AEWA News

IN MEMORIAM – In memory of Richard Hearn (1971 -2024)

It is with great sadness that the AEWA Secretariat has learned of the untimely death of Richard (Rich) Hearn at the age of 52 following an illness. Rich was a much appreciated and active member of the AEWA Technical Committee, initially as the WWT representative, and then also representing IUCN in his role as Global Chair of the IUCN-SSC Duck Specialist Group. 

28 February 2024

Memorandum of Understanding Signed Between the AEWA Secretariat and ACBK to Bolster Sociable Lapwing Conservation

The Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (UNEP/AEWA Secretariat) and the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) renewed their partnership during a side event on the margins of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP14), which began in Samarkand today.

12 February 2024

World Migratory Bird Day 2024 to Focus on Insects

We are excited to announce that for the first time ever, the upcoming World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will focus on the importance of insects for migratory birds, and highlight concerns related to decreasing populations of insects. Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations.

14 November 2023

Coordinating Flyway Action for the Threatened Slaty Egret

The first Meeting of the AEWA Slaty Egret International Working Group (IWG) was successfully held in Maun, Botswana from 13 – 15 September 2023. The meeting brought together 17 representatives from five of the six Range States of the Slaty Egret. The meeting was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Botswana and co-organized by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) of Botswana.

04 October 2023

UN-led Task Force Issues Guidance on Addressing Unprecedented Outbreaks of Avian Influenza in Wildlife

Bonn, 13 July 2023 – The Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds – co-convened by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – has sounded the alarm on the current near-global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and the unparalleled scale of mortality among wild birds. Among other recommendations, the Task Force urges countries to consider HPAI as a conservation issue, plan accordingly and avoid culling measures of wild birds. It also calls for a ‘One Health’ approach to ensure appropriate cross-sectoral attention to human, animal and environmental health.

14 July 2023

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Accedes to AEWA as 85th Party

The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat is pleased to announce the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the 85th Party to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), with the country’s membership to the Agreement taking effect on 1 July 2023.

29 June 2023

Greece Accedes to AEWA as Party No. 84

Bonn, 1 June 2023 - The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat is pleased to announce the accession of Greece as AEWA’s 84th Party with the country’s membership of the Agreement taking effect on 1

01 June 2023

AEWA Technical Committee Sets its Work Plan for 2023 – 2025

Bonn, 31 March 2023 – The 18th Meeting of the AEWA Technical Committee (TC18) took place at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany from 14 – 16 March 2023. The three-day meeting brought together experts from a wide spectrum of fields as well as several Party Observers and key partner organizations of the Agreement.

31 March 2023

Building Capacity in Western Indian Ocean Islands

An AEWA Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for Western Indian Ocean islands has helped build capacity on the flyway approach to the conservation and wise use of waterbirds and wetlands. From 6 to 10 February 2023, the workshop, which was hosted by the government of Mauritius, brought together 35 participants from Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius including Rodrigues Island, Seychelles, Mayotte and Réunion.

28 March 2023

EU Bans Lead Shot in Wetlands

The 15 February 2023 represents the transpiring of the 24 month transition period from the original 25th January 2021 which has allowed shooting stakeholders to adapt their practices for example by changing to non-toxic steel shot. It also further mandates all AEWA Parties of the EU and EEA to fulfil their obligations under the Agreement and brings harmonisation of restrictions across the regions to protect waterbirds from lead poisoning in wetlands. 

15 February 2023