and serves as a poignant reminder that conservation frameworks must be implemented swiftly, backed by adequate science, resources and sustained political will,” says Trouvilliez.

Anchored by reflections on what was lost, the segment will take into consideration what must happen next under AEWA to prevent further extinctions. The special memorial for the Slender-billed Curlew at MOP9 will be held during the afternoon plenary session (17:00 – 18:30) on Tuesday, 11 November 2025. 

Award Ceremony at MOP9

A special award ceremony will take place on the final day of MOP9 (14 November 2025 at 9:00 – 10:00 AM CET) during which the AEWA Waterbird Conservation Awards will be presented to a selected individual as well as an institution that have made a significant contribution towards the long-term conservation and sustainable use of waterbirds in the African-Eurasian region. The announcement of the winners of the prestigious AEWA Award at MOP9 will highlight the remarkable achievements of those advancing the goals of the Agreement and help inspire further collaborative action for waterbird conservation in the years to come.

In the same session two “Champions for waterbird conservation” under the CMS Family Migratory Species Champion Programme will also be recognised by the AEWA Secretariat. 

MOP9 Side Events: A Day Dedicated to Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration

A total of 14 side events on a wide range of topics will take place on a dedicated Side Event Day at MOP9 on Thursday,13 November 2025. The side events are organised by AEWA Parties, partner organizations, Universities and other stakeholders. The side events at MOP9 cover a wide range of themes and topics, from national implementation of AEWA and adaptive management to conservation of coastal seabirds, waterbird monitoring, reintroduction techniques, and the use of remote sensing and artificial intelligence for waterbird counting.. Other side events will explore topics such as building a climate resilient network of sites for waterbirds, addressing human-wildlife conflicts to help conserve the Grey Crowned Crane, or inspiring people for Curlew conservation in the UK, as well as presenting lessons from 10 years of the European Goose Management Platform, and the topic of lead poisoning and the integration of conservation priorities within the broader “One Health” framework. .

Together, these sessions will provide valuable opportunities for exchange and collaboration amongst the participants as well as showcase ongoing waterbird conservation initiatives across Africa and Eurasia. Please explore the Side Event Programme for more information on the 14 registered MOP9 side events. 

Theme of MOP9

The official slogan of MOP9 “United for Flyways” reflects the core mission of AEWA to bring governments and other stakeholders to safeguard migratory waterbirds and their habitats along the African-Eurasian Flyways. The slogan celebrates the unity already achieved under AEWA while serving as a call to action to further strengthen international cooperation and collective efforts under the framework of the treaty.

“MOP9 is both an opportunity for AEWA Parties to celebrate and reaffirm their shared commitment to ensuring the long-term conservation of migratory waterbirds across Africa and Eurasia,” says Trouvilliez. “True flyway conservation can only materialise with sustained and sufficient funding, compliance, and increased implementation by all countries along the flyway of our species,” says Trouvilliez.

The theme of MOP9 also captures the need for countries in Africa and Eurasia to come together and use this important meeting to make collective decisions that will ensure stronger implementation and delivery of the Agreement.

Daily Web Reports & Live Coverage

The AEWA Secretariat will provide daily web coverage and summary reports for each day of the meeting. In addition, all plenary sessions, CSR9 launch event and special events such as the 30th Anniversary Celebration and AEWA Award Ceremony will be open to representatives of the media upon registration.

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