A statement from FACE informs that last week (December 4-8, 2018) in Durban, South Africa, serious measures were taken to conserve waterbirds. Seventy-eight parties to the African-Eurasian Migratory Birds Agreement (AEWA) attended the seventh meeting, agreeing on new strategies for the conservation of waterbirds, including those of Europe.
Every three years, AEWA monitors the population status of waterbird species present in the countries that have signed the agreement; this allows the hunting of these birds, although the latest monitoring revealed a decline in some species. For this reason, AEWA has decided to implement a management plan for the greylag geese and the barnacle geese; and European countries have agreed to these species management plans.
A specific plan has been developed for the period from 2019 to 2027 to guide AEWA and its activities. Important actions have also been planned for hunters: AEWA will facilitate international coordination for the decline of huntable and harmful species, where hunters can take a leading role. Habitat conservation issues will also be addressed, and all these issues will be addressed in a coordinated manner.
