The International Working Group for the Grey Crowned-crane is meeting for the first time from 24 to 26 July following the adoption of the associated International Single Species Action Plan at AEWA MOP6 in 2015. The primary aim of the meeting is to operationalize the Action Plan by agreeing implementation priorities for the Range States both individually and collectively at a supranational level. Initial focus will concentrate on the next three and half years covering the period 2019-2022. Encouragingly, most of the principal Range States are registered to participate.

An AEWA Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on the flyway approach to the conservation and wise use of waterbirds and wetlands took place from 6 to 10 May in Benin. The workshop was jointly organized by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and the Directorate General of Water, Forests and Hunting (DGEFC) of Benin, in cooperation with the Ramsar Secretariat and the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative (WSFI). It was made possible thanks to generous financial and in-kind support from the Government of Benin and the European Commission’s Global Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC) Thematic Programme Strategic Cooperation Agreement (SCA) with UN Environment and the WSFI.

Every year, World Migratory Bird Day presents an annual theme aiming to raise awareness of issues affecting migratory birds and to inspire people and organizations around the world to take measures for their conservation. This year’s theme − “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!” − will put the spotlight on the negative impact of plastic pollution on migratory birds and their habitats.

The 15th Meeting of the AEWA Technical Committee took place from 9 to 11 April at the UN Premises in Bonn, Germany. This was the first meeting of the AEWA Technical Committee since the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA, which was held in Durban, South Africa in December 2018 as well as the first meeting in the implementation period of the Strategic Plan 2019-2027. The Technical Committee provides the scientific advice and expertise which is essential for the implementation of the Agreement.