Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (UNEP/AEWA) are set to agree on new actions to protect the 255 species protected under the treaty during their sixth meeting to be held from 9 – 14 November 2015 at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany.

The Agreement aims to conserve migratory waterbirds along the African-Eurasian Flyway such as the African Penguin, Atlantic Puffin, Grey-crowned Crane, White Stork, Lesser Flamingo, Shoebill as well as groups of seabirds. During their annual migrations, the birds travel vast distances across Africa, Europe and parts of Asia.

Aside from agreeing on urgently-needed conservation actions, governments will also discuss measures to address potential threats to migratory birds such as renewable energy technology, illegal killing, marine fisheries as well as climate change adaptation measures for waterbirds.

The conference will bring together 200 participants from more than 70 countries as well as the EU, observer States and representatives from intergovernmental agencies and NGOs.

AEWA – which is administered by UNEP – is the largest regional instrument of its kind concluded under the Convention on Migratory Species and celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2015. In recent years, several single species action plans have been put in place for the most endangered species covered by the instrument.

AEWA has also recently begun developing international species management plans, such as those for countries which share the Svalbard Pink-footed Goose population. The plan contributes towards reconciling conflicting the interests of conservationists, hunters and farmers and is seen as an effective tool for conservation and sustainable use.

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