The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement

Abstract

Sylla, I.S., Boere, G.B. & Lenten, B. 2000. The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 341.

After nearly ten years of drafting and negotiation, the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) is now open for signature at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands from 15 August onwards. This agreement aims to create a legal basis for concerted conservation and management policy by the Range States for migratory waterbird species. The AEWA is the first regional Agreement of vast areas of 80 million square kilometres covering the entire continents of Africa and Europe, as well as parts of Asia and a few Arctic islands of north-eastem Canada. It covers about 170 species of waterfowl. The Agreement has two parts that are both legally binding: Firstly the Agreement text, describing the philosophy, legal framework and provisions. The described General Conservation Measures in this part are based on two hdamental principles: (a) Parties shall take coordinated measures to maintain migratory waterbirds species in a favourable conservation status or to restore them to such a status; (b) In implementing the measures of paragraph 1, Parties should take into account the precautionary principle. The second part, an Action Plan, describing the conservation actions that Parties shall undertake in relation to priority species and issues, under the following headings, consistent with the general conservation measures: a) species Conservation; b) habitat conservation; c) management of human activities; d) research and monitoring; e) education and information; and f) implementation. These actions are based on the above mentioned Fundamental Principles. The Action Plan now is restricted to geese, swans ducks, ibises and storks.